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Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum
March 24, 2010 in Maplewood, NJ
To Focus on Obama-Clinton Program
for a Two-State Solution
Speakers from Americans for Peace Now,
American Task Force on Palestine and J Street
Contact: Paul Surovell 973-763-9493 / paul@beaboutpeace.com
Two spokesmen for Jewish-American and Palestinian-American groups for Israeli-Palestinian peace will speak on prospects for a two-state solution under the Obama Administration at Maplewood Memorial Library on March 24, 2010, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
Ori Nir, spokesman for Americans for Peace Now, the sister organization of the Israeli peace movement Peace Now, will share the podium with Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, a Washington-based group that supports Palestinian moderates and a two-state solution.
In addition, a local representative of the pro-peace pro-Israel political organization J Street will discuss the group's national grassroots program to promote a two-state solution.
Nir was for many years a correspondent for the Israeli daily Haaretz and later was Washington DC correspondent for the Jewish Daily Forward. Ibish was communications director of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, the largest Arab-American organization in the US and also Washington correspondent for the Daily Star (Lebanon). Ibish has appeared on thousands of radio and TV shows and written articles for dozens of major US newspapers and magazines.
Click for articles by Nir and Ibish.
Click for statements on Two-State Solution by Obama, Clinton, Netanyahu and Abbas.
Israel's Partial Settlement Freeze
The meeting comes after more than a year of diplomatic efforts by President Obama's special representative to the Middle East George Mitchell which most observers believe have resulted in the partial freeze on Israeli settlements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conditional endorsement, for the first time, of a Palestinian state. Although Palestinian leaders have called these moves insufficient, the terms of the debate have changed from: whether there should be a settlement freeze and a Palestinian state, to: how much of a freeze and what kind of a Palestinian state should there be?
President Obama's Call for a Total Settlement Freeze
In their presentations, Nir and Ibish will discuss the status of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and diplomatic efforts by the Obama administration to facilitate a two-state solution. They will focus on President Obama's call for a total freeze on Israeli settlements and better security in Palestinian areas and on the Israeli and Palestinian responses. Nir and Ibish will discuss programs of their respective organizations, Americans for Peace Now and the American Task Force on Palestine, on behalf of a total settlement freeze and a two-state solution that establishes a Palestinian state and provides security guarantees for Israel. The speakers will also discuss how APN and ATFP support peace advocates in Israel and Palestine and how they make their views known to the White House and Congress. After the speakers' presentations, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment. All points of view and respectful dialogue are welcome.
"For the first time in a decade, a US President has made peace between Israel and Palestinians a priority of his administration. In addition to their insights into the dynamics of the peace process, Nir and Ibish will discuss how citizens can contribute to the peace process by providing feedback on the administration's program. The J Street representative will also suggest ways to support peace," said Paul Surovell, chairman of South Mountain Peace Action of Maplewood and South Orange, NJ, which is sponsoring the meeting.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Key to Middle East Peace
"For decades the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has inflicted great hardship and suffering on the Israeli and Palestinian people and it has been exploited by extremist ideologies and demagogues throughout the Middle East and beyond. A just resolution of the conflict based on the creation of a Palestinian state would defuse the influence of these ideologies and demagogues, particularly in Iran. Thus the goal of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine should be a priority for those seeking a more peaceful Middle East and beyond."
"We are very excited that residents of Maplewood and South Orange will have the opportunity on March 24th to hear about these important issues from Ori Nir and Hussein Ibish who are world-class experts in this area," Surovell added.
For further information about the forum and to reserve a seat (not required, but recommended) please call Paul Surovell at 973-763-9493 or email him at paul@beaboutpeace.com.
What: Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum
Where: Maplewood Memorial Library (downstairs)
51 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ
When: Wednesday March 24, 2010 / 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Who: Ori Nir spokesman of Americans for Peace Now
Hussein Ibish senior fellow of the American Task Force on Palestine
Sponsor: South Mountain Peace Action of Maplewood and
South Orange, NJ www.BeAboutPeace.com
Admission: Admission is free. Reservations are encouraged but not required
Directions: http://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/direct.html
__________ Ori Nir __________ _______ Hussein Ibish ________
Click HERE for articles by Ori Nir and Hussein Ibish and statements by President Obama.
