Obama Expresses Disappointment Over Renewed Middle East Peace Talks with Current Israeli Government

With the new Israeli government taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed disappointment regarding the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, citing the composition of Israel's right-wing cabinet as a primary reason. The new Israeli government began its work on Friday, May 14. Benjamin Netanyahu, who has returned to the premiership for the fourth time, has formed his government with a coalition of strongly right-wing and religious parties. In two interviews during these days, Obama stated that some ministers in the new Israeli government do not believe in peace. In an interview with Al Arabiya broadcast on Friday, he said, 'To be honest, the internal politics of Israel and the internal politics among the Palestinians have made it difficult to advance peace and have undermined trust for progress.' The U.S. President referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a 'difficult challenge' and added, 'I told the Israelis that as long as the Palestinian issue is next to you, you cannot simultaneously be a democratic and Jewish state.' Obama stated that 'on the one hand, I strongly support Israel, and our relations with Israel are very strong, and Israel's security concerns are legitimate,' but he also emphasized his serious commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Referring to the 'disheartening' situation in the Palestinian territories, he mentioned that during his visit to Ramallah in the West Bank, he heard of the youth's fatigue from isolation and the suffering of the people in Gaza... and Gaza must be freed from destruction, and Palestinian youth should have jobs. Obama stressed in the Al Arabiya interview that a long-term and logical solution to this longstanding conflict is the independence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, which, according to him, requires 'trust-building' at this stage and a departure from a politics of fear. At the same time, he told the Palestinians that if they want independence, they must recognize Israel; he stated, 'You cannot have a government that is respected and dignified but does not recognize Israel; Israel will not disappear.' The U.S. President also emphasized his distrust of a positive shift in Israeli-Palestinian political talks in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat last Wednesday, stating that a government is coming to power in Israel whose ministers do not believe in peace. Two months ago, Benjamin Netanyahu stated during his political campaign in the Knesset elections that as long as he is the political leader of Israel, an independent Palestinian state will not be established. Although Netanyahu somewhat moderated his statements after the elections, Obama told U.S. media that he believes Netanyahu has expressed his true feelings. The last round of Israeli-Palestinian political talks was held about four years ago.