WJC President Ronald Lauder welcomes Netanyahu-Obama meeting: Mideast peace won’t happen overnight – now is the time for bold action

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder praised US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for meeting face-to-face at the White House and “taking this opportunity to pursue common values and agendas and strengthen the close partnership enjoyed by the United States and Israel.” Lauder also welcomed the two leaders’ reaffirmation of their commitment to the two-state solution.
 
“A strong US-Israeli relationship is critical for Israel and for Jews around the world,” Lauder said. “For decades, America has stood by Israel, its most reliable ally in the Middle East.  American leadership in strengthening the Middle East peace process is invaluable in creating a genuine and lasting peace. I know that the United States stands ready to help advance a two-state solution to help solve the conflict.”  
 
“Both President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu understand that the two-state solution is the only solution. Both leaders possess the greatness, the vision and the courage needed to move our common relationship forward,” added Lauder.
 
The current wave of terror spreading across Israel, as well as the radical Islamists expanding on Israel’s borders and the genocidal anti-Israel rhetoric repeated by Iran despite the recent nuclear agreement make the US-Israel relationship all the more important, Lauder said. “It is therefore critical that the United States provide Israel with all of the tools necessary to maintain its qualitative military edge in a volatile Middle East,” he said.
 
“The American–Israeli alliance can help assure the security of Israel, the well-being of the Palestinians, and bring us all closer to peace,” Lauder added. “Progress will not come overnight, it will take time. But now is the time to re-energize the peace process by taking bold action."