Obama’s speech a ’good beginning:’ Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian Authority on Thursday hailed as a “good beginning” US President Barack Obama’s speech to the Muslim world in which he reiterated his support of a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority on Thursday hailed as a “good beginning” US President Barack Obama’s speech to the Muslim world in which he reiterated his support of a Palestinian state.

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“It is a clear and frank speech,” president Mahmud Abbas’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP. “It is an innovative political step and a good beginning on which one must build.”

The speech broke with the “preceeding partial American policy” in favour of Israel, he said. “The comments on the intolerable Palestinian situation is a message that Israel should understand well.”

During his speech, Obama said that “America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.”

“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 stop.”