Sep 22, 2009 7:11 pm US/Eastern
President Obama Pushes For Mideast Peace At UN
President Meets With Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on Sept. 22, 2009, amid the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
John Angelillo/Getty Images
For the first time since taking office, President Obama took part in a tri-lateral meeting with Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations on Tuesday.
It began with a handshake which carried, if nothing else, immense symbolic importance.
Mr. Obama used his personal influence to bring together the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the hope of breathing life into peace negotiations which faltered last year.
"The United States is committed to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. That includes a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states: Israel and Palestine," Obama said.
The photo-op happened after the President held separate meetings with Netanyahu and Abbas earlier in the day. Special envoy George Mitchell described the moment.
"The tone was at all times cordial. It was direct, frank. I think it's fair to say at some points one could say comments were blunt on all sides," Mitchell said.
Mr. Obama has bluntly stated his desire to get the negotiations back on track, and handed out both compliments, and complaints, about both parties.
"Palestinians have strengthened their efforts on security, but they need to do more to stop incitement and move forward with negotiations. Israelis have facilitated greater freedom of movement for the Palestinians and discussed important steps to restrain settlement activity. But they need to translate these discussions into real action on this and other issues," Obama said.
But this meeting is being viewed with skepticism on both sides. Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Director of the Conference of Presidents said the Palestinian president won't make any concessions with the elections looming.
"It will be a very contentious election, so I think he will do everything possible to protect his position," Hoenelein said.
And Palestinians remain firm on what they see as the primary obstacle to peace.
"The immediate issue that should be addressed is the settlement issue," said Zead Ramadan of the Council, American Islamic Relations. "The development of more settlements is basically pulling the plug on peace in the Middle East."
President Obama said he's committed to the resumption of peace talks and during today's meetings, Netanyahu and Abbas agreed. Special envoy Mitchell is expected to push hard to get them restarted, possibly as early as next week.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
CBS News Interactive: Mideast Conflict
Click to enlarge
Newark Airport Suspect Pleads Not Guilty 15 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments