IPF Applauds Obama National Security Team and His Declaration, “Seeking a Lasting Peace” is "Top Foreign Policy Priority"

NEW YORK --The Israel Policy Forum "enthusiastically applauds" President-elect Obama's nominations for his national security team, which is "strong, experienced and bipartisan."

"We also welcome his declaration in his prepared remarks that ‘seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians' is a top foreign policy priority," said Peter Joseph, president of Israel Policy Forum (IPF), which advocates for active American engagement in securing Middle East peace. 

"We fully concur with the President-elect's commitment to strengthening America's standing in the world." The IPF president noted "Returning the United States to the role of honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will go a long way toward achieving this vital objective. It would also advance all of America's interests in the Middle East, including the security of Israel," the IPF statement continued.

"Israel Policy Forum wishes to praise in particular two of the nominees announced today who have played major roles in advancing Arab-Israeli peace: Senator Hillary Clinton and General James L. Jones," Mr. Joseph said.  Senator Clinton is a decades long  "supporter of Israel and advocate of active American diplomacy" who has met with the key players in the region.  General Jones has played a "pivotal role in overseeing Israeli and Palestinian agreements and the establishment of an effective Palestinian security force in the West Bank that is praised by Israelis and Palestinians alike."

"We wish them and the entire Obama administration great success as they deal with the many enormous challenges and opportunities they will face, including reinvigorating America's role in pursuit of peace and security in the Middle East."

"Israel Policy Forum looks forward to working closely in particular with Senator Clinton, General Jones and their staffs in this pursuit. IPF pledges to support them and President-elect Obama in these efforts and to help build support for them in the Jewish community, the Congress, and among Americans of all backgrounds,"   Joseph said.