Obama urges independent, sovereign Palestine

Obama says the US is “deeply committed” to the establishment “of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine.”

Obama says Palestinians deserve an end to occupation and the indignities that come with it, and deserve freedom of movement. Like people anywhere, he says, Palestinians deserve a future of hope.

“Put simply,” he says, “Palestinians deserve a state of their own.”

He reminds listeners that the US is the Palestinians’ biggest donor.

He notes new construction in Ramallah since his last visit five years ago. He says the Palestinian Authority is more “transparent,” and its security forces are “stronger.”

He notes misery in Gaza, saying it is “because Hamas refuses to renounce violence… because too often it focuses on tearing Israel down than building Palestine up.”

He condemns the rocket fire, and says it was a “violation that Hamas had a responsibility to prevent.”