I couldn't agree more. While peace often seems like a lost cause, Obama's speech today indicated a refreshing seriousness on the issue. This is the best chance we've had in a LONG time for achieving sustainable security for Israel and her neighbors. Let's hope that Israel is up to Obama's challenge and freezes settlement construction.

The President's speech was indeed a moment of great leadership. Obama did not pander. He was presidential. He was resolute yet sensitive. And mostly, he was honest. Honesty is what Israelis and Palestinians need now more than anything. They need to face reality and make the necessary decisions that would lead them toward the necessary compromise. Yes, they can.

President Obama was truly inspired. He flushed out the people running on fear on all sides. He spoke from the perspective of redeeming love. An unusual moment. Hopefully, enough of us will gather around this vision of a world that works its way out of injustice and violence to a peaceful, just place.

We can depend upon the nay-sayers to go on murdering. We need to step up and say no to this fear-mongering.

I have been speaking out against the construction of settlements for at least ten years. To me they are as much of a provocation as the lobbing of Palestinian bombs across the Israeli border. Both groups of people must be pressured to desist from practices that impede the peace process, or we are doomed to see endless attacks, counterattacks, counter-counterattacks, etc, etc, etc. Enough is enough. I am proud that we have a president who is not afraid to speak strongly and candidly about policies that do and do not contribute to the common good not only of Jews and Muslims but to stability and peace for the world.
Dan Rous

Honesty has to include the message that respect and apology from all sides will bring well being and prosperity to all sides. It is our love for Israel and pride in Jewish people that mandates that we communicate that Isael's tendency for military response poses a threat to Isreal's long term security.

My fear is that Democrats in Congress, more loyal to AIPAC than to the president, will undermine him. Please, if you support Obama, be on the lookout for this & respond to your elected officials accordingly!

Bravo for Obama who has spoken truth to myth and common sense to tired polemic vis-a-vis both sides of the Pales-Isr dispute. Now we must prepare for the hysterical blowback from the status quo crowd. Go APN!!

D.R. George -- On your last point you might want to check out the latest on Ackerman and other Dems supporting Obama on settlements: http://peacenowconversation.org/?p=195

Eventually? Why not NOW? We don't need Israel to approve or take the lead. We can recognize the State of Palestine now, on our own. We can nominate the state for membership in the UN. It only needs a majority of the Security Council and no veto. Of the five permanent members China and Russia already have diplomatic relations with Palestine. That leaves only France and Britain to be convinced. OK?

Impressive speech! I hope we see policies of the same sensitivity and intelligence.

Pres. Obama is a statesman of quality we have not had since Abraham Lincoln.

Does anyone here think Kadima, if in power, would agree to a total freeze in the settlement blocs? Do you think Obama would've even demanded this if Kadima was in power?

Kadima just came out and said it's foolish to not endorse the two-state solution, but said nothing of the freeze.

Obama hit the midpoint that this organization represents -- peace and security for Israel, but doing that by insuring a fair deal for the Palestinians. This is a seldom heard position in America.

To most Palestinians the President’s speech could be a sea change. But where, when , and how you can implement a two-states solution each live in peace and security? Facts on the ground tell a completly different story : massive settlements that cut the West Bank into pits and pieces ,over 600 check points, travel restrictions and you will realize it is an uphill battel. The Israelis alone can decide the outcome.

What a relief to have a president who is not an embarrassment and an antagonist. However, the hard work is still ahead. How does the U.S. get its message about the settlements and a two-state solution across to a right-wing Israeli government, without giving ammunition to anti-Semites both in the U.S. and abroad who use the issue of the settlements and situation of Palestinians as a cover for their anti-Semitism? Every day I hear and read comments that portray Israel as a brutal, fascist super-power, not the tiny, divided country it is, fighting for its survival, and making mistakes along the way. I want the Israeli government to be held accountable, and to stop pandering to the suicidal policies of the Haredim. But at the same time, I'd like the world to stop holding Israel to a higher standard than it does any other country.

I remain buoyed by the spirit and substance of his speech, and I am confident that now the deeds of his administration will follow in the wake of his words. The Neo-Cons are beginning to inject their pessimistic venom into the public sphere now, though it will take the weekend before it all becomes exposed. The Right in Israel, too, has begun to naysay, and that is to be expected. But I hope that the Obama administration will continue the assertive and constant pressure on both the Israelis and Palestinians in order to find and implement the peaceful solution we’re all hoping for. I am very proud of our president and our country.

I had begun to think that Israel had lost its way on the road to becoming a just and free nation but now I am filled with hope once again. For Israel to be free, Palestine must be too. Thank you Mr. President.

I am not Jewish, but my wife is Jewsish and I have many Jewish friends. I was born in England in 1924 served in the British army in Austria 1945 to 1948 and was aware of what was going on in Europe during the Nazi era.

The extreme suffering of the Jews was primarily the responsibility of the Germans - not just of the Nazi war criminals and the surviving Jews deserved help and support from. at least all European countries and the US. But, I suppose because it was the line of least resistance, the Arab population of Palestine has had to bear a grossly disproportionate share of the burden. Industrial countries gained significant encomic advantages from the immigration of well educated eastern European Jews, but many Arab Palestinians were driven from their homes while those that stayed had to live in a very Jewish state.

More than 60 years later, millions of them are still living in refugee camps with no visible propect of achieving a viable economic life. Palestinian leadership has not always played a constructive role but neither has Israel.

It would be worth trying to use Israeli capital to employ these un- and under-employed people to build a badly needed industrial base in the Middle East.

In view of Israel's apparent indifference to the problems of the displaced Palestinians it is no wonder that they have become anti-Israel and "anti Semitic" (strange accusation, since Arabs are "proto-Semites)

The civilised world should not continue to punish the Palestinians for the Crimes of the Germans.

A good, honest speech from President Obama. But now he must continue to move forward. Ariel Sharon wanted the peace "process" to go on for 1,000 years. I hope Obama will move quickly to assure settlements stop by 1) denying loan guarantees if settlement continues. If that doesn't work, then 2) denying foreign assistance. The U.S. must use its massive leverge. If we're too chicken to do that, Israel will continue to build, to bully, to imprison, and shoot Palestinians. The marauding settlers are a disgrace.

Wonderful speech! It's a start regarding Israel/Palestine. Obama should do what George Bush senior did: he withheld millions of dollars in foreign aid when Israel contunued to build settlements.

A terrific speech demonstrating a level of thoughtfulness, vision, and leadership that has been absent for so long. I agree with the others above - let us hope that he'll truly "put his money where his mouth is" and use the U.S. financial and political influence -- both carrot and stick -- to force all the players to move in productive directions. A breath of fresh, honest air from our president.

I pray for both nations to have peace, but I do not support any terroristic groups such as Hamas, Hisbolah, Alqaida or Iran's continued threats of destroying Israel and denying the Holocaust of WWII's Hitler regime. Until these terrorists are defeated, all nations will be endangered by their what they term as a holy jihaad. All peaceful nations need to form a union to protect their peoples asap.

I thought Obama was as usual, eloquent. However, I can not believe he talked about how violence solves nothing and denyingthe violence being perpetrated on the Muslims right now in the Middle East. And yes it is true that Israel has been rocketed, civilians killed, etc. What about the houses destroyed, the olive groves plowed under and the civilians in Palestine being terrorized DAILY because they do not have enough food and their cities are in rubble.

The speech was just what was needed. Israel has been losing its moral base since 1967 with the settlements, and that has left me feeling distraught. I am so proud of this President ....and of Shalom Achshav for its good influence on him, and for revealing what is happening with the settlements, and for demonstrating to this President that there are many "other" American Jews who support his efforts.

A wonderful start!

Wonderful! I salute him for saying what we at Peace Now have been saying for years. Ruth

I join in the applause for the courage and wisdom fo President Obama's speech.
Could someone tell me about the organization "AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW".
Before I join, I would like to know a little (lot) more about it.

Thank you,

Russell Elliot

Dear APN:

I was pleased to see the president undertake that which has not been previously undertaken, and therein lies the hitch. Because no president has
laid bare the facts, the light seems to shine brightly on Mr. Obama. However,
nothing the president said even hints at
the reality of Israel's dominion over the lives of the Arabs of Palistine. Certainly the remarks from Israeli officials this past week about West Bank settlements suggests that they will continue to do by laws, administration and force what they have been doing in one form or another since the founding of Israel: to reduce the Palestinian population to sub human level and then to send it off into the dark of night. The very idea that a people, any people, must seek peacefull redress to their own destruction is cause for further fury--in this regard see (our) Declaration of Independence.

