(4 Jun 2008)
1. Wide of US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama greeting officials on stage at annual convention of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), waves
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US Democratic presidential hopeful:
"The long road to peace requires Palestinian partners committed to making this journey, we must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognise Israel's right to exist and abide by past agreements. There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organisations."
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5. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US Democratic presidential hopeful:
"Any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state with secure, recognised, defensible borders. And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."
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7. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US Democratic presidential hopeful:
"Keeping all of our troops tied down indefinitely in Iraq is not the way to weaken Iran, it is precisely what has strengthened it. It is a policy for staying, not a policy for victory. I have proposed a responsible, phased re-deployment of our troops from Iraq. We will get out as carefully as we were careless getting in. We will finally pressure Iraq's leaders to take meaningful responsibility for their own future. We will also use all elements of American power to pressure Iran. I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything."
STORYLINE:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama assured Jewish leaders on Wednesday that he will be a steadfast ally of Israel and will not negotiate with "terrorist groups", a response to attacks levelled against him recently by Republicans.
Only hours after securing his party's nomination, Obama used a previously scheduled speech to 7-thousand pro-Israel activists to try to ease concerns that some Jewish voters have about him and his stance on Middle East matters.
He pointedly criticised Senator John McCain, his Republican opponent this fall, and rebutted claims that he underestimates the threat that Iran poses and would naively enter into unwise talks with US adversaries.
He told an annual gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a major Jewish bipartisan group, that he would never compromise when it came to Israel's security.
McCain, President George W. Bush and some Democrats have criticised Obama for saying he would talk with leaders of hostile nations such as Iran.
At the AIPAC gathering, Obama outlined limits he sees for such negotiations.
"We must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognise Israel's right to exist and abide by past agreements," he said.
"There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organisations."
Obama drew huge applause after stating his position on the holy city of Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel," he said. "And it must remain undivided."
Most Israelis also oppose dividing Jerusalem, a key Palestinian demand in peace talks.
His comments come as the chief Palestinian peace negotiator Ahmed Qureia on Wednesday cast serious doubt on US President George W. Bush's goal of brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of the year, saying it would take a "miracle" to wrap up an agreement.
On Iraq, Obama said Bush's decision to invade had enabled the hardliners in Iran to tighten their grip on power, leaving both the United States and Israel less secure.
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