Obama outlines his agenda of peace in the Middle East

Observing that lasting peace in the Middle East will require more than a long cease-fire,
US president Barack Obama has outlined the broad parameters for resolving the crisis in the region, in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side peacefully.

"The outline for a durable cease-fire is clear: Hamas must end its rocket fire, Israel will complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza, the US and our partners will support a credible anti-smuggling and interdiction regime, so that Hamas cannot rearm," Obama said addressing his foreign service officials at the State Department.

Soon after appointing his Special Middle East Envoy, Obama said America is committed to Israel's security and will always support Israel's right to defend itself against legitimate threats.

"For years, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets at innocent Israeli citizens. No democracy can tolerate such danger to its people, nor should the international community and neither should the Palestinian people themselves, whose interests are only set back by acts of terror," he alleged.

Hamas must meet clear conditions, he said, adding these are recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and abide by past agreements.

On the first day in his office, Obama had called leaders in the Middle East.

"Yesterday I spoke to president Mubarak and expressed my appreciation for the important role that Egypt played in achieving a cease-fire. And we look forward to Egypt's continued leadership and partnership in laying a foundation for a broader peace through a commitment to end smuggling from within its borders."

Just as the terror of rocket fire aimed at innocent Israelis is intolerable, so, too, is a future without hope for the Palestinians, Obama said.

Deeply concerned by the loss of Palestinian and Israeli life in recent days and by the substantial suffering and humanitarian needs in Gaza, Obama said, "Our hearts go out
to Palestinian civilians who are in need of immediate food, clean water, and basic medical care, and who've faced suffocating poverty for far too long."

"Now we must extend a hand of opportunity to those who seek peace," he said. As part of a lasting cease-fire, Gaza's border crossings should be open to allow the flow of aid and commerce, with an appropriate monitoring regime, with the international and Palestinian Authority participating, he said.

Arguing that relief efforts must be able to reach innocent Palestinians who depend on them, Obama said the US will fully support an international donor's conference to seek
short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term reconstruction for the Palestinian economy. This assistance will be provided to and guided by the Palestinian Authority.

Referring to the recent Arab peace initiatives, he said this contains constructive elements that could help advance these efforts.

"Now is the time for Arab states to act on the initiative's promise by supporting the Palestinian government under president Abbas and prime minister Fayyad, taking steps
towards normalising relations with Israel, and by standing up to extremism that threatens us all," he said.

"Jordan's constructive role in training Palestinian security forces and nurturing its relations with Israel provide a model for these efforts. And going forward, we must
make it clear to all countries in the region that external support for terrorist organisations must stop," Obama said.