Reactions to the trilateral meeting

Reactions to Tuesday’s trilateral meeting between President Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are coming in from Jewish organizations:

AIPAC: "AIPAC applauds today’s trilateral meeting in New York with President Obama, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. … AIPAC calls on the Palestinians to follow Israel’s lead and drop all preconditions to negotiations and on the Arab states – Saudi Arabia especially – to heed the calls of both the U.S. House & Senate and President Obama to take immediate and meaningful steps toward normalization, and after 60 years, grasp the hand that Israel has outstretched in the cause of peace."

J Street: "We urge the parties and the administration to use today’s meeting as a starting point to get to the negotiating table as quickly as possible with concrete plans for addressing final status issues. … The status quo is unsustainable and the time has come to move beyond process and toward peace – and to address tough questions and make difficult choices. In short, it is time for real leadership."

National Jewish Democratic Council: "President Barack Obama is doing the right thing to pursue peace while bearing in mind Israel’s security needs. The only way to successfully accomplish this goal is to bring the parties together—as he did today."

Israel Policy Forum: Today’s tripartite meeting in New York was potentially an important step toward resuming negotiations aimed at a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It must now be followed up by Israel and the Palestinians demonstrating the political will and courage to make the compromises necessary to end their conflict.

Americans for Peace Now: The President made clear today that he is in this until an agreement is achieved. He also made clear that he views this effort as a US national security interest. For this, American supporters of peace – just like many in the region – are thankful.