Lara Friedman is Director of Policy and Government Relations for
Americans for Peace Now. As a leading authority on US foreign policy
in the Middle East, Israeli settlements policy, and Jerusalem,
Ms. Friedman frequently meets and briefs Members of Congress, US
Administration officials, foreign diplomats, and other members of the
foreign policy community. She is a frequent resource for journalists
and policymakers, and regularly publishes opinion and analysis pieces
in the US and Israeli press. A former Foreign Service Officer, she
served in Jerusalem, Washington, Tunis and Beirut, and is fluent in
French, Spanish, and Arabic. Originally from Tucson, Arizona,
Ms. Friedman is a life-long Wildcats basketball fan and is generally
happier when the sun is shining.
THE WHITE HOUSE -- Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
September 1, 2010
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK OF EGYPT, HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL, AND PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY BEFORE WORKING DINNER
East Room
7:05 P.M. EDT
For Immediate Release | September 01, 2010 | the Rose Garden | 5:27 P.M. EDT
Remarks by the President in the Rose Garden after Bilateral Meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt
THE WHITE HOUSE - Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release -- September 1, 2010
THE WHITE HOUSE
September 1, 2010
Oval Office Colonnade
12:24 P.M. EDT
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL
AFTER BILATERAL MEETING
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks since President Barack Obama took office.
There are good reasons to be skeptical that these talks will succeed, and the reasons for skepticism are clear: the readiness and ability of both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to deliver their respective sides of a peace agreement is in doubt; President Obama has yet to demonstrate the kind of hands-on, "I-will-not-let-this-fail" engagement that will be necessary for talks to succeed; and of course, spoilers will be out in force, seeking through actions and words to provoke hatred and anger, to undermine trust, and, if possible, to destroy this new peace process.
That said, there are also reasons to be hopeful that these talks can succeed. With most attention these days focused on the reasons for skepticism, we think this is an important time to look seriously at these reasons for hope.
8/23 
