WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associateswere satisfied by US President Barack Obama's clarifications during his address to pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in Washington, Sunday.
Netanyahu and his aides reportedly watched Obama's AIPAC speech at Blair House – the president's official guest house.
One of the associates told Ynet that the speech was "befitting," and that they were particularly pleased with Obama's clarifications about considering the 1967 borders as the basis for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but not necessarily as the final ones.
Obama's statements regarding the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit andthe need of Hamas toabandon terror and recognize Israel also went over well.
"I share the President's wish to promote peace and I appreciate his past and present efforts to achieve this goal. I am determined to work with President Obama in order to find ways to resume the peace negotiations. Peace is a vital necessity for us all," Netanyahu said.
Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, who was present at the AIPAC speech, said that the two-state solution was first and foremost an Israeli interest.
"Israel must lead in partnership with the US... the world looks up to the US' relationship with Israel, so the message coming out of Washington these days is very important," she said.