J Street applauds Secretary of State Kerry’s speech today, which powerfully made the case that the two-state solution is not only in Israeli and Palestinian interests, but in the American national interest as well.

J Street strongly supports as well the Secretary’s proposals for concrete steps toward the two-state solution that can be taken now and his outline of the basic principles on which resolution of the conflict can ultimately be based.

The Secretary laid out a clear choice for those who care about Israel’s future and security as the democratic home of the Jewish people. They can continue down the present path of unbridled settlement and occupation, and there will be one state between the Jordan and the Mediterranean that will have to choose between being Jewish or democratic in nature. Or, they can take the steps necessary to keep the chances for separation into two states alive so that Israel can remain both Jewish and democratic.

We thank the Secretary for delivering that message so powerfully and calling urgent attention to the deteriorating reality on the ground that is challenging the viability of the two-state solution.

The speech complemented and provided important context around the US abstention last week on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which reaffirmed the need for a two-state solution and called for a halt to actions by both sides that serve to undermine the prospects for peace.

Taken together, these actions by the Obama administration leave behind a legacy that demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing decades-old bipartisan American policy goals: guaranteeing Israel’s security and qualitative military edge, reaching a two-state solution that finally resolves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, creating an independent Palestinian state and bringing an end to the ongoing occupation.

J Street calls on Members of Congress to welcome and respect the vision laid out by Secretary Kerry as an important marker and reaffirmation of US policy, and as a basis for future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to achieve the lasting peace and security that both peoples crave and deserve.

We call as well on Jewish communal leaders to endorse this vision and to make clear that the overwhelming majority of Jewish Americans and friends of Israel choose the path of two states and not the path that leads to a “Greater Israel” and increasing international isolation.