Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a full settlement freeze, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that President Obama "wants to see a stop to settlements - not some settlements, not outposts, not natural-growth exceptions."
Amen. A freeze means a freeze. This is exactly the sort of leadership we need from the President and Secretary of State if we are going to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - the only way to truly secure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic homeland.
You can bet the Obama Administration is already hearing from hawkish voices on Israel - urging him to make exceptions, allow for more settlement growth, and to go slow. We've got to make sure the President knows pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans support his strong line on settlements, for both Israel's and America's sake and security. Send a message to the President here in support of his "Freeze means Freeze" approach to Israeli settlements.
Continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank is a real obstacle to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians - and as President Obama said, settlements "have to be stopped."
Of course, Israeli settlements aren't the only obstacle to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Palestinians also have responsibilities of their own - they must bring an end to terror and incitement against Israel and maintain a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel also needs to allow for Palestinian freedom of movement in the West Bank and to open the Gaza border crossings for humanitarian supplies and reconstruction materials.
The dance between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama over settlements is just getting started. As in the past, Netanyahu will stall - hoping his American backers have enough time to undermine the President's efforts in Congress or convince the President that the political costs of bold leadership are too high.
We've got to make sure the President and his Admnistration hear from the majority of Americans like us who support the President's call for a settlement freeze, without exceptions, right now. Send a message to the President supporting his "Freeze means Freeze" approach to Israeli settlements.
