Obama vows to be 'key partner' in ME talks

US presidential candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed an "unshakeable" commitment to Israel and take advantage of what he said was a window of opportunity for Middle East peace if he was elected, while saying a nuclear Iran would pose a "grave threat" that the world must prevent.
"I bring here an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security," Obama said with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni by his side, on the latest leg of his Middle Eastern and European campaign swing.At a Press conference in Sderot, he reiterated his vow to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, and promised a vigorous diplomatic effort to try to convince Tehran to cease its nuclear weapons programme.
Obama spoke of "big sticks and big carrots" regarding the Iranian regime and repeated his openness to meeting with it, if the conditions were appropriate.
Obama had flown by helicopter to Sderot after holding talks with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, and left his hosts reassured he would commit to Middle East peacemaking.
"I will not wait until a few years into my term or my second term if I am elected in order to get the process moving," Obama said. "I think we have a window right now that needs to be taken advantage of."
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP that in his talks with President Abbas Obama said he would be an "important partner" in Middle East peace talks.
Obama said, "If he wins the election in the United States he will be a full and positive partner in the peace process and will not lose a single moment in pursuing it."
The Illinois senator said he had not backed down from his comment that Jerusalem should not be divided, which he made before the US Jewish lobby last month, sparking anger among Palestinians.
"I have not changed my statement," Obama told reporters in Sderot.
"I continue to say that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel. I have said it before and will say it again ... but I've also said that it is a final status issue" that must be decided by negotiation.