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Only Israel Is Making the Effort Toward Peace

(JTA) Lee Rosenberg and Alan Solow - Like the people and governments of Israel, the pro-Israel community in the U.S. has long sought a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations between the parties that would lead to a lasting peace agreement and Israel's acceptance by all its neighbors. The Israeli people dream of peace, and their governments have worked and sacrificed for it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his vision for peace - for two states - last June in a landmark speech at Bar-Ilan University, saying he supported the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside the Jewish State of Israel. Netanyahu declared a 10-month moratorium on all Israeli construction in the West Bank - a concession that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called "unprecedented" in advance of negotiations. Israel also has taken significant steps to ensure that life improves for Palestinians in the West Bank, such as dismantling hundreds of West Bank roadblocks and checkpoints, which have helped produce double-digit economic growth at a time of global recession. While the current Israeli government has proven its desire for peace, the leader of the Palestinian Authority refuses to meet or even speak on the phone with his Israeli counterpart, despite American demands that he do so. Abbas has said that his strategy is not to make concessions in negotiations but to encourage the U.S. and the international community to pressure Israel for unilateral concessions. In recent months, the PA has intensified its efforts to delegitimize Israel in the international arena and increased the incitement against Israel. The PA media carries outrageous programs portraying Israel and Jews in the most negative ways. As American friends of Israel we must continue to remind our leaders about how badly Israel wants peace - and how tragically the PA has only increased its demands and pulled away from the negotiating table. Don't blame Israel for the lack of progress. Lee Rosenberg is president of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Alan Solow is chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
2010-07-01 10:47:16
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