Israeli politicians have responded the US president Barack Obama’s Nobel peace prize win, asking him to stand firm on his commitments to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East.
The announcement of the prize was made while Israeli president Binyamin Netanyahu was in Washington for more talks with Mr Obama’s special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak said: “I hope the award will boost President Obama's ability to contribute to the establishment of regional peace in the Middle East and to a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, which will bring about security and prosperity to all the region's nations."
Israel’s president Shimon Peres said: “There are few leaders who have managed to change the atmosphere in the world in such a short time.
