J Street is proud to have sponsored a tour of seven distinguished Israeli security and political experts, including retired IDF Generals and Ambassadors, to the U.S. discuss Israel's security needs and interests. The delegation met with members of President Obama’s administration, members of Congress and at the Pentagon. Israeli Maj. Gen. (ret.) Shlomo Gazit, former Ambassador Alon Pinkas and Brig. Gen. (ret.) Nehamiah Dagan, among the others, spoke about the urgent need for Israel-Palestinian negotiations on a two-state solution to begin in advance of the anticipated UN vote on Palestinian statehood in September. They told the administration, members of Congress and U.S military officials that President Obama’s declaration for a negotiated settlement based on 1967 lines with agreed-upon land swaps was not just defensible, but was a political and military imperative for Israel. Read More...

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Thank you very much Shmuel, and thank you to President Shimon Peres and the organizers of this year’s conference for inviting me to participate. We come together at a time when serious decisions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are under discussion, whose resolution will have implications not just for the future of Israel but for Jews living all over the world. It is not surprising that deep tensions accompany these discussions as they raise questions of life and death, the success or failure of the state of Israel and the very heart and soul of the Jewish people. Read More...

In reaction to violence in and around Israel today, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami calls on Palestinian leaders and the Israeli government to minimize further violence and casualties, and for President Obama to put forward a concrete set of ideas for breaking the present diplomatic impasse. Read More...

Delegation meeting with Israeli and Palestinian Presidents, other top political leaders JERUSALEM-- J Street national leaders are arriving in Israel for meetings this week with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, Leader of the Opposition Tzipi Livni, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and others. Read More...