World reaction mixed on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech

There have been mixed reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Sunday. In the speech, for the first time he endorsed the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state beside Israel. It came with numerous conditions, which upset Palestinians but won support from home.

Netanyahu's policy speech enraged Palestinians.

Many are angry about the conditions he raised for an independent Palestinian state. They are particularly upset by his rejection of the aspirations of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in pre-1948 Palestine, which are in present day Israel.

Jamil Khaled, Palestinian Refugee, said, "It's impossible to have peace without the return of the refugees. And if they are forced to accept this arrangement now, a new generation will come up and void all these agreements."

The leader of the militant Hezbollah group also denounced Netanyahu's speech.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Leader, said, "Netanyahu's speech deflated all the hopes of all the Arabs, all their governments and all the so-called moderate Arabs who were betting on the success of reaching an agreement in the region."

But the Israeli Prime Minister's speech won support from home.

Even the leader of the opposition Kadima party expressed tentative agreement.

Tzipi Livni, Leader Opposition Kadima Party, said, "The prime minister made a step in the right direction, a step forward, albeit late and with hesitation, under pressure and with many ifs and buts, but words in the right direction."

Over in the US, the Obama administration is weighing its reaction carefully. Palestinian officials are appealing to Washington for help after Netanyahu's tough words.

Ian Kelly, Spokesman US State Department, said, "We've seen the reaction of various Palestinian leaders and officials and we just... we just want to reiterate that it is in the interests of everyone in the region to come up with a solution."

The speech has also drawn a range of different reactions from Middle East analysts.

Some say the speech raises new obstacles to peace, while others believe it's at least a step forward.