PRESS RELEASE June 14, 2009
CONTACT: Ori Nir - (202) 728-1893
Washington, D.C - Americans for Peace Now (APN) today called on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back up his commitment to negotiate toward the creation of a Palestinian state with sincere, constructive action. APN expressed hope that Netanyahu's speech today reflects an honest recognition on his part that a two-state solution is the only viable way to secure Israel as a democratic, Jewish state for generations to come. "Words are important, and talk about a future Palestinian state is positive, but such words must be honest and must be followed up by action," said Debra DeLee, APN's President and CEO.
"Israelis and their neighbors need to see tangible results. Momentum toward peace can only be generated if all parties to the conflict take the kind of bold measures that President Obama is calling for. Palestinians must fight terrorism and incitement to violence. Israel must stop all settlement activity and remove illegal outposts, and Arab governments must take steps to support progress," DeLee said. "President Obama is offering Israel his full assistance to reach the kind of comprehensive, regional peace with security that Israel has been seeking for more than 61 years. Obama's push for regional peace represents an opportunity that no Israeli leader should turn down," DeLee said. "It is not too late for Netanyahu to take advantage of President Obama's initiative and take the necessary measures to help the push for peace," said DeLee. "APN expects Netanyahu to work in earnest with our president to pursue viable peace accords between Israel and its neighbors. First, Netanyahu must enact a comprehensive freeze of all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It is not too late for him to do that," DeLee said.
"Unfortunately, instead of reminding Israelis that peace requires painful concessions, Netanyahu emphasized dated clichés, preconditions and negotiations non-starters, such as an undivided Jerusalem, symbolic Palestinian autonomy and continued settlement construction," Said DeLee.
APN, the sister organization of Israel's Peace Now movement, is America's leading organization advocating for Middle East peace.
