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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Text: Obama-Netanyahu press conference: green light to Iran to complete bomb this year

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA

President Obama:

"My expectation would be that if we can begin discussions soon, shortly
after the Iranian elections, we should have a fairly good sense by the end
of the year as to whether they are moving in the right direction and whether
the parties involved are making progress and that there's a good faith
effort to resolve differences. That doesn't mean every issue would be
resolved by that point, but it does mean that we'll probably be able to
gauge and do a reassessment by the end of the year of this approach." =
Iran doesn't have to lose much sleep about American activity against their
nuclear program at least until next year. And next year the program can
continue if there is "dialogue".

"But, look, imagine how much less mischief a Hezbollah or a Hamas could do
if in fact we had moved a Palestinian-Israeli track in a direction that gave
the Palestinian people hope." = My support for a sovereign Palestinian
state is based on faith rather than logic. Therefore I cannot entertain the
logic that if there is a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip created on the basis of some nicely written document signed at a
really nice photo op that the potential for Hamas and others to take it over
and create an even more dangerous situation than there is today

PM Netanyahu:

"If, however, the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, if
they -- if they fight terror, if they educate their children for peace and
to a better future, then I think we can come at a substantive solution that
allows the two people to live side by side in security and peace and I add
prosperity, because I'm a great believer in this." => There won't be a
sovereign Palestinian state - instead a form of autonomy that is a
"substantive solution"

======
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 18, 2009

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL
IN PRESS AVAILABILITY

Oval Office

1:21 P.M. EDT

www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-President-Obama-and-Israeli-Prime-Minister-Netanyahu-in-press-availability/

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, listen, I first of all want to thank Prime Minister
Netanyahu for making this visit. I think we had a extraordinarily
productive series of conversations, not only between the two of us but also
at the staff and agency levels.

Obviously this reflects the extraordinary relationship, the special
relationship between the United States and Israel. It is a stalwart ally of
the United States. We have historical ties, emotional ties. As the only
true democracy of the Middle East it is a source of admiration and
inspiration for the American people.

I have said from the outset that when it comes to my policies towards Israel
and the Middle East that Israel's security is paramount, and I repeated that
to Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is in U.S. national security interests to
assure that Israel's security as an independent Jewish state is maintained.

One of the areas that we discussed is the deepening concern around the
potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon by Iran. It's something the Prime
Minister has been very vocal in his concerns about, but is a concern that is
shared by his countrymen and women across the political spectrum.

I indicated to him the view of our administration, that Iran is a country of
extraordinary history and extraordinary potential, that we want them to be a
full-fledged member of the international community and be in a position to
provide opportunities and prosperity for their people, but that the way to
achieve those goals is not through the pursuit of a nuclear weapon. And I
indicated to Prime Minister Netanyahu in private what I have said publicly,
which is that Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would not only be a threat to
Israel and a threat to the United States, but would be profoundly
destabilizing in the international community as a whole and could set off a
nuclear arms race in the Middle East that would be extraordinarily dangerous
for all concerned, including for Iran.

We are engaged in a process to reach out to Iran and persuade them that it
is not in their interest to pursue a nuclear weapon and that they should
change course. But I assured the Prime Minister that we are not foreclosing
a range of steps, including much stronger international sanctions, in
assuring that Iran understands that we are serious. And obviously the Prime
Minister emphasized his seriousness around this issue as well -- I'll allow
him to speak for himself on that subject.

We also had an extensive discussion about the possibilities of restarting
serious negotiations on the issue of Israel and the Palestinians. I have
said before and I will repeat again that it is I believe in the interest not
only of the Palestinians, but also the Israelis and the United States and
the international community to achieve a two-state solution in which
Israelis and Palestinians are living side by side in peace and security.

We have seen progress stalled on this front, and I suggested to the Prime
Minister that he has an historic opportunity to get a serious movement on
this issue during his tenure. That means that all the parties involved have
to take seriously obligations that they've previously agreed to. Those
obligations were outlined in the road map; they were discussed extensively
in Annapolis. And I think that we can -- there is no reason why we should
not seize this opportunity and this moment for all the parties concerned to
take seriously those obligations and to move forward in a way that assures
Israel's security, that stops the terrorist attacks that have been such a
source of pain and hardship, that we can stop rocket attacks on Israel; but
that also allow Palestinians to govern themselves as an independent state,
that allows economic development to take place, that allows them to make
serious progress in meeting the aspirations of their people.

And I am confident that in the days, weeks and months to come we are going
to be able to make progress on that issue.

So let me just summarize by saying that I think Prime Minister Netanyahu has
the benefit of having served as Prime Minister previously. He has both
youth and wisdom --

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I'll dispute youth, but -- (laughter.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- and I think is in a position to achieve the security
objectives of Israel, but also bring about historic peace. And I'm
confident that he's going to seize this moment. And the United States is
going to do everything we can to be constructive, effective partners in this
process.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: President Obama, thank you. Thank you for your
friendship to Israel and your friendship to me. You're a great leader -- a
great leader of the United States, a great leader of the world, a great
friend of Israel, and someone who is acutely cognizant of our security
concerns. And the entire people of Israel appreciate it, and I speak on
their behalf.

We met before, but this is the first time that we're meeting as President
and Prime Minister. So I was particularly pleased at your reaffirmation of
the special relationship between Israel and the United States. We share the
same goals and we face the same threats. The common goal is peace.
Everybody in Israel, as in the United States, wants peace. The common
threat we face are terrorist regimes and organizations that seek to
undermine the peace and endanger both our peoples.

In this context, the worst danger we face is that Iran would develop nuclear
military capabilities. Iran openly calls for our destruction, which is
unacceptable by any standard. It threatens the moderate Arab regimes in the
Middle East. It threatens U.S. interests worldwide. But if Iran were to
acquire nuclear weapons, it could give a nuclear umbrella to terrorists, or
worse, it could actually give terrorists nuclear weapons. And that would
put us all in great peril.

So in that context, I very much appreciate, Mr. President, your firm
commitment to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear military capability,
and also your statement that you're leaving all options on the table.

I share with you very much the desire to move the peace process forward.
And I want to start peace negotiations with the Palestinians immediately. I
would like to broaden the circle of peace to include others in the Arab
world, if we could, Mr. President, so -- this (inaudible) that one shouldn't
let go, maybe peace with the entire Arab world.

I want to make it clear that we don't want to govern the Palestinians. We
want to live in peace with them. We want them to govern themselves, absent
a handful of powers that could endanger the state of Israel. And for this
there has to be a clear goal. The goal has to be an end to conflict. There
will have to be compromises by Israelis and Palestinians alike. We're ready
to do our share. We hope the Palestinians will do their share, as well. If
we resume negotiations, as we plan to do, then I think that the Palestinians
will have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state; will have to also enable
Israel to have the means to defend itself. And if those conditions are met,
Israel's security conditions are met, and there's recognition of Israel's
legitimacy, its permanent legitimacy, then I think we can envision an
arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in dignity, in
security, and in peace.

And I look forward, Mr. President, to working with you, a true friend of
Israel, to the achievement of our common goals, which are security,
prosperity, and above all, peace.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. We're going to take a couple of questions. We're
going to start with Steve.

Q Mr. President, you spoke at length, as did the Prime Minister, about
Iran's nuclear program. Your program of engagement, policy of engagement,
how long is that going to last? Is there a deadline?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, I don't want to set an artificial deadline. I
think it's important to recognize that Iran is in the midst of its own
elections. As I think all of you, since you're all political reporters, are
familiar with, election time is not always the best time to get business
done.

Their elections will be completed in June, and we are hopeful that, at that
point, there is going to be a serious process of engagement, first through
the P5-plus-one process that's already in place, potentially through
additional direct talks between the United States and Iran.

I want to reemphasize what I said earlier, that I believe it is not only in
the interest of the international community that Iran not develop nuclear
weapons, I firmly believe it is in Iran's interest not to develop nuclear
weapons, because it would trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and
be profoundly destabilizing in all sorts of ways. Iran can achieve its
interests of security and international respect and prosperity for its
people through other means, and I am prepared to make what I believe will be
a persuasive argument, that there should be a different course to be taken.

The one thing we're also aware of is the fact that the history, of least, of
negotiation with Iran is that there is a lot of talk but not always action
and follow-through. And that's why it is important for us, I think, without
having set an artificial deadline, to be mindful of the fact that we're not
going to have talks forever. We're not going to create a situation in which
talks become an excuse for inaction while Iran proceeds with developing a
nuclear -- and deploying a nuclear weapon. That's something, obviously,
Israel is concerned about, but it's also an issue of concern for the United
States and for the international community as a whole.

My expectation would be that if we can begin discussions soon, shortly after
the Iranian elections, we should have a fairly good sense by the end of the
year as to whether they are moving in the right direction and whether the
parties involved are making progress and that there's a good faith effort to
resolve differences. That doesn't mean every issue would be resolved by
that point, but it does mean that we'll probably be able to gauge and do a
reassessment by the end of the year of this approach.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Aren't you concerned that your outstretched
hand has been interpreted by extremists, especially Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah,
Meshal, as weakness? And since my colleague already asked about the
deadline, if engagement fails, what then, Mr. President?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it's not clear to me why my outstretched hand would
be interpreted as weakness.

Q Qatar, an example.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm sorry?

Q The example of Qatar. They would have preferred to be on your side and
then moved to the extremists, to Iran.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Oh, I think -- yes, I'm not sure about that
interpretation. Look, we've been in office a little over a hundred days
now -- close to four months. We have put forward a clear principle that
where we can resolve issues through negotiations and diplomacy, we should.
We didn't expect -- and I don't think anybody in the international community
or anybody in the Middle East, for that matter -- would expect that 30 years
of antagonism and suspicion between Iran and the United States would be
resolved in four months. So we think it's very important for us to give
this a chance.

Now, understand that part of the reason that it's so important for us to
take a diplomatic approach is that the approach that we've been taking,
which is no diplomacy, obviously has not worked. Nobody disagrees with
that. Hamas and Hezbollah have gotten stronger. Iran has been pursuing its
nuclear capabilities undiminished. And so not talking -- that clearly hasn't
worked. That's what's been tried. And so what we're going to do is try
something new, which is actually engaging and reaching out to the Iranians.

The important thing is to make sure that there is a clear timetable of -- at
which point we say these talks don't seem to be making any serious progress.
It hasn't been tried before so we don't want to prejudge that, but as I
said, by the end of the year I think we should have some sense as to whether
or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits, whether
we're starting to see serious movement on the part of the Iranians.

If that hasn't taken place, then I think the international community will
see that it's not the United States or Israel or other countries that are
seeking to isolate or victimize Iran; rather, it is Iran itself which is
isolating itself by willing to -- being unwilling to engage in serious
discussions about how they can preserve their security without threatening
other people's security -- which ultimately is what we want to achieve.

We want to achieve a situation where all countries in the region can pursue
economic development and commercial ties and trade and do so without the
threat that their populations are going to be subject to bombs and
destruction.

That's what I think the Prime Minister is interested in, that's what I'm
interested in, and I hope that ends up being what the ruling officials in
Iran are interested in, as well.

Don Gonyea. Where's Gonyea?

Q Right here. Thank you. Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, can you
each react to King Abdullah's statement of a week ago that we really are at
a critical place in the conflict and that if this moment isn't seized and if
a peace isn't achieved now, soon, that in a year, year and a half, we could
see renewed major conflict, perhaps war? And do you agree with that
assessment?

