AJC Applauds U.S. Senators' Letter to President Obama on Direct Talks

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Sep 28, 2010, 03:23 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee applauded the 87 U.S. Senators who signed a bipartisan letter to President Obama emphasizing the importance of sustaining the recently revived direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

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"Neither side should make threats to leave just as the talks are getting started," wrote the Senators. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian negotiators have stated that they will leave the talks unless Israel renews its ten-month moratorium on West Bank settlement construction, which expired Sunday.

Initiated by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Cal), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Penn), and Richard Burr (R-NC), the letter recalled that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the wake of the West Bank terrorist attack at the start of negotiations in which four Israelis were murdered, told Abbas, "You are my partner for peace. Peace begins with the leaders."

The letter also expressed appreciation for President Obama's reaffirmation of the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and support for his efforts to secure a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The Senate letter is an important and welcome bipartisan effort at just the right time," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "It is an eloquent reminder to those in the international community who need reminding that the Palestinian Authority appears more concerned with finding an excuse to leave the talks than with the talks themselves."

"Sadly, the current hiatus in the talks is being blamed upon Israel for not renewing a building moratorium which the Palestinians have scorned as meaningless ever since it was announced and implemented last November," said Harris. "Meanwhile, Israel has remained committed to the talks despite several provocative statements from President Abbas, including his recent speech at the United Nations endorsing the so-called 'right of return,' a transparent formula for Israel's end as a Jewish state."

SOURCE American Jewish Committee