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| US backs independent Palestinian state - Obama | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Barack Obama has said that the United States is "deeply committed" to the creation of an "independent, sovereign state of Palestine". | |
| "Put simply, Palestinians deserve a state of their own," he said at news conference after talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | |
| He added that Israeli settlement activity was not "constructive or appropriate for peace". | |
| Mr Abbas said the two men had held "good and useful" talks in Ramallah. | |
| However, Palestinian expectations of Mr Obama's visit have been low, analysts say. | |
| On his first visit to Israel as US president on Wednesday, Mr Obama vowed strong support for the country. | |
| At talks on Wednesday, the US leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict | At talks on Wednesday, the US leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict |
| Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state". | Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state". |
| Two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Thursday morning, Israeli officials say, but there were no reports of anyone being hurt. A further two rockets fired from Gaza reportedly fell inside Gaza itself. | Two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Thursday morning, Israeli officials say, but there were no reports of anyone being hurt. A further two rockets fired from Gaza reportedly fell inside Gaza itself. |
| Mr Abbas condemned "violence against civilians, whatever its source, including the firing of rockets", according to a Palestinian spokesperson. | Mr Abbas condemned "violence against civilians, whatever its source, including the firing of rockets", according to a Palestinian spokesperson. |
| 'Daily indignities' | |
| Speaking after his meeting with Mr Abbas, which lasted slightly longer than scheduled, Mr Obama said there were "irritants" on both sides but direct negotiations were the best solution for Israel and the Palestinians. | |
| "The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it," he said in Ramallah. | |
| "The Palestinians deserve to move and travel freely and to feel secure in their communities. Like people everywhere, Palestinians deserve a future of hope, that their rights will be respected, that tomorrow will be better than today and that they can give their children a life of dignity and opportunity." | |
| Thanking the US administration for its continuing support for the Palestinian Authority, Mr Abbas said peace with Israel should not be achieved through violence, occupation, settlements, arrests or denial of refugee rights. | |
| The US leader is being accompanied in Ramallah by his Secretary of State, John Kerry. | The US leader is being accompanied in Ramallah by his Secretary of State, John Kerry. |
| About 150 protesters were kept away from the Palestinian president's compound by police. A banner hung out at the Bab al Shams Palestinian protest camp in Jerusalem read: "Obama: you promised hope and change, you gave us Colonies and Apartheid." | |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says the West Bank meeting could prove a difficult corner to turn, after Mr Obama also declared that the US was Israel's strongest ally. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says the West Bank meeting could prove a difficult corner to turn, after Mr Obama also declared that the US was Israel's strongest ally. |
| Palestinians have been disappointed with the American leader and expectations are low, our correspondent says. | Palestinians have been disappointed with the American leader and expectations are low, our correspondent says. |
| In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their undeniable suffering in pursuit of a homeland. | In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their undeniable suffering in pursuit of a homeland. |
| Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says. | Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says. |
| Following the talks in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in earlier this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states". | Following the talks in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in earlier this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states". |
| "We extend our hands in peace and friendship to the Palestinian people," he said, adding that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians. | "We extend our hands in peace and friendship to the Palestinian people," he said, adding that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians. |
| But the two leaders also said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself". | But the two leaders also said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself". |
| After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday. | After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday. |
| Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. | Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. |
| Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital. | Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital. |