COP Chair Solow to Palestinian PM Fayyad: "Need to Find Way to Keep Israel a Jewish State for the Jewish People Living Side by Side in Security with the Palestinians

Jenin, 18 February, 2010 ... Conference of Presidents' Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein led delegation of more than 100 top American Jewish leaders in special visit to Jenin and the Gilboa Regional Council, met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Jenin Governor Moussa Kadoura.

The American delegation paid a visit to the Gilboa region, in order to meet with the Israeli Jewish mayor and the Arab deputy mayor of the region and the Governor of Jenin, who have created an unprecedented partnership to bring the communities within Israel together and hold out the prospect for peaceful relations with the Palestinians. During their stay, the American Jewish leaders passed through the Jalameh Crossing, opened to vehicles just two months ago, to see first-hand the fruits of the Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in the region.

Chairman of the Conference of Presidents Alan Solow greeted Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad: “We are pleased that we have the opportunity to meet with you today, and look forward to an exchange of ideas.”

“The problems that have plagued our two peoples can be solved only by open and candid relations.” Solow stated. “We have come here in order to make observations and see how we can assist to promote peace in the Middle East, and to keep Israel a Jewish state for the Jewish people living side by side in security with the Palestinians.”

Solow noted that there have been concerns about the Palestinian leadership’s intentions, setting back the cause of peace: “When the Palestinian leadership visits and honors families of those who have murdered innocent Israeli civilians, or when produce is destroyed rather than used only because it originates from the West Bank, that sets back our confidence of peace. The Israeli Prime Minister is clear about Israel’s needs to be recognized as a Jewish state. Yet, not only do the Palestinians refuse to acknowledge Israel’s Jewish nature, but clearly state, in Article 19 of the Fatah constitution, that there must be an armed struggle with the Zionist entity.”

Chairman Solow concluded his remarks in an optimistic note: “We trust that you are trying to make your best efforts to engage with the Israelis and the US in order to bring about a peaceful solution and we sincerely hope that these efforts are successful. Thank you for your warm welcome to us.”

Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad to the Conference of Presidents:  "I see hope in people's eyes, I see people smile, I see unity of purpose. Right now we are looking to create conditions for all of us, Israelis and Palestinians, that a political process will be capable of bringing about the end of the conflict".

PM Fayyad stressed that the Palestinian Authority is committed to the path of non-violence, to co-existence in the hope of bringing the conflict to an end.”