In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate

Mr. Ben-Ami, friends,

I am delighted to have this chance to say a few words to you tonight. Let me congratulate you all on this important gathering.

Your theme says it all: 'Driving Change, Securing Peace.' For too long, we have not driven change – the Palestinian-Israeli conflict goes on, into a seventh decade, peace has not been secured and neither side has security.

Life remains frozen in crisis-mode. Enough. We need a changed future: one in which people can live a normal existence; their countries secure; their region at peace; and their children free to build safe, prospering lives.

The Arab states want to move forward. Seven years ago, the Arab Peace Initiative offered a path to a new future, in which Arabs and Israelis can live in peace. The initiative seeks a peace that can last, through a comprehensive settlement that meets the Palestinians' right to freedom and statehood and guarantees Israel's security and acceptance in the region. The initiative is not just about the two-state solution. It is about regional peace, about Israel having normal ties with all Arab and Muslim states, 57 states that still do not recognize it.

My friends,

We cannot afford for the political process to fail, and for the international system to come up short again. The price of failure will be too high for all, for the Israelis, for the Palestinians, for my region, and for America's national interest in a free and stable world.

We have an opportunity to move forward. The vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians support a two-state solution and a negotiated settlement. The international community is in accord. The framework is in place.

What we need is to engage in serious negotiations that can get us to the end game. But for that to happen, we need a strong US role to put action behind words, to insist that obligations be fulfilled and to keep the focus on results. We value President Obama's efforts to bring the parties together. And he has our full support. The task ahead is enormous. It requires that we all work together; to encourage the parties to do what is right for their people, to make the difficult decisions for peace.

My friends,
The Arab world recognizes your country's commitment to Israel's security. But I believe that security is best served, not by armed force, occupation, barriers, the building of settlements, and unilateral actions in Jerusalem, but by a final settlement, that lets Israel join its regional neighborhood, accepted and accepting, in lasting peace.

Friends,

At this critical moment, we must find a new way forward, out of crisis, to peace. I welcome efforts like yours, to bring insight and courage to the issues. And I thank you for inviting me to join you tonight.
 

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