Obama Israel Press Conference (VIDEO)

***UPDATE*** 12:04pm Scroll Down For Video

***UPDATE*** 11:15am From AP:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday it is in Israel's interest to achieve a lasting peace with the Palestinians, but he emphasized Israeli's right to defend itself.

He also said that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel, but that the issue should be settled through negotiation.

"That's an issue that has to be dealt with the parties involved, the Palestinians and the Israelis, and it is not the job of the United States to dictate the form in which that will take, but rather to support the efforts that are being made right now to resolve these very difficult issues that have a long history," Obama said.

Obama spoke at a press conference in Sderot, near the Gaza border. The city has been a frequent target of rocket attacks from Palestinian militants, and the news conference was held next to a collection of the spent rockets.

"I bring to Sderot an unshakable commitment to Israel's security," Obama said. "The state of Israel faces determined enemies who seek its destruction. But it also has a friend and ally in the United States that will always stand by the people of Israel."

He also said that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to both Israel and the United States.

Obama discusses his position on Jerusalem being the capitol of Israel has never changed, and that he believes the city should not simply be sliced in half, but that ultimately these are "final status" issues.

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Obama responds to a question about what fresh strategies could be brought to the Middle East peace process and concerns Israelis might have about being pressured into making too many concessions in any peace deal.

Obama says that he will take no options off the table in dealing with a potential Iranian threat, and that nuclear Iran would be a "game-changing situation" not just in the Middle East but around the world.

Obama discusses whether or not Israel should negotiate with Hamas in Gaza, saying that it is very hard to negotiate a group that is not representative of a nation-state and does not recognize Israel's right to exist.

***UPDATE*** 10:58am Obama has finished his press conference in Israel, where he stated his support for Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, discussed whether or not Israel should negotiate with Hamas in Gaza and said that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a "game-changing situation" not just in the Middle East but around the world.

***EARLIER*** Barack Obama is giving a press conference in Israel today with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Use the CNN video player below to watch it live. (Click on the player to bring up a larger player, and then select the channel featuring Obama's press conference to watch it live.)

Comments

[DRaymond]

This was probably the most risky moment in the whole trip, with the world press in attendance and throwing pointed questions. If there was going to be some point where he would torpedo his credibility to handle the world stage this was it. It wasn't perfect, but compared to the average Bush unscripted press avail it was positively eloquent.

[Ramirez]

He does public speaking better than Bush, that's for sure.

[fair1234]

Sick of all things republican!

[MetalCanuck]

HAHAHAH!!

LOL This is nuts, I had to watch it again. Yes there will be peace in the world tonight:) LOL WOW. We are in trouble, this is NEO CON ON STEROIDS speech.

[ecksman]

you know its like night and day hearing obama explain complicated issues and hearing mccain or bush for that matter. its quite refreshing to know that we will have a very smart leader back in the white house.

[quoveritas]

He will be a lame duck single termer because all the chips are stacked against him. If you all think he's taking a turn for the center now....hehe....wait till he gets into office. That's when the real dodge and dance will begin. Like Clinton, he'll have to dodge the Republican's filibustering EVERYTHING he tries, and dancing for the centrists who clinched the vote for him. Face it people, this country is run by mostly white, extremely wealthy, and traditionally conservative folks who don't feel they need the so-called "Change" that Mr. Obama has PROMISED to bring to America.

[djelimon]

Then why is the Republican brand in the crapper?

[quoveritas]

Because instead of merely 'milking the cow' so to speak, they stole the entire heifer! And never apologized to the American public - you see they don't care much about them anyway. So what's the use in being disingenuous to a bunch of undereducated, overfed, indebted, pavlovian unwashed masses -right?
Besides, they have pillaged the treasury for the last eight friggin' years....do you think they can't buy influence? If you don't you've got a lot to learn about how American politics operate.

[TotobiAyokoh23]

This guy is very good in the use of words in expalining away dificult subjects.

[goldenshaman]

President in fact.

Bush is nothing but an empty suit now.

