J Street Leaders Bring Message of Urgency to Israel in Call for a Two-State Solution

May 1, 2011

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. With Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to the US Congress and reports of a forthcoming announcement from President Obama on the US administration’s next steps to facilitate an end to the conflict, the delegation of 25 board members and donors, led by J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami, call on the US Administration to demonstrate credible leadership in advancing a two-state solution and for all sides to take constructive action toward that end. In addition to discussions with Israeli and Palestinian political leadership, the delegation will hear a wide range of views from representatives of the IDF, Knesset members from multiple parties, and civil society leaders in meetings in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, the Lebanese border, and Ramallah. Delegation members are also participating in the official state ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day at Yad VaShem. “Ahead of the unilateral declaration at the UN on recognition of a Palestinian state this coming September, we find ourselves in a race against time to reach an agreement,” said Ben-Ami. “As Americans  deeply committed to Israel’s  security as a democracy and a Jewish homeland, we bring with us a sense of great urgency in calling on all parties to the conflict  to take immediate steps to advance the peace process, and we stand determined to do our part in seeing a two-state solution achieved.” This is the second J Street leadership trip to the region, and will be followed in June by the group’s second Congressional delegation, as well as its first student trip. J Street is an American organization with over 170,000 online supporters, 40 local chapters across the country, and student groups on over 50 campuses.  The organization represents the views of a large segment of the American Jewish and pro-Israel community who believe that reaching a two state solution is essential in order for Israel to live in peace and security as a democratic state that is the homeland of the Jewish people. For more information, or to join a selection of meetings and tours, call

  • Hadas Peretz +972-54-251-0125  (in Israel)
  • Jessica Rosenblum in DC +1-202-279-0005 (in Washington)