RAMALLAH – Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat Wednesday said he hoped that US President Barack Obama's reelection would mean the creation of a Palestinian state in the next four years. “We hope that a Palestinian state will be implemented in Obama's next term,” he told a news agency. Erakat pointed out that Israel had announced new settlement tenders as Americans were going to the polls Tuesday, and called on Obama to take swift action to prevent continuing Israeli settlement activity. He also urged the new administration to back Palestinian plans to seek enhanced status at the United Nations General Assembly, where they are expected to request non-member status later this month. “We hope Obama will stop settlements immediately and not stop the Palestinians from going to the UN to get non-member status because non-member status will protect the peace process and the two-state solution,” Erakat said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Obama for winning a second term and expressed his hope that Obama will continue his efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. “President Abbas expects change and hopes the new administration will continue to make the peace efforts one of its top priorities,” Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdaineh, said. The Hamas movement called on Obama to “learn from the mistakes of his first term.” Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas' spokesman, said that his movement will “judge on what Obama will implement on the ground and the policy of the United States toward the repressed nations including the Palestinian people.” Abu Zuhri called on Obama “to reconsider the American foreign policy toward the Palestinian cause and to change his country's bias in favor of Israel at the expense of the Palestinian rights topped by an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, releasing all detainees, return of refugees, knocking down the separation wall and ending Israeli colonialism.” Meanwhile, senior Israeli officials from the Right and Left congratulated US President Barack Obama on his re-election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and chairman of rightist Likud party, congratulated Obama in a short statement, noting that “the strategic alliance between Israel and the United States is stronger than ever.” Netanyahu vowed to “continue working with President Obama in order to safeguard the interests crucial for the security of Israel's citizens.” Knesset Members of Likud party expressed their disappointment over Obama's victory, expressing their hope that Israel would now be pressured into making political concessions. “Obama is not good for Israel and we're concerned that he will try to pressure Israel into making concessions because of his chilly relationship with Netanyahu,” the Israel's Radio quoted a Likud lawmaker as saying. Danny Danon, a Likud lawmaker and deputy Knesset Speaker, also expressed his disappointment as well, saying that Obama cannot be trusted. “The State of Israel will not surrender to Obama. We have no one to rely on but ourselves,” he argued. Shelly Yachimovich, Labor Party Chairwoman, said in a letter to Obama saying “I wish you success in your efforts to promote processes of peace and freedom around the world. We in Israel expect to continue the special relationship between Israel and America, which are real friends and allies.” The Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak congratulated Obama as well, saying “I have no doubt that the Obama administration will pursue a policy based supporting Israel's security and an effort to deal with the challenges faced by our entire region, while working to advance the peace process.” Shaul Mofaz, Chairman of centrist Kadima part, said that “our shared challenges are huge, as is the level of cooperation required. I am convinced that President Obama and the American people will stand by Israel as a true friend which shares the same values and goals.” The Chairwoman of leftist Meretz party, Zahava Gal-On, said in response that “another four years of this impressive leader are a source of hope for the entire democratic and human rights-seeking world. Obama won't let any Israeli leader ignore the need for a peace agreement.” “The Left won in America and the Left will win in Israel if the public votes for a party that does not sit in Bibi and Lieberman's peace-refusing government,” Gal-On said. Arab Member of Israeli Knesset Ahmad Tibi of United Arab List party also congratulated the US president, saying that “Obama's victory is the victory of ‘the other' and ‘the different' and a defeat for racists.” “This is the victory of ideals over aggression. The American people have proven their grandness and have headed out on the dawn of a new day and a new world. We must always remember, only in the darkness can one see the stars.”
