Israel seeks reconciliation with Arabs

JERUSALEM, June 4 (UPI) -- Israel responded officially to U.S. President Barack Obama's Cairo speech Thursday, saying it hoped the initiative will lead to a new period of reconciliation.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu refrained from making any public comment on statements made by Obama, who called for an immediate halt to settlement building in the West Bank and Gaza and recognition of a two-state solution.

A statement issued by Netanyahu's office said "the government of Israel expresses hope that President Obama's important speech will lead to a new period of reconciliation between the Arab and Muslim world, and Israel. We share Obama's hope that the American effort will bring about an end to the conflict and to pan-Arab recognition of Israel as the Jewish state. Israel is obligated to peace and will do as much as possible to help expand the circle of peace, while taking into consideration our national interests, the foremost of which is security," the statement said.

There was no reference to Obama's demand for an immediate halt to construction of settlements. Netanyahu has refrained from publicly supporting the two-state solution, and has insisted that the Palestinians and Arab world recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people. Netanyahu has also constantly insisted that Jerusalem will remain the capital of the Jewish state,

In Thursday's speech, Obama declared, "all of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear, when the Holy Land of the three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims… ."