Supporters of Israel must recognize that it is not sufficient to simply articulate a desire for peace and security for Israel; it is necessary to work to achieve it. This means, for the sake of both Israel and the U.S., working to resolve Israel's struggle with the Palestinians and the simmering conflict with the Arab world.

History is clear: Israelis were safest from Palestinian attacks when the peace process was on track and the Palestinian leadership was invested in maintaining quiet. It is no coincidence that the ONLY period in recent history when Palestinian terrorism against Israel ground to an almost total halt was during the mid-1990s, when Israel was engaged in an effort to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace and was working closely with the Palestinian Authority both to promote the peace process and to fight terror. Indeed, from 2000-2004, following the breakdown of the peace process, Israel suffered more casualties from terrorism than it did in the previous 52 years of its existence, and more deaths than in all but two of its wars.

History is clear, too, with respect to Israel's Arab neighbors: Israel achieved security along its borders with Egypt and Jordan not on the battlefield but at the negotiating table, with security guarantees that have stood the test of time. Where Lebanon is concerned, from Israel's first ill-fated foray into Lebanon in 1978, to its 18-year occupation of south Lebanon, to the summer 2006 war with Hezbollah, military action has been unable to deliver real security for Israel on that border. Lacking a political agreement, security has remained elusive.

Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion (quoted by Ehud Olmert on November 27, 2006) said, "I would consider it a great sin, not only towards our generation but towards future generations as well...if future generations had cause to blame the Government of Israel of missing an opportunity for peace." These wise words apply, equally, today, and to the efforts of the U.S. in this arena.

The U.S. would also do well to bear in mind the words of former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, who famously stated, "If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." The policy of the past eight years of non-engagement with respect to Syria, Iran, and other parties placed at risk both Israeli and U.S. interests. For the sake of both the U.S. and Israel, this flawed and failed approach must be discarded.

APN supports sustained, serious U.S. engagement to achieve progress toward Israeli-Arab peace. We believe it is critical for the Obama Administration to bring to bear the full force of American political and diplomatic influence to achieve Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace.