Washington DC – Following pledges from the UK and France to recognize Palestinian statehood – after attaining political reforms and security guarantees from the Palestinian Authority – J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement:
“These are significant steps forward from two major US allies, and we see this as a clear demonstration of carefully calibrated leadership in an incredibly difficult moment.
Taking irreversible steps toward recognizing the self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians is a direct challenge to extremists on either side who thrive on deadlock and seek the other side’s destruction. The best way to end the cycle of violence is to outline a credible, peaceful, alternative path toward realizing the rights and freedoms that Palestinians deserve while protecting Israel’s future as a safe and democratic homeland for the Jewish people.
Importantly, as both France and the UK have made clear, Hamas must not govern Gaza after the war. At the same time, by anchoring this decision within a broader regional and diplomatic strategy, France and the United Kingdom are also sending a message to the government and people of Israel that the only path toward regional integration is through the 23-State solution that J Street has long endorsed – and not through endless war and mass displacement.
J Street has outlined a vision for how the United States can show bold leadership by laying out a path toward Palestinian statehood as the centerpiece of a comprehensive regional peace agreement. Central to this approach is an unprecedented offer of American recognition of the state of Palestine prior to such recognition by Israel, and contingent on clear, achievable steps to address Israel’s legitimate security concerns, sideline Hamas and ensure long-term stability.
Only bold leadership and a new approach is capable of shattering the status quo that has stood for far too long and brought so much pain, misery and destruction to so many.”