World leaders must step forward to support the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians or risk more years of conflict and bloodshed, US president Barack Obama said today.
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Obama renewed the US commitment to Israel's security and urged Arab nations to match their pledges of support for the peace process with deeds that will push it forward, including "demonstrating the normalisation" promised to Israel.
"Peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but each of us has a responsibility to do our part as well," Mr Obama said.
The US-sponsored peace talks are near a critical juncture with the scheduled September 26th expiration of Israel's 10-month moratorium on settlement construction. Mr Obama reiterated his call for Israel to extend the moratorium as a way to build trust and keep the process going.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly has said he doesn't plan on extending the freeze. Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas said the talks, which began earlier this month in Washington, can't continue if construction resumes.
"Now is the time for the parties to help each other overcome this obstacle," Mr Obama said at the UN. "Now is the time to build the trust - and provide the time - for substantial progress to be made."
Mr Obama's address also touched on the global economy, combating al-Qaeda, stopping the spread of nuclear weapons material, Iran's nuclear program and expanding human rights.
He said the world economy had been pulled back from the brink of depression in the wake of the global financial crisis.
He said what happened on Wall Street had a global impact and required all nations of the world to respond in concert. "I have had no greater focus as president than rescuing our economy from potential catastrophe," Mr Obama said.
"And in an age when prosperity is shared, we could not do this alone."
Through the Group of 20 nations and other organisations, the biggest economies have worked together to strengthen the financial system and spur economic growth, he said. Now emerging economies must be brought into the discussion, Mr Obama said.
"There is much to show for our efforts, even as there is much more work to be done."
Iran, he said, must give a clear demonstration of its promise of the peaceful intent of its nuclear program.
"The door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it," Obama said. "But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment, and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program."
Agencies