Obama: Palestinians deserve a negotiated state

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6A • FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013 WORLD THE TENNESSEAN Obama: Palestinians deserve a negotiated state U.S. president calls on Israel to help process By Vanessa O'Brien and Michele Chabin UsA loday Jerusalem to Ramallah, the seat of Palestinian government. He was met by Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians* longtime peace negotia- tor.

It is the first time Oba- ma has been to the West RAMALLAH, West Bank - President Barack Obama told Palestinians they "de- serve an end to occupa- tion" and an "independent state of their own," 'during a visit Thursday to a terri- tory that Palestinians want as a nation.

Back in Israel, Obama said the Jewish state is at crossroads and must help create an indepen- dent Palestinian state for the secure future of Isra- el. He said Israel could not expect to remain sale without peace because "extremists" thrive on conflict.

"It is not fair that a Pal- Bank as president, a terri- tory conferred limited state status by the United Nations last November: But he may have diffi- de- U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres toast after Obama received the Israeli Medal of Distinction during a state dinner in Jerusalem.

AP culty satisfying the mands of Palestinian Au- thority leaders who want him to pressure Israel estinian child cannot grow up in a state of their own," he told hundreds of Israeli students in speech.

"Palestinians have a right to be free peo- ple in their own land." After a two-hour visit with Palestinian ity Author- President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama asserted that the borders for a Pal- estinian state can only be settled through negotia- tions with Israel.

West Bank visit Hoping to move the Middle Bast peace proc- ess forward, Obama flew by helicopter Thursday the short distance from into agreeing to Palestin- ian demands for an inde- pendent state.

Protests In a news conference held with Thursday, Obama Abbas on said peace was "possible" and 'necessarv." said it but he also would not be achieved through and settlements or through violence. He said the people of Palestine as- pire to their rights.

Obama said "the only way to achieve that was through direct negotia- tions between Israelis and Palestinians themselves." He said it was important not to give up on the search for peace.

Palestinian protesters complained that Obama has done little to pressure Israel to cave on the is- sues that have led to a stalemate, such as where to draw the borders for the new state and which Jewish communities the West Bank, known as settlements, should be made part of Israel prop- er.

Around 150 demonstra- tors chanted anti-Ameri- can slogans, and signs they held said they want- ed weapons, not diplomat- ic visits. VISIT SPURS ROCKET FIRE There was controversy even before President Barack Obama left Jerusalem on Thursday morning for the West Bank. Israel police said militants in Gaza fired two rockets at southern Israel.

The rockets exploded in the city of Sderot. » One rocket landed next to a house causing damage, but no injuries. A second rocket landed in an open area.

In his speech to the Is- raeli university students, Obama also said America would stand by Israel over its concern that Iran will obtain nuclear weapon. srael has been asking he United States to tel Iran when military force will be used if it fails to agree to end its nuclear

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"Obama: Palestinians deserve a negotiated state," The Recorder, 22 March 2013. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2013-016. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2013-016