McCain should stop pretending he even has a chance.

[Justsaynodeal]

McCain will never be considered an empty suit......­........no­t with his long history in the Senate.

[rickford5150]

Obama as President actually increases chance of war with Iran!!!

Yes children it's true. You see that madman over there is going to test the weak and inexperienced Obama first chance he gets. When he does Obama will react on military and state department advice, and it could result in us going into a full blown war.

This is why he is risky on that regard.

[berrycooda]

History repeating itself......he is only saying what has already been said many times before....

Can't he see that the militants are keeping peace from happening.

This has been going on for a long time and I don't think his telling leaders of other countries what
they must do is going to change anything other than make him look like a naive person...
Maybe he is trying to be like Rodney King with the statement "CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG..."
We all have been told by Pres. Bush that Iran is a threat to Israel and the U.S.

Is this new news ???????????

[trudem2]

So how do these positions differ from George Bush's?

Where's all the CHANGE we can believe in?

The double-talk has already begun......

[Busterdawg]

There he is... the Resident of the United States.

[soundfury]

I have defended O through every single issue he moved to the centre on, because I truly believe that he is the best alternative to what's out there on the left and the right, except maybe Ku ci nich. Ku ci nich does not compromise his integrity for anything. That's why he never wins.

This is what were stuck with: a country where you can't hold on to your positions because people here are so radical, so biased, so afraid of change that everything becomes a compromise.

I am very angry with bo. I defended him with FISA, because I believe he will make changes later that protect civil rights.

I cannot however defend or excuse what he did today, and I ask everyone who thinks like me to go to his website and email him with your outrage.

There will never be peace in the Middle East if he keeps on pandering shamelessly to AIPEC and Israel. Just as he visited Sderot today, why doesn't he visit Palestinian "ghettos" on the other side and see the pathetic conditions that Palestinians and Palestinian children are enduring because of the marginalization being imposed on them by Israel.

I have more to say on this, and word count won't allow, but I am outraged with bo, and invite everyone who feels as I do to let him know.

[Liberoservative]

Huh?

Look, Israel, whether we like it or not is our only true "ally" in that region of the world....
Whether or not I agree with that assessment is not to be stated here because the stance we have with Israel is pretty much a bed of our own making. We will need to suggest that the Israelis need to be more conciliatory but we will also need to ensure that either side isn't shooting missiles and bombs into civilian homes...

O has been the ONLY candidate in this entire campaign who has focused on Economic issues such as Poverty and Education as being the base of inequality and the garden of recruitment of future terrorists... When people have a job, have food and can educate themselves and their family, they do not feel a need to go out and kill the ones that have more.

This Presidency (Regime) has done more to prove that the US is a military state only concerned with forcing our form of Democracy (read fascism) down the rest of the world's throats than any before... I attribute that to a more informed world...

Until we kill the cause of terrorism we will never kill terrorism by killing the current leaders....

[MacDad]

poverty has nothing to do with the Islamo fascist terrorism that afflicts us globally - time and time again the terrorists have western educations (Atta) and are 2nd generation westerners (LDN bombers) - they hate and kill us for what we represent - freedom and tolerance for others.

[LITU]

I am so fed up with being fed the candidate of the MSN choice. I made up my mind months ago to write in Kucinich in November. Wasted vote? Not even. A vote for Obama or McCain is the waste (and our undoing).

[lainey]

There is no pandering. Once again, people only hear what they want. Today he was asked specific questions to which he answered directly. I realize that hating Israel is "in vogue" these days, yet it only comes from those who know nothing of the Holocaust or the constant state of attacks on its people. You would be better served to send your message to Hamas--ask them to recognize their neighbor because whether they like it or not--it exists!! Israel has contributed to the world in every aspect. Ask Hamas to give their people the jobs they promised. Ask their leaders to give the money they receive to their citizens suffering. Ask Hamas to rebuild the infrastructure that was burnt to the ground after Israel gave it back. Hold those responsible for the suffering of the people of Palestine--their elected government. Playing victim because Israel has become a powerful and smart country is a sophomoric thing to do. The people of Palestine deserve more from their own government and those like you who continue to condone terror. Stop pretending that you care about the people suffering by blaming Senator Obama and Israel. It is blatantly obvious and embarrassing for you. One should really think before posting such hate-filled remarks.

