FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Hussein Ibish
November 25, 2009 - 12:00am
Nov. 25, Washington, DC – The American Task Force on Palestine today reiterated its long-standing support for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian permanent status negotiations on the basis outlined by President Barack Obama in his speech before the UN General Assembly addressing, “the permanent-status issues: security for Israelis and Palestinians; borders, refugees and Jerusalem.”
ATFP noted that the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today of a 10-month moratorium on settlement activity that does not include occupied East Jerusalem and some projects already underway, falls short of Israel’s obligations under the Roadmap, and is regarded as insufficient by all other parties, including the United States. However, ATFP believes that the United States government should build on this announcement to push for negotiations that address all the core issues, including Jerusalem.
The Task Force emphasized that today’s announcement by Israel again demonstrates that Jerusalem must be a core issue in any permanent status talks. ATFP supports the position outlined by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs that, "Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally preempt, or appear to preempt, negotiations" in Jerusalem.
ATFP also welcomed statements by Special Envoy George Mitchell that reiterated the US government position that Israeli continued settlement activity is illegitimate. The Task Force urges the United States to continue to work towards its stated objective of securing an end-of-conflict agreement.
Transcript of briefing by special envoy George Mitchell
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release November 25, 2009
2009/1179
On-The-Record Briefing
Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell
November 25, 2009
Washington, D.C.
MR. WOOD: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the briefing. As promised, Senator Mitchell is here, and he is going to give you an update on the recent announcement by the Israeli Government with regard to settlements. So without further ado, Senator Mitchell.
MR. MITCHELL: Great. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Prime Minister Netanyahu has just announced his government’s moratorium on new settlement buildings. I think it’s important to look at this issue in a broader context, particularly how it affects the situation on the ground and how it can contribute to a constructive negotiating process that will ultimately lead to an end to the conflict and to a two-state solution.
It falls short of a full settlement freeze, but it is more than any Israeli Government has done before, and can help move toward agreement between the parties. As President Obama has said many times, we believe that a two-state solution to the conflict is the best way to realize the shared goal of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. It is also in the national security interest of the United States. It is urgently needed.
The President knows that achieving this goal will be difficult, but he also has said that he will not waiver in his persistent pursuit of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. For that reason, he has dedicated himself and his Administration to the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and to the creation of an atmosphere that maximizes the prospects for success.
To be clear, the steps we have suggested to all parties – Israel, the Palestinians, and the Arab States – to improve the atmosphere for negotiations are not ends in themselves, and they certainly are not preconditions to negotiations. But they can make a valuable contribution toward achieving our goal of successful negotiations that result in a two-state solution. That’s why we’ve urged the Palestinians to expand and improve their security efforts and to take strong and meaningful action on incitement. It’s why we’ve urged the Arab states to take steps toward normalization of relations with Israel, and it’s why we’ve urged Israel to stop settlement activity...READ MORE
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