Movement for Reform Judaism Statement on Unilateral Declaration of Palestinian Statehood
Monday, 19 September 2011
"Response to unilateral declaration of Palestinian state must be immediate bilateral negotiations" says Reform Judaism.The same exhaustive diplomatic and political energy currently being expended on a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state must be focused on reviving bilateral negotiations, says the Movement for Reform Judaism today. That process should start "the day after" the inevitable yes vote at the UN Assembly, the Movement goes on to argue.
The Movement for Reform Judaism - which is the largest non-orthodox Jewish tradition in the country, which accounts for around a third of British Jewry - says that all political efforts need to shift to reviving bilateral negotiations as the key to unlocking real progress for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Movement Chief Executive, Ben Rich, says: "Reform Judaism places the highest importance on respect for the 'other'. This is a core value of our Movement, which means that we support a two State solution for Israelis and Palestinians as the only possible basis for a just and lasting peace between our two peoples, and between Israel and its neighbours.
"As the two sides veer from violence to political paralysis, it is patently clear that the only way in which a just and lasting peace can possibly be achieved is through serious bilateral negotiations. We would not want to see the vote thwarting, or seen as a substitute for, the necessity for direct talks.
"We need to move past this moment to the meaningful, bilateral negotiations which are responsibility of everyone seeking peace in the region."
Movement Chair, Stephen Moss CBE, adds:
"Those of us who love Israel and value its security need to look beyond the current diplomatic issues to the long term based on a negotiated two state solution. "
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