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I think we have to seize the moment and I think
we're fortunate in having a leader like President Obama and a new government
in Israel and perhaps a new understanding in the Arab world that I haven't
seen in my lifetime. And you're very kind to be calling me young, but I'm
more than half a century old and in my 59 years in the life of the Jewish
state, there's never been a time when Arabs and Israelis see a common threat
the way we see it today and also see the need to join together in working
towards peace while simultaneously defending ourselves against this common
threat.

I think we have -- we have ways to capitalize on this sense of urgency and
we're prepared to move with the President and with others in the Arab world
if they're prepared to move, as well. And I think the important thing that
we discussed, among other things, is how to buttress the Israeli-Palestinian
peace tracks, which we want to resume right away, with participation from
others in the Arab world; how we give confidence to each other that would --
changes the reality, it changes the reality on the ground, changing
political realities top-down, as well, while we work to broaden the circle
of peace.

And I think that the sense of urgency that King Abdullah expressed is shared
by me and shared by many others and I definitely know it's shared by
President Obama.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Look, I think there's an extraordinary opportunity and the
Prime Minister said it well. You have Arab states in the region -- the
Jordanians, the Egyptians, the Saudis -- who I think are looking for an
opportunity to break this long-standing impasse but aren't sure how to do
it, and share concerns about Iran's potential development of a nuclear
weapon. In order for us to potentially realign interests in the region in a
constructive way, bolstering, to use the Prime Minister's word, the
Palestinian-Israeli peace track is critical.

It will not be easy. It never has been easy. In discussions, I don't think
the Prime Minister would mind me saying to him -- or saying publically what
I said privately, which is that there is a recognition that the Palestinians
are going to have to do a better job providing the kinds of security
assurances that Israelis would need to achieve a two-state solution; that,
you know, the leadership of the Palestinians will have to gain additional
legitimacy and credibility with their own people, and delivering services.
And that's something that the United States and Israel can be helpful in
seeing them accomplish.

The other Arab states have to be more supportive and be bolder in seeking
potential normalization with Israel. And next week I will have the
Palestinian Authority President Abbas as well as President Mubarak here and
I will deliver that message to them.

Now, Israel is going to have to take some difficult steps as well, and I
shared with the Prime Minister the fact that under the roadmap and under
Annapolis that there's a clear understanding that we have to make progress
on settlements. Settlements have to be stopped in order for us to move
forward. That's a difficult issue. I recognize that, but it's an important
one and it has to be addressed.

I think the humanitarian situation in Gaza has to be addressed. Now, I was
along the border in Sderot and saw the evidence of weapons that had been
raining down on the heads of innocents in those Israeli cities, and that's
unacceptable. So we've got to work with the Egyptians to deal with the
smuggling of weapons and it has to be meaningful because no Prime Minister
of any country is going to tolerate missiles raining down on their citizens'
heads.

On the other hand, the fact is, is that if the people of Gaza have no hope,
if they can't even get clean water at this point, if the border closures are
so tight that it is impossible for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts
to take place, then that is not going to be a recipe for Israel's long-term
security or a constructive peace track to move forward.

So all these things are going to have to come together and it's going to be
difficult, but the one thing that I've committed to the Prime Minister is we
are going to be engaged, the United States is going to roll up our sleeves.
We want to be a strong partner in this process.

I have great confidence in Prime Minister Netanyahu's political skills, but
also his historical vision and his recognition that during the years that he
is Prime Minister this second go-around, he is probably going to be
confronted with as many important decisions about the long-term strategic
interests of Israel as any Prime Minister that we've seen in a very long
time. And I have great confidence that he's going to rise to the occasion
and I actually think that you're going to see movement in -- among Arab
states that we have not seen before.

But the trick is to try to coordinate all this in a very delicate political
environment. And that's why I'm so pleased to have George Mitchell, who is
standing behind the scrum there, as our special envoy, because I'm very
confident that as somebody who was involved in equally delicate negotiations
in Northern Ireland, he is somebody who recognizes that if you apply
patience and determination, and you keep your eye on the long-term goal, as
the Prime Minister articulated -- which is a wide-ranging peace, not a
grudging peace, not a transitory peace, but a wide-ranging, regional
peace -- that we can make great progress.

