"All of us, in our hearts and in our lives, are capable of great and lasting change."Following a day of bilateral meetings with Middle East leaders at the White House, President Obama hosted a working dinner in the Old Family Dining Room. The 8:00 PM event, closed to press, was attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Tony Blair, the international Middle East envoy and former British Prime Minister, and President Hosni Mubarek of Egypt. The peace talks, which begin formally on Thursday at the State Department, are intended to resolve all final status issues.
At an internationally televis
ed 7:00 PM press conference held in the East Room before the dinner, President Obama spoke about the dinner and the peace talks, as did Abbas, Netanyahu, King Abdullah II, and Mubarek. (Above, the President during his remarks)"Our dinner this evening will be a small gathering around a single table," President Obama said. "Yet when we come together, we will not be alone. We’ll be joined by the generations —- those who have gone before and those who will follow."
Noting that the talks come as Muslims celebrate Ramadan and Jews note Elul, the President pointed out that it is "rare for these two months to coincide."
"This year, tonight, they do. Different faiths, different rituals, but a shared period of devotion —- and contemplation," President Obama said. "A time to reflect on right and wrong; a time to ponder one’s place in the world; a time when the people of two great religions remind the world of a truth that is both simple and profound, that each of us, all of us, in our hearts and in our lives, are capable of great and lasting change."
As he noted that each leader participating in the peace negotiations holds a title of distinction, but come from profoundly different backgrounds, the President focused on common goals.
"All of us are leaders of our people, who, no matter the language they speak or the faith they practice, all basically seek the same things: to live in security, free from fear; to live in dignity, free from want; to provide for their families and to realize a better tomorrow," President Obama said. "Tonight, they look to us, and each of us must decide, will we work diligently to fulfill their aspirations?"
Above: Before the start of the dinner, as President Obama looks on in the Blue Room, President Mubarek, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and President Abbas check their watches to see if it is officially sunset; food cannot be consumed before sunset by observant Muslims during Ramadan.>The full transcript of President Obama's remarks, and the remarks by the other leaders, is here.
In their own remarks, the other leaders commended each others' efforts in the peace process, and also spoke about the impact of the negotiations on the generations to come, as well as noting that time is running out--and that President Obama is the critical broker for peace.
"I consider this invitation a manifestation of your commitment and a significant message that the United States will shepherd these negotiations seriously and at the highest level," President Mubarak said. "I say to the Israelis, seize the current opportunity. Do not let it slip through your fingers. Make comprehensive peace your goal. Extend your hand to meet the hand already extended in the Arab Peace Initiative."
"Time is not on our side," King Abdullah II said. "That is why we must spare no effort in addressing all final status issues with a view to reaching the two-state solution, the only solution that can create a future worthy of our great region -- a future of peace in which fathers and mothers can raise their children without fear, young people can look forward to lives of achievement and hope, and 300 million people can cooperate for mutual benefit." (Above: The White House released a compilation photo of President Obama with each leader, taken during the day's bilateral meetings in the Oval Office)Prime Minister Netanya
hu countered that Israel is prepared to negotiate a just and lasting peace."I’m prepared to walk down the path of peace, because I know what peace would mean for our children and for our grandchildren," Prime Miniser Netanyahu said. "I know it would herald a new beginning that could unleash unprecedented opportunities for Israelis, for Palestinians, and for the peoples -- all the peoples -- of our region, and well beyond our region. I think it would affect the world." (Above: The President listens as Netanyahu speaks)
President Abbas pledged his commitment, too.
"We will spare no effort and will work diligently and tirelessly to ensure that these new negotiations achieve their goals and objectives in dealing with all of the issues: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, border security, water, as well as the release of all our prisoners -- in order to achieve peace," Abbas said. The people of our area are looking for peace that achieves freedom, independence, and justice."
A video of the leaders' remarks:
At 5:00 in the afternoon, the President held a press conference in the Rose Garden, hailing the resumption of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leadership, and laying out the purpose and goals of the negotiations.
“These negotiations are intended to resolve all final status issues," President Obama said. "The goal is a settlement negotiated between the parties that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and results in the emergence, democratic, and viable Palestinian state that is living side by side in peace and security with a Jewish state of Israel and its other neighbors. That is the vision we are pursuing.”
*Large photos by Pete Souza/White House; insets by Reuters.
*Updated with video
