Ahmadinejad tells Stephanopoulos: I Accept Two State Solution (Full Transcript of Interview)

Washington, April 26

This is big news.  George Stephanopoulos interviews President Ahmadinejad on “This Week” today and the Iranian President tells him that if the Palestinians and Israelis come to terms, he will accept Israel. Here is the relevant passage.

STEPHANOPOULOS: "If the Palestinians sign an agreement with Israel, will Iran support it?"

 AHMADINEJAD: "Whatever decision they take is fine with us.  We are not going to determine anything.  Whatever decision they take, we will support that.  We think that this is the right of the Palestinian people, however we fully expect other states to do so as well:  the U.S. administration, European governments.  The right to determine their fate by the Palestinians should be respected by all of them."

Ahmadinejad’s statement is his reponse to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s demand that he will only engage in negotiations with the Palestinians if Iran’s anti-Israel stance and nuclear program are addressed first, an approach the Obama administration rejects.  It believes that implementing the two-state solution must come first because resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will, in itself, help address the Iranian threat.

Ahmadinejad throws the ball back in Israel’s court.  Make peace with the Palestinians and I’ll accept it, and you, too, he says. 

This statement will strengthen Obama’s hand with Netanyahu.  The neocons always want Ahmadinejad to play theiir game and promise to rain destruction on Israel.  This time Ahmadinejad refused to play.

Obama’s approach seems to be making a differemce. 

THE FULL INTERVIEW WILL BE AIRED ON ABC THIS MORNING.