[edtastic]

Disdain for states that terrorize large civilian populations is in vogue and should remain in vogue for the sake of humanity. Israel's behavior since Ariel Sharon took power has been nothing short of criminal. The systematic oppression of the Palistinians, the segregation wall, the blatant disregard for the humanity of the people in the occupied terrotories has undermined Israel's credability. We are rightly outraged and you have the audacity to mock us and refer to us has being hate filled for questioning your philosophy of Jewish Hegenomy over the Middle East being the only means of reaching peace. Well I am sorry if we have more faith in humanity than you do, we feel Arabs are capable of rational behavior regardless of the propaganda we are fed.

You can keep using the holocaust as an excuse 60 years later and reinforce the fear of gentiles as a legitimate justification for persecuting legitimate residents of Palistine heaping the blame for all things on kids throwing rocks at tanks and home made rockets sent from starving populations with raw sewage running down their streets, while Israeli's enjoy American welfare.

[patmancando]

I didn't know 0-man chaired the banking committee......I wasn't even aware he was on the banking committee. With the number of days he has spent in the Senate these past 17 months, and a voting record of less than 50% how can he claim to be a major for in any legislation. H*ll, he couldn't even hold a meeting of his subcommittee on Afghanistan and NATO's role.. I know that Biden said he wanted all those hearing R/T Afghanistan to go through his committee, but that had the ring of making an excuse for 0-man; so McCain couldn't attack him on that issue.

[DRaymond]

You can try to dismiss Biden's explaination as not having the right 'ring' but the committee which McCain is on has held several meetings regarding Afghanistan and he has attended any of them.

[Liberoservative]

you mean that he has NOT attended any of them in the past two years

[LordKelvin]

Out of bounds! Obama falsely claims to be Banking Committee member!!!!!!!!!!!

READ....... http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/45304.html.

If you remove an empty SUIT from the rack it will not stand up.

COGITO, ERGO SUM.

[Liberoservative]

You are pretty much an idiot, even if you speak with pretty words...
I think, therefore I am?

Well, yah... that is pretty much the whole basis of the Democrats....

the Repubs have

I am, therefore I don't think!

[Liberoservative]

Yep, you caught him in a gaffe...

Now move on...
Or do you want me to enumerate the McC lies, obfuscation, questionable associations, flip flops, and inability to present a cogent plan for our nation?

Other than MORE WAR , of course...

[Justsaynodeal]

"Yep, you caught him in a gaffe..."


That was not a gaffe.....­..........­that was a deliberate attempt to pad his resume'......and not the first time he has padded it. BTW, McCain is not the topic of this article and had nothing to do with my post.

[folkerosa1]

Hear Hear!!! I have lived in Illinois all my life. O has done absolutly nothing that I can see. He used the same line of change when he ran here. Many fell for it, but then again many won't be fooled again!
I have looked into his record as far back as I could find. Mr O gets the big 0. He worked some innercity projects, but nothing for the rest of us. I'm 50 and have never in my life used state or government funds to get by. He leached himself onto anyone who could further his political ambitions. (then dumped them when they became a liability.) We have higher taxes than most states, large losses in businesses, doctors etc. Heck we can't even balance our budget. 2 billion in the hole! Recently I read an article in one of the Chicago papers where the writer put a challenge out to Mr O. He asked him to prove himself by solving the issues in Illinois. After all isn't that supposed to be his job right now.....Senator O?

[EggsBolinski]

Remember those old 'all wars are dumb' anti-war speeches. Obama with his 'only against dumb wars' anti-war speech has really brought hope and change to the 21st Century video games generation. Yes kids, study hard so we can make all future wars 'smart' and wars we can believe in !!!

[Wild West]

How does anyone fix all the hate......?