Friend,
It’s no surprise that President Trump’s so-called “peace plan” has been widely rejected. It was never meant to bring about serious negotiations or to be the basis for actually resolving the conflict.
The plan was clearly designed to be unacceptable to Palestinians -- ignoring their rights and aspirations and paving the way for annexation. Even as the administration tried to wrap the proposal in “two state” language, it undercut every element of the internationally-accepted outline of what it will take to reach such an outcome.
The goal of those who pushed the plan appears to be to pin the blame for failure on Palestinian rejection, to leave the impression that the Palestinian leadership is uninterested in peace -- and that real diplomatic progress between Israelis and Palestinians is impossible.
This week, in New York City, a former Israeli prime minister and current Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stood together to help prove them wrong.
Watch and share our video: “Peace is Possible -- Just Not Through Trump’s Plan.”
In 2008, Abbas and his former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert came closer to achieving a genuine, viable two-state solution than any leaders before them. And while they never crossed the finish line, both leaders continue to believe that it’s both necessary and possible for the two sides to sit down together with mutual respect, make compromises and find common ground.
At their joint press availability in New York, Olmert sat alongside Abbas and shared his conviction that the Palestinian president, “is a man of peace. He's opposed to terror. And therefore he's the only partner we can deal with... He is willing to negotiate at any given time with the state of Israel."
Earlier in the day, addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council, Abbas made clear that his people could never accept the one-sided, pro-annexation Trump plan. Yet he also reaffirmed that "peace between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible. It is achievable. I have come to you to build an international partnership to achieve a just and lasting peace."
He restated his opposition to terror and commitment to fighting violence. "We only have one choice," he said, "to be partners and neighbors -- each in its independent, sovereign state."
There’s no doubt that the mutual suspicion and animosity between Israelis and Palestinians is very real. Decades of conflict, occupation and ultimately unsuccessful diplomacy guarantee that sitting down together and reaching a lasting agreement will never be simple or easy.
Yet this week’s comments and joint appearance from Abbas and Olmert underscore why we must reject the right’s false narrative about a Palestinian people who don’t really want peace -- and why we must stand up to those who suggest we simply give up on hopes for a two-state solution.
While Trump and Netanyahu pursue policies rooted in contempt for the Palestinians and rejection of their fundamental rights, it’s clear that, with political courage, the door remains open for future leaders to embrace a path of real dialogue, diplomacy and compromise.
At J Street, we know that to help urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders down this path, we need a US government genuinely committed to resolving the conflict and bringing an end to the occupation.
That’s why we’re doing everything we can to help defeat Donald Trump in 2020.
It’s why we’ve helped to elect the most pro-Israel, pro-peace Congress ever. And it’s why we’re working to make sure that the next Democratic Party platform clearly opposes settlement expansion, occupation and annexation and supports Palestinian rights while also restating a firm commitment to Israel’s security and future.
With your support, your activism and your voices, we can be louder, stronger and more effective than those who want to perpetuate the cycle of endless conflict and recrimination.
We can remind the world that Israeli-Palestinian peace is necessary, just and possible -- and help make it a reality.
This is a crucial moment for our movement. Please consider making a small donation to continue fueling this work.
Thank you,
Jeremy Ben-Ami
