Following Vice President Biden and Senator Kerry’s remarks this morning at AIPAC Policy Conference, J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:

J Street strongly endorses remarks by Vice President Biden and Senator Kerry today at the AIPAC Policy Conference, reaffirming the United States’ unshakable commitment to Israel’s security and the strong commitment of the Obama Administration and Senate leadership to the two-state solution and to tough direct diplomacy with Iran. We agree with both the Vice President and Senator that – while both the Israelis and Palestinians have to take steps to enable a resolution to their conflict – a serious push for a two-state solution must begin with a freeze of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank. The Vice President and Senator’s remarks are part of the clear and growing consensus that the “window of opportunity is fast closing” for a two-state solution and that bold, sustained American leadership will be necessary to bring about a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Only determined American leadership – exemplified this morning by Vice President Biden and Senator Kerry – can bring real peace and security to Israel, the Palestinians, and the entire Middle East.