Q Mr. President, the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli
administration have said on many occasions -- on some occasions that only if
the Iranian threat will be solved, they can achieve real progress on the
Palestinian threat. Do you agree with that kind of linkage?

And to the Israeli Prime Minister, you were speaking about the political
track. Are you willing to get into final status issues/negotiations like
borders, like Jerusalem in the near future, based on the two-state solution?
And do you still hold this opinion about the linkage between the Iranian
threat and your ability to achieve any progress on the Palestinian threat?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, let me say this. There's no doubt that it is
difficult for any Israeli government to negotiate in a situation in which
they feel under immediate threat. That's not conducive to negotiations.
And as I've said before, I recognize Israel's legitimate concerns about the
possibility of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon when they have a president
who has in the past said that Israel should not exist. That would give any
leader of any country pause.

Having said that, if there is a linkage between Iran and the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process, I personally believe it actually runs the
other way. To the extent that we can make peace with the Palestinians --
between the Palestinians and the Israelis, then I actually think it
strengthens our hand in the international community in dealing with a
potential Iranian threat.

Having said that, I think that dealing with Iran's potential nuclear
capacity is something that we should be doing even if there already was
peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. And I think that pursuing
Israeli-Palestinian peace is something that is in Israeli's security
interests and the United States' national security interests, even if Iran
was not pursuing a nuclear weapon. They're both important.

And we have to move aggressively on both fronts. And I think that based on
my conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he agrees with me that they're
both important. That's not to say that he's not making a calculation, as he
should, about what are some of the most immediate threats to Israeli's
security, and I understand that.

But, look, imagine how much less mischief a Hezbollah or a Hamas could do if
in fact we had moved a Palestinian-Israeli track in a direction that gave
the Palestinian people hope. And if Hezbollah and Hamas is weakened,
imagine how that impacts Iran's ability to make mischief, and vice versa.

I mean, so obviously these things are related, but they are important
separately. And I'm confident that the United States, working with Israel,
can make progress on both fronts.

Q Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: We've had extraordinarily friendly and
constructive talks here today, and I'm very grateful to the President for
that. We want to move peace forward, and we want to ward off the great
threats.

There isn't a policy linkage, and that's what I hear the President saying,
and that's what I'm saying too. And I've always said there's not a policy
linkage between pursuing simultaneously peace between Israel and the
Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world, and to trying to deal with
removing the threat of a nuclear bomb.

There are causal links. The President talked about one of them. It would
help, obviously, unite a broad front against Iran if we had peace between
Israel and the Palestinians. And conversely, if Iran went nuclear, it would
threaten the progress towards peace and destabilize the entire area, and
threaten existing peace agreement.

So it's very clear to us. I think we actually -- we don't see closely on
it, we see exactly eye to eye on this -- that we want to move simultaneously
and then parallel on two fronts: the front of peace, and the front of
preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability.

On the front of peace, the important thing for me is to resume negotiations
as rapidly as possible, and to -- and my view is less one of terminology,
but one of substance. And I ask myself, what do we end up with? If we end
up with another Gaza -- the President has described to you there's rockets
falling out of Gaza -- that is something we don't want to happen, because a
terror base next to our cities that doesn't call -- recognize Israel's
existence and calls for our destruction and asks for our destruction is not
arguing peace.

If, however, the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, if
they -- if they fight terror, if they educate their children for peace and
to a better future, then I think we can come at a substantive solution that
allows the two people to live side by side in security and peace and I add
prosperity, because I'm a great believer in this.

So I think the terminology will take care of itself if we have the
substantive understanding. And I think we can move forward on this. I have
great confidence in your leadership, Mr. President, and in your friendship
to my country, and in your championing of peace and security. And the
answer is, both come together -- peace and security are intertwined. They're
inseparable.

And I look forward, Mr. President, to working with you to achieve both.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, everybody.

END
1:55 P.M. EDT

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