Brit Tzedek v’Shalom said the president made a "persuasive case for the common interest in resolving" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday, and said it stands with the president.
"The usual suspects will likely rush to characterize the President’s insistence that both Israelis and Palestinians uphold preexisting commitments — including a complete freeze on all Israeli settlement expansion and a concerted effort by the Palestinians to end all violence and incitement — as indicative of an historic realignment that threatens Israel’s alliance with the United States," said Brit Tzedek executive director Diane Balser. "In truth, the single most pro-Israel thing an American President can do is to actively pursue a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as Israel’s very future as a democracy and a Jewish homeland depends on it."
The group’s full statement is after the jump:[[READMORE]]
Diane Balser, executive director of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the country’s largest Jewish grassroots peace movement, released the following statement in response to President Obama’s speech today from Cairo.
"Today in his historic address to the Muslim world from Cairo, President Obama made clear his commitment to renew US leadership in negotiating a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The current stalemate is not only unspeakably tragic for Israelis and Palestinians alike, but fans the flame of extremism across the region and thus threatens the United States’ national security interests in the region.
The usual suspects will likely rush to characterize the President’s insistence that both Israelis and Palestinians uphold preexisting commitments –including a complete freeze on all Israeli settlement expansion and a concerted effort by the Palestinians to end all violence and incitement — as indicative of an historic realignment that threatens Israel’s alliance with the United States. In truth, the single most pro-Israel thing an American President can do is to actively pursue a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as Israel’s very future as a democracy and a Jewish homeland depends on it.
The President made persuasive case for the common interest in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which extends beyond the two parties,to include the Arab countries, the United States and its allies around the world. As Americans, as Jews and as people deeply committed to ensuring Israel’s prospects for long-term peace and security, we stand with the President and with all those willing to work in pursuit of a resolution to the conflict."
