Time to live up to commitments

(Cairo) President Barack Obama says the United States cannot impose peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but in blunt language asserted that it's time for all sides in the conflict to live up to commitments.
Calling the bond between Israel and the United States "unbreakable", Mr. Obama undeniably reinforced the special relationship between the two nations. "Threatening Israel with destruction - or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews," he said, " - is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
But he also stressed that the Palestinian's have suffered as well. "The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own."
Nevertheless, Mr. Obama wants an end to the violence. "The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security," the President declared. He reiterated the same demands that the U.S. has sought for some time: that Hamas end the violence, recognize previous agreements and recognize Israel's right to exist. Likewise, he reminded Israel that they must recognize a Palestinian state. Only now the White House says they will say in public what they say in private to both sides.
Mr. Obama used the occasion of his speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday to express his administration's broad view of the conflict. Aides say the President wouldn't get into specifics, but nevertheless, Mr. Obama did bring up some of the stickiest points, namely settlements. "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to sop."
The statement comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flat out rejected the Obama administration's call for an end to the settlements.