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Arab Americans and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Posted on Friday October 10, 2008
Arab Americans and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Jump to Barack Obama
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Arab Americans care enormously about the role of the United States in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and deeply believe that any long term vision for peace and security in the Middle East includes a sustained, genuine effort towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. Arab Americans understand that only a fully committed United States, acting as an honest broker, can facilitate a peaceful, lasting resolution to this conflict.
Arab Americans want U.S. diplomacy that will work towards the creation of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security – a Palestine that is viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent alongside an Israel that has secure and recognized borders – and acknowledge that the final status of Jerusalem, along with other outstanding issues, should be negotiated between Israel and Palestine with the constructive support of the United States.
McCain and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
McCain believes that it is vital to have peace in the Middle East between the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and is committed to pursuing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process through making it a high priority of his administration. However, McCain asserts that such peace cannot be achieved while terrorist organizations, specifically Hamas, remain a force and threat in the region.
McCain supports Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and respects the sovereignty and right of Israel to defend herself.
Links to Select Remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Christians United for Israel July 2007 Speech
Criticizing former President Jimmy Carter for Meeting with Hamas
Supporting Israel’s 2006 Invasion of Lebanon
Arab Americans for McCain Official Website
John McCain on Security in the Middle East
Obama and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Obama has pledged that progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be a diplomatic priority for his administration. Obama will make a sustained push, working with Israelis and Palestinians, to achieve the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security.
Obama traveled to the Middle East in July 2008 and met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as ordinary citizens in both communities. This visit reinforced his view that the best solution to this difficult conflict is two states living side-by-side in peace and security and believes that the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians support this outcome.
Obama believes that a negotiated peace with the Palestinians would make Israel more secure and allow the Palestinians to achieve their goal of an independent state. In order to effectively achieve this goal, Obama believes the U.S. should be doing more to strengthen Palestinian leaders who support a two-state solution, isolate those who seek Israel’s destruction, and help the two sides reach negotiated solutions to all outstanding issues.
Barack Obama understands that an agreement that fulfills the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples is the only path to peace and has pledged that his administration will continue to work vigorously toward this end.
Links to Select Remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Interview with Israel News, February 2008
