Mideast Peace Failure a Disgrace, Says Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Martti Ahtisaari, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, stated it is a disgrace that the international community has not managed to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari feels that it is a lack of political will that is behind the failure to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Ahtisaari was speaking with Swedish radio when he said he was ashamed that neither Europe nor the U.S. have been capable of reaching a solution yet. "How can we, year after year, seriously say that we are trying to reach a solution when we aren't?" he asked. "I'm ashamed, I have to admit that." Ahtisaari was also quoted as saying he hoped the next U.S. president would use his first year in office to try find a permanent solution in the Middle East. "If the political will is there, we can solve anything. It is clear a Palestinian state is needed," Ahtisaari said and added the Israelis need to be guaranteed peace.