Letter to the Editor: Re "Bush will find Israel ambivalent"

The Los Angeles Times

January 8, 2008

By Claire Gorfinkel

After seven years in office, Bush is finally visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories in a bid to move the peace process forward. As an American Jew committed to a negotiated two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I believe that the American government should support efforts to bring about a peace agreement that would result in a secure Israel living alongside a viable Palestinian state. We need to see action rather than more words.

Bush needs to press forward with substantive demands of both parties, such as a complete freeze on settlement construction (including in East Jerusalem), increased Palestinian freedom of movement and access in the West Bank, an Israeli-Hamas cease-fire and continued improvements in the Palestinian security infrastructure.

If the American Jewish community wants the best for Israel, it will do everything it can to support Bush as he attempts to facilitate new negotiations and make real changes on the ground. We will also make sure that all the presidential candidates understand that such a process is among our top priorities.