Conference of Presidents Calls on Palestinian Authority and Arab States to Take Up Prime Minister Netanyahu's Challenge for Immediate Negotiations

New York, June 14, 2009 … Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations lauded Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s address today and called on the Palestinian Authority and Arab states to meet the Prime Minister's challenge for immediate negotiations.

“Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu once again demonstrated Israel’s readiness to make peace with its Palestinian neighbors and the Arab world. Israel agreed to negotiations without preconditions and the challenge now for the Palestinians is to respond in kind and end 60 years of rejectionism, beginning by ending incitement, fighting terror and starting negotiations. The Prime Minister put the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in its accurate historical context and properly outlined the conditions for Israel to be secure and peace to be lasting. We note President Obama’s positive reaction to the address and his recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. We also hope the governments in Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut will accept the Prime Minister’s offer to visit those capitals and begin to broaden the discussions and for the Arab states to seize the opportunity to help and improve the conditions for the Palestinians and take steps toward accepting Israel as an integral part of the region,” said Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.