From NYTimes 6/5
"...Mindful that the Cairo speech could cause a stir among American Jews, senior White House officials held a conference call Wednesday night from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with three to four dozen American Jewish leaders, to alert them to the president’s message and to try to win their support..."

Woner who has the list of those "leaders," and how much
they represent.

In order to create a Jewish Democratic State, Israel must establish its borders in order to maximize its Jewish population. This is its prime interest, far more important than settling historical Judea. The focus must be on the future, not the past. Whether the Palestinians are ready for peace or not, Israeli security is best secured by deterence and effective response to provocations rather than settlement and occupation.

As a teenager during the 5 year occupation by the Germans of the Netherlands, I know from personal experience your rage at the occupier. Our occupation was only 5 years, and Germany did much to counteract this rage after the war.

Israel has occupied the Palestinians for more than 40 years, feeding this rage, especially the settlers who behave as ‘das Herrenvolk’ on the Westbank and before in Gaza.

Israel is more threatened today by the Settlers than by the Palestinians, I think.

Obama offers an opportunity to act in Israel's interest which is peace. But the early reaction from the Israeli government and the " amen " crowd in the US is not encouraging,,Israel is the most powerful nation in the region--economically , politically and militarily ( the BOmb)..HE WHO HAS THE POWER HAD THE GREATER REPONSIBILITY ..The issue is IF Israel really wants peace they have the POWER to help create a Partner i.e a Palestinian State AFTER ALL 50 YEARS OF RELIANCE ON MILITARY SOLUTIONS HAVEN'T WORKED--IN FACT THEY ARE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE

The speech was awesome. Let's hope that it doesn't go the way of his campaign promises -- sound wonderful but are hollow and empty in reality.

This is one of the most anti-Israel speech ever made by an American president. Not only does he equate the Holocaust to the displacement of some Arabs during the invasion by Arab states to eliminate the newly formed state of Israel. Where the Jews accepted the partition and the Arabs did not and have never been willing to accept the State of Israel. It is offense to equate the Holocaust with some displacement of people. That is offense in itself, but to say this without the context of history of the displacement (A war of annihilation against the Jews)is doubly offensive. Further to state that the Arabs and Jews should live together in peace is again a refusal to understand history. Israel has made many overtures for peace, but the Arabs have never agreed to ANY concessions. I could say more in this vain, but I will stop here.
I will only say one more thing about the speech. He gave the Iranians the green light to develop an atomic bomb, by saying they have a right to nuclear energy accepting their argument. It was the weakest statement ever made about Iranian nukes.

A poll should be taken of American citizens asking: 1) Do you think Israel should be forced to comply with Obama's demand to stop "natural growth" which will have the effect of curtailing Israel's population growth? 2) If Israel's elected government refuses to obey Obama, what punishment should Obama impose on Israel? Should Obama cut off aid to Israel? Is punishing Israel in America's interest?

Most Americans did not vote for Obama so he would change long standing US policy toward Israel.

I think most Americans would vote to support Israel, as we have since 1947.

In case I did not make myself clear above, Obama's lack of historical knowledge and his equating the murder 6,000,000 Jews with the displacement of a segment of the Moslem population was shockingly insensitive and badly uninformed.

The last sentence in the June 9, 09 New York Times piece, The Exodus Obama forgot to Mention by Andre Aciman says it all:

"But for [Obama] to speak in Cairo of a shared effort to 'find common ground...and to respect the dignity of all human beings' without mentioning people in my position [the 800,000 Jews expelled by the Arabs from lands their people had lived in for centuries] would be like his speaking to the residents of Berlin about the future of Germany and forgetting to mention a small detail called World War II."

Most of the comments seem to blame Israel for the impass in the peace process and that ceasing the expansion of settlements is the main cause of friction that is stopping the peace process. While I agree it isn't helpful to the peace process to expand settlements there are other factors that are blocking the peace process, most notably Hamas and Iran. I find it offensive to assume that a country should pursue peace with an adversary that doesn't formally accept its legitimate right to exist as a country. Maybe we should look at the wrongs our country has done and give it back to the Indians. If we give the country back to them, then we can have input into whether Palestanians who left Israel in the 1948 time frame should be allowed to return. I do agree peace is needed for both the Palestanians and Israelis to survive in the long run. Negotiations directly between the parties involved needs to proceed without outside interferrence.