Members of Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud Party last night expressed satisfaction with Barack Obama's speech and said that the president's remarks were prompted by the forceful stand taken by the prime minister.
"The wisdom and determination of the prime minister and the dividends that they yielded were evident in President Obama's speech," said MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen. "President Obama gave an explicit, emphatic 'no' to the '67 lines and Hamas [while expressing] boundless support for the State of Israel as a Jewish and a democratic state whose security is ensured."
Likud MK Danny Danon said that "Obama must understand that Israel will not pay the price for his tuition as he gets caught up to speed on the essence of the conflict. Obama is zigzagging in accordance with whatever position will give him more votes while justifying his Nobel Prize. We must stand strong in order to ensure that this will not be on account of the state of Israel."
Opposition leader MK Tzipi Livni (Kadima ) said Obama's speech represented longstanding American policy. "When there is a will, then it is possible to enlist the United States to your side in the understanding that there is a joint interest at play," she said.