Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2013 - 12:00am
Washington
DC, March 21 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) warmly
welcomed President Barack Obama's historic speech to the people of
Israel and the broader Middle East region delivered in Jerusalem today.
The President reassured the Israeli people of the "unbreakable bonds of
friendship" between their country and the United States, and emphasized
the American commitment to their security. He praised Israel's
achievements, prosperity, and "thriving democracy." However, he issued
significant challenges to Israeli society about its vision for its own
future and that of the Palestinian people, and to the Palestinian people
and the rest of the Arab world about their relationship with Israel.
President
Obama noted that, "Politically, given the strong bipartisan support for
Israel in America, the easiest thing for me to do would be to put this
issue aside, and express unconditional support for whatever Israel
decides to do." But, he continued, he nonetheless wanted to make three
crucial points.
First,
he insisted that "peace is necessary" and "is the only path to true
security." The President told the audience that "the only way for Israel
to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the
realization of an independent and viable Palestine," and he warned that
defense technology is no substitute for peace.
Second,
President Obama insisted that, "peace is just" and "the Palestinian
people’s right to self-determination and justice must also be
recognized." He asked the Israeli people to put themselves in the
Palestinians' shoes and "look at the world through their eyes." "Neither
occupation nor expulsion is the answer," President Obama insisted,
declaring that, "Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their
own land." "I believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas
and Prime Minister Fayyad," he told his Israeli audience, citing
institution-building and security enforcement in the West Bank as
tangible achievements demonstrating this.
Third,
he asserted his conviction that "peace is possible." He called on "the
Arab World to take steps toward normalized relations with Israel," and
on the Palestinians to recognize that "Israel will be a Jewish state."
But, he insisted, "Israelis must recognize that continued settlement
activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an
independent Palestine must be viable– that real borders will have to be
drawn."
President
Obama urged the peoples of the region to press their leaders for
progress on peace, saying they "will not take risks if the people do not
demand that they do. You must create the change that you want to see."
He also cited prosperity as a key factor for securing the future for
Israel, the Palestinians and the rest of the Middle East, declaring, "I
believe that all of that potential for prosperity can be enhanced with
greater security, and a lasting peace."
ATFP
President Ziad J. Asali noted, "In this historic speech, President
Obama both reassured and challenged Israelis and Palestinians. He
reiterated the necessity for, and the vital American national security
interest in, peace. And he reaffirmed to the Palestinian people that
their quest for independence and statehood remains central to the
American foreign policy agenda." Dr. Asali said, "President Obama's
speech opens horizons for security, peace and prosperity across the
region." He added that, "What President Obama has issued is a momentous
challenge to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to find ways to work
together to translate this vision of peace and prosperity into a
reality, and create a future based on security, freedom and prosperity.
Having been reassured by President Obama of the full support of the
United States, it is up to people of courage on all sides to work to
realize the President's vision. And it is up to the friends and
supporters of Israel and Palestine in the United States and around the
world to play their part in bringing this vision to reality."
[AS
ALWAYS
PLEASE GO TO THE LINK
TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN
FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and
conversations) THAT EMPOWER
DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE &
PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]
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Mission
The
American Task Force on Palestine's mission is to advocate for a
negotiated end-of-conflict agreement that is in the American national
interest and allows for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live
side-by-side in peace and security.
ATFP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.
Description
ATFP
seeks to build strong working relationships with government agencies,
think tanks, NGOs, and the media. It has developed lines of
communication with the US, Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian
governments to pursue its policy advocacy goals. ATFP has also engaged
in humanitarian fundraising to support health and education in the
Palestinian territories.
ATFP is strictly opposed to all acts
of violence against civilians. The Task Force advocates the development
of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized
and neutral in armed conflicts.
Please help sustain ATFP's work and independent decision-making by donating here.
