June 8, 2010
“[W]e use all our chips for the negotiating sessions, instead of applying them to the hard work of nation building. ... We use American influence with Israel not to promote economic growth in the West Bank, but to try and impede Jewish (never Arab) construction in Israel's capital city. This set of priorities is perverse and will not lead to peace. Instead, a pragmatic approach that seeks to create in the West Bank a decent society and a state that will maintain law and order should be our goals.”
—Elliott Abrams, former deputy national security adviser to President George W. Bush; senior fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, "The Future of an Illusion," The Weekly Standard, April 5-12, 2010
“[T]he status quo is not sustainable. It is not sustainable for Israel's identity as a secure, Jewish, and democratic state, because the demographic clock keeps ticking and will not be reversed. The status quo is not sustainable for Palestinians who have legitimate aspirations for sovereignty and statehood. And the status quo is not sustainable for the region because there is a struggle between those who reject Israel's existence and those who are prepared to coexist with Israel—and the status quo strengthens the rejectionists and weakens those who would live in peace. … The United States stands ready to do whatever is necessary to help the parties bridge their differences and develop the confidence needed to make painful compromises on behalf of peace. As we do so, we will also strongly support the Palestinian Authority's efforts to develop its institutions from the ground up and call on other states, particularly in the region, to do their part to support the Palestinian Authority as well.”
—National Security Adviser James L. Jones, remarks, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, April 21, 2010
