The Palestinian Authority on Monday welcomed US President Barack Obama's renewed support for the Annapolis agreement and the stalled roadmap plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
At the same time, the Israeli government hailed what it said was Obama's commitment to Israel's security.
Leading Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat focused instead on "the statements by President Obama confirming the principle of a two-state solution". Israel should understand "that the track leading to an end of the occupation since 1967 of the Palestinian and Arab territories and to the start of a two-state solution is the only track that can be followed," said Erekat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman, for his part, said "Israel appreciates President Obama's commitment to Israel's security and to the pursuit of peace.
"The government of Israel is committed to both of these goals and will formulate its policies in the near future so as to work closely with the United States towards achieving these common objectives," said Mark Regev.
But Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, who is close to the right-wing premier, was less positive.
"Israel does not take its orders from President Obama. In voting for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli citizens decided not to become the 51st state of the United States," he said in a speech to parliament.
Erdan said the government would act in Israel's interests, although Obama was "a friend of Israel and the United States an important ally, and whatever happens between us will be the result of a dialogue". In an address to Turkey's parliament on Monday, Obama said "the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security". His remarks came after Israel's new Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said last week that the 2007 Annapolis document did not bind Israel though he did accept the roadmap as the basis for progress.
A November 2007 conference in Annapolis, near Washington, relaunched peace negotiations on the basis of the roadmap, although dozens of rounds of talks between Israel and the Palestinians have produced little visible progress.
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