Channels

Cheney and wife Lynne arrive in Israel
Photo: AFP
Cheney (L) with Olmert
Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO

Cheney says US won't pressure Israel on security

'We back Israel's right to defend itself against rockets from Hamas-ruled Gaza,' US vice president says during joint Jerusalem press conference with Olmert. 'America's commitment to Israel's security is enduring and unshakable,' he adds

The United States backs Israel's right to defend itself against rockets from Hamas-ruled Gaza and will not pressure the Jewish state to take steps that threaten its security, US Vice President Dick Cheney told a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem Saturday evening.   


Press conference in Jerusalem (Photo: Gil Yohanan) 

 

"America's commitment to Israel's security is enduring and unshakable, as is Israel's right to protect itself always against terrorism, rocket attacks and other attacks from forces dedicated to Israel's destruction," Cheney said, adding that "the United States will never pressure Israel to take steps that threaten its security."

 

The vice president reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state, and assured Palestinian leaders that "they, too, can be certain of America's goodwill" as it tries to help Israel and the Palestinians reach an accord.

 

"We want to see a resolution to the conflict, an end to the terrorism that has caused so much grief to Israelis, and a new beginning for the Palestinian people," he said, adding that "we must not and will not ignore darkening shadows of the situation in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Syria and Iran," and the threats these areas pose to Israel. 


FM Livni greets Cheney at Ben Gurion Airport Saturday (Photo: AP)

 

Olmert told the reporters that the meetings with Cheney will focus on the Iranian nuclear program, the rocket attacks from Gaza and the peace process. 

 

During his 24-hour visit, Cheney is also expected to meet with President Shimon Peres Defense Minster Ehud Barak, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who greeted the vice president at Ben Gurion Airport Saturday evening.  

 

The vice-president's spokesperson, Lea Anne McBride, said the meetings will also touch on "Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism and to protect its citizens."

 

Cheney, who arrived in Israel after two days in Saudi Arabia, plans to attend an Easter service Sunday in Jerusalem, then head to Ramallah in the West Bank for talks with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

McBride said Cheney "looks forward to visiting the Palestinian territories to reaffirm the president's commitment to the current efforts toward the two-state solution and efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions."

 

AP and Reuters contributed to this report

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.22.08, 20:50
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment