So where do our local politicians and neighbors stand on the issue? Read on for a quick rundown and share your comments with us on Facebook, Twitter or email editor@sdjewishjournal.com. SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS:
ISRAEL:
“In my opinion, this has really been our first good shot for peace in a long time. It has been accepted – by the Palestinian community, the Arab community, the American community, the Israeli community – that the only solution to the conflict is a two-state solution and Secretary of State Kerry is going out and trying to achieve exactly that. I feel like Bibi’s a good partner for peace, Abbas is a good partner for peace; Kerry is trying to bridge the gap between the two. And I think the fact that he has a framework and a time span for how he wants it to go, he knows what he’s getting into. I think that if the American Jewish community and the world backs it, I feel like this could really be a good first step toward a solution to the conflict.” – Rebecca Asch Co-chair, J Street at UC San Diego, International Studies Major
“These days, perhaps more than ever before, it is clear that defensible borders are vital, while international guarantees are worthless. Israel cannot and should not surrender the strategic hills overlooking Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport to a hostile state. The YESHA Council together with the vast majority of Israelis – that elected Netanyahu – call on our Prime Minister to stand firm and reject the unwelcome intimidation tactics being employed by the U.S. Administration.” – Dani Dayan Chief Foreign Envoy for YESHA Council, an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank
SENATORS: “I am passionate about my love for Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people and as a democratic state. I see the Kerry initiative as one of the last opportunities to make that possible. When Yatom spoke here in February he made it clear the status quo is untenable militarily. Jews living in outlying settlements cannot be effectively defended in the long run. Moreover, he argued, Jerusalem as it is will soon become a majority Palestinian city with (most likely) a Palestinian mayor. To those who disagree with Yatom I say, what is your alternative?” – Martin Bunzl La Jolla resident, member of J Street’s national advisory board, philosophy professor at Rutgers University
Diane Feinstein, (D) – on March 19, 2013, California State Senator Diane Feinstein, together with 26 other senators, sent a letter to President Obama asking him to reaffirm his commitment to a two-state peace agreement, after authoring a Senate Resolution advocating for the same position.
Barbara Boxer, (D) – Boxer signed Feinstein’s letter supporting the two-state solution.
“Personally, I support the U.S. involvement in negotiations with Israel seeking peace with the Palestinians. As far as the deal specifics go, what I think doesn’t matter. What matters are the opinions of the people making the decisions – the people in Israel’s leadership – and the people of Israel who have to live with the outcomes of any of these deals. As far as the two-state solution, if that is the position of the Israeli government, then I’m all for it. As an American Jew, as a Diaspora Jew, I think it’s my obligation to support the democratically elected government of Israel because it’s the people of Israel who are ultimately going to live and die by those decisions.” – David Bramzon Real estate developer
“While StandWithUs does not comment on public policy, we do hope to see peace achieved through a two-state solution and support our representatives in both the United States and Israel as they negotiate what we hope will be a long lasting peace in the region.” – Nicole Bernstein Regional Director, StandWithUs
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES: Susan Davis (D), 53rd Congressional District – Co-sponsored House Resolution 365, “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives commending efforts by the United States to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution,” in Oct., 2013.
Scott Peters (D), 52nd Congressional District – Also co-sponsored H.R. 365 in Dec., 2013.
Juan Vargas (D), 51st Congressional District – Sponsored H.R. 2846 - Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel Act, in July, 2013.
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