Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director of J Street, released the following statement:
J Street welcomes President Obama’s remarks today at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara as further evidence that he intends to seriously pursue resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian and broader Israeli-Arab conflicts.
The President unequivocally restated his and the United States’ commitment to active pursuit of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “Let me be clear: The United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security…. That is a goal that I will actively pursue as president.”
President Obama is correct in his insistence that a two-state solution to the conflict is the only path to preserve Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic homeland. International cooperation, including the United States and allies such as Turkey, is absolutely essential in achieving that goal. Active pursuit of a broad, regional resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict is critical not only to Israel’s security, but also to America’s interests in the Middle East and around the world. Diplomatic leadership, like that being demonstrated by President Obama, is a crucial step in advancing those interests.
As Prime Minister Netanyahu reviews Israel’s diplomatic choices and commitments over the next few weeks, we hope that he will choose to make good on his promise to be a “partner for peace” in a meaningful way.