“We must insist that the future does not belong to fear.” – Pres. Barack Obama
…and someone has the courage to liveblog it!
Strong speech at the United Nations today from Pres. Obama, driving straight into the responsibilities of other nations to live up to what the United Nations is supposed to represent.
In an alternative universe, the Carterization of Pres. Obama is well under way, using the Middle East as cudgel.
Pres. Obama received applause when he directly talked about the people of Sudan, as well as when he talked about peace among Israel and Palestinians, saying he’s made “some” progress, regardless of yesterday’s trilateral theater. “But more progress is needed. … And we continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.” Applause was immediate. Wonder if Netanyahu felt the delayed slap in the midst of his gloating over yesterday’s perceived “win”, as interpreted on the right.
The Israeli – Palestinian section of Obama’s speech (which was sent out by the White House) is below:
… I will also continue to seek a just and lasting peace between Israel, Palestine, and the Arab world. Yesterday, I had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. We have made some progress. Palestinians have strengthened their efforts on security. Israelis have facilitated greater freedom of movement for the Palestinians. As a result of these efforts by both sides, the economy in the West Bank has begun to grow. But more progress is needed. We continue to call on Palestinians to end incitement against Israel, and we continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.
The time has come to re-launch negotiations – without preconditions – that address the permanent-status issues: security for Israelis and Palestinians; borders, refugees and Jerusalem. The goal is clear: two states living side by side in peace and security – a Jewish State of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people. As we pursue this goal, we will also pursue peace between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and a broader peace between Israel and its many neighbors. In pursuit of that goal, we will develop regional initiatives with multilateral participation, alongside bilateral negotiations.
I am not naïve. I know this will be difficult. But all of us must decide whether we are serious about peace, or whether we only lend it lip-service. To break the old patterns – to break the cycle of insecurity and despair – all of us must say publicly what we would acknowledge in private. The United States does Israel no favors when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to its security with an insistence that Israel respect the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinians. And nations within this body do the Palestinians no favors when they choose vitriolic attacks over a constructive willingness to recognize Israel’s legitimacy, and its right to exist in peace and security.
We must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us. It is paid by the Israeli girl in Sderot who closes her eyes in fear that a rocket will take her life in the night. It is paid by the Palestinian boy in Gaza who has no clean water and no country to call his own. These are God’s children. And after all of the politics and all of the posturing, this is about the right of every human being to live with dignity and security. That is a lesson embedded in the three great faiths that call one small slice of Earth the Holy Land. And that is why – even though there will be setbacks, and false starts, and tough days – I will not waiver in my pursuit of peace. [...]
But if you want to know why the right gets such traction on their screeds against the United Nations, Qadhafi’s rambling, never ending bloviating “speech” is a good reason why.
Comments are closed.