Israel Obama Relations Grating

'Israel does not take orders from Obama' The Hindu — In an unusually harsh criticism, an Israeli Minister on Monday said the Jewish state "does not take orders from Barack Obama" after the US President renewed support for the Annapolis agreement and the stalled roadmap plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan of the Likud party also praised hardliner Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who last week said that Israel was not bound by the 2007 Annapolis talks. click to read complete article

Palestinian official urges pressure on Netanyahu Xinhua — Palestinian minister of foreign affairs in Salam Fayyad's caretaker government Monday called on the international community to exert pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reyad el-Malki, also spokesman of Fayyad's government, told a news conference held in Ramallah following the weekly meeting of the cabinet that Netanyahu has to accept the two-state solution in order to achieve peace in the region. click to read complete article

Obama: We are committed to Annapolis Jerusalem Post — US President Barack Obama on Monday reiterated his country's commitment to previous understandings, including the process launched at Annapolis in 2007, in promoting a peace agreement between Israel and its neighbors. Obama, who was addressing the Turkish parliament, also voiced unequivocal support for a two-state solution, days after Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel was not bound by the Annapolis talks. click to read complete article