Quartet calls on Israelis, Palestinians to exercise restraint as talks proceed
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The following statement was issued today by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, United States, and European Union).
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The representatives of the Quartet reaffirm their strong support for direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians to resolve all final status issues. The Quartet reaffirms its full commitment to its previous statements, including in Trieste on 26 June 2009, in New York on 24 September 2009, and its statement in Moscow on 19 March 2010 which provides that direct, bilateral negotiations that resolve all final status issues should “lead to a settlement, negotiated between the parties, that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors.”
The Quartet expresses its determination to support the parties throughout the negotiations, which can be completed within one year, and the implementation of an agreement. The Quartet again calls on both sides to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric. Welcoming the result of the Arab Peace Initiative Committee in Cairo on July 29, the Quartet notes that success will require sustained regional and international support for the negotiations and the parallel process of Palestinian state-building and the pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive regional peace as envisaged in the Madrid terms of reference, Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Quartet Principals intend to meet with their colleagues from the Arab League in September in New York to review the situation. Accordingly, the Quartet calls on the Israelis and the Palestinians to join in launching direct negotiations on September 2 in Washington, D.C. to resolve all final status issues and fulfill the aspirations of both parties.
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Preceding provided by U.S. Department of State
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J-Street welcomes talks, Urges U.S. to stay involved
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hadar Susskind, J Street’s Vice President for Policy and Strategy, released the following statement upon the announcement of direct talks between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority:
J Street welcomes today’s announcement of direct talks between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the United States closely shepherding the process. We applaud President Obama’s leadership and the work of Secretary Clinton and Senator Mitchell in bringing the parties to the table.
But bringing the parties together is only the starting line on a difficult road that will demand real political leadership and courage from the parties and from the United States and the international community. President Obama has said before that talks and process are not the goal – the goal is two states living side-by-side in peace and security, with defined borders and an end to the conflict. We urge President Obama and his team to continue to actively lead the way toward that destination.
J Street is pleased by the announcement of a one year timeline for talks and by the assurances given by U.S. officials that the United States will be actively engaged in the process, helping the parties close gaps and keep moving forward.
The United States and the broader international community – including the Quartet and the Arab League – will have to help the parties to overcome the many obstacles and challenges they will face. We hope that this will include taking an approach that is regional and comprehensive in nature, placing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a regional framework that attempts to end the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole.
The window of opportunity for progress is brief and closing. This could well be the last opportunity to save the two-state solution. We believe that Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic home, not to mention vital American interests in the region, hang in the balance.
We urge the United States, Israel, the Palestinians, and the greater Arab world to approach these negotiations with a seriousness of purpose suited to the urgency of the moment. The stakes are high, and the status quo unsustainable.
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Preceding provided by J Street
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ADL warns violence by others could sabotage peace talks
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NEW YORK — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Friday welcomed the announcement that Israel-Palestinian direct talks will resume in September.
Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement that Israel and the Palestinians will begin direct talks is a welcome development. Progress in Israeli-Palestinian relations has always only resulted from direct face-to-face negotiations.
“The Government of Israel has made clear its commitment to a negotiated agreement, and has made numerous gestures to the Palestinians in order to bring them to the table, including the current freeze on settlement expansion.
“We wish the parties well as they embark on these negotiations. Certainly, no one is under the illusion these talks will be easy or that success is guaranteed. Both sides will need to make difficult and painful compromises in order to realize the hopes for peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. There continue to be those who wish to undermine this development through the use of violence, such as Hamas, Hezbollah and others, and it will be up to the international community to ensure this doesn’t happen.
“We express our appreciation to the Obama Administration for its tireless efforts in facilitating the beginning of these talks.”
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Preceding provided by Anti-Defamation League
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NJDC credits President Obama for moving process forward
WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)- National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) President and CEO David A. Harris issued the following statement in response to the announcement that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians are set to begin in early September:
“Today’s announcement of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians is an important step forward, and we applaud President Barack Obama’s leadership in working to foster these negotiations.
As an extension of this President’s constant commitment to Israel’s security, he has been tireless in his pursuit of the lasting peace that all Israelis yearn for — working towards the direct talks that Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu has welcomed all along. More recently, President Obama’s persistence in pressing President Mahmoud Abbas has helped to finally get us to these direct talks, and we all owe President Obama and his team a tremendous debt of gratitude for their pursuit of this most worthy cause.”
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Preceding provided by National Jewish Democratic Council
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations welcomed today’s announcement of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that will begin on September 2nd, in Washington, D.C. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Special Envoy former Senator George Mitchell made the announcement noting that the talks would convene without preconditions and with a goal of completion within one year.
“We welcome the beginning of direct, face-to-face negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that will address the complicated and difficult issues in the hope of bringing about an end to the long-standing conflict. History shows that only an agreement arrived at by the parties involved can succeed. Even as goals are set to expedite this process, there should be no artificial deadlines. The talks should be allowed to take their course while all parties are held accountable to their commitments.
“We hope the atmosphere and commitment to these direct talks will be conducive to meaningful negotiations that will meet the needs of all parties. To achieve this, it is essential that there be an end to incitement, including in the media, mosques, classrooms and public pronouncements. We note that Israel has made many significant gestures including removing hundreds of roadblocks, releasing many prisoners, aiding economic development and working with Palestinian Authority security forces to improve the security cooperation in the West Bank.
“We appreciate the effort led by the U.S. to broker these direct talks, which we hope will bring a just and lasting peace in the region,” said Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.
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Preceding provided by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations