To reach peace with the palestinians. I am especially proud of the fact that so many young jewish leaders are gathered here in washington, and i want to congratulate you hear from jerusalem and wish you best in this very important conference. On both sides of the ocean come in israel and in the United States, sources find themselves asking questions and under attack. Liberal forces who believe in civil liberty, in peace, in coexistence, and a quality among human beings are feeling threatened and, therefore, this is the opportunity also to say we are strung together. In two months time we will be marking 50 years to the israeli victory in the 1967, six day war victory which strengthen israel considerably but has left us 50 years with an open question what do we do with our palestinian neighbor . As well as open the records of the Israeli Cabinet in 1967, the Prime Minister is asking his cabinet members not how do we annex, but what do we do with 2 million and reps . Thats how he asked that question. And the only answer after considering all of the elements is separate and we pursue the idea of a twostate solution, whereby the palestinians will have their own state living side by side with israel in peace. And, of course, based on clear understanding of israels security concerns. In 1947, the u. N. General assembly adopted a resolution calling for donations, two states, a jewish state and an arab state. It is about time after 50 years that we pursue this option aggressively, despite all the impediments, despite all the subtle but, despite terror and all, and all this is to pursue this in order to preserve israel as the nationstate of the jewish people. Israel is faced with the two major strategic threats. One from the outside, iran, a vile enemy which destabilizes the region, supports our worst enemies, fighting the sunni moderate nations who want to go with us on a regional opportunity. And on the other end, the other threat from inside is the option which has been raised recently in the white house of the possibility of a onestate solution. The idea that the will be an arab jewish state rather than preserving the vision of zionism which is the homeland of the jewish people. This is the real risk we are facing. We should object vehemently tipping option of the onestate solution. We should object to a jewisharab state. We should preserve the option of the nationstate of the jewish people israel, sidebyside with a palestinian state, and it can be done despite all options. For this we need you. For this i call upon you. Bfor this i tell you, dont give up. All moderate forces in israel and in the United States, especially in the Jewish Community, should work proactively to pursue the option of the twostate solution. Thats preserving the wellbeing and security of the state of israel forever. Thanthank you very much. Shalom to you and good luck in your deliberations. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the chair of the J Street National finance committee, diana shaw clark. Good morning. My name is diana shaw clark. On a number of J Street National board and chairman of the National Finance committee. First i want to thank leader of the opposition isaac herzog for those wonderful inspiring remarks. More than a year ago the joint covecopperheads a plan of actios successfully implemented. It marked one of the greatest diplomatic achievements in a generation. Successfully blocking iran from developing a Nuclear Weapon through diplomatic, not military means. We owe it largely to the leadership of legislators like senator chris murphy who im privileged to introduce today. Senator murphy had been active in connecticut politics for decades before his election to the United States senate in 2012. The election brought him to National Attention and to a seat on the Senate Foreign relations committee. In a few years sense, hes taken the lead in promoting diplomacy first approach to managing our contacts abroad. As the Ranking Member on the u. S. Senate Foreign Relations committee, subcommittee on the near East South Asia central asia and counterterrorism, senator murphy was one of the senates most eloquent and informed advocates for the iran agreement. During his robust and spirited floor speech touting the merits of the agreement, senator murphy invoked israels negotiations with the palestinians. He quoted yitzhak rabin, peace is never easy, but history almost always judges that it is worthwhile. A year on with irans nuke the program successfully defanged and an unprecedented inspections regime in place, ravines words proved entirely apt. Senator murphy his ardent informed and persuasive support for human rights and his preference for diplomacy over belligerents has won him growing favor and a national constituency. It is my hope and one i hope that all of j street share. Is that senator murphy his approach to Foreign Policy, one that is both highly principled and pragmatic will shape the future of American Leadership in the world. With that, again, it is my privilege to introduce to you senator chris murphy. [applause] well, thank you. Thank you very much, diana. Thank you for that kind introduction. You are really in portrait today. I was backstage with some of your panelists were up next. They will do a fantastic job, so much effort largely here is to get out of the way so you can hear from some really talented. I want to thank kelson thanks to jeremy and dylan and everyone at j street for being such friends of mine during my comingofage on American Foreign policy and our role in the world and for inviting me here. J street is an important ally for those of us in the United States senate who consider ourselves friends of israel and friends of the use israel relationship. You are a critical part of for those of us who still believe in the transformative power of diplomacy you are a vital contributor to the debate over the future of the middle east, and im really here just to applaud you for all of the work that you have done and continue to do, and really Remarkable Growth that using over a very short period of time. You know, these days a lot of us in the senate have talked about the Supreme Court politics. Ive been thinking both in the context of that debate and in preparation for today about maybe my most favorite jurist as a young Law School Student i love reading Oliver Wendell holmes, and i thought about him as u was thinking about what to say here this morning. During his senior year in college, he voluntarily enlisted in massachusetts militia in order to join the union army during the civil war. And, frankly, few soldiers saw more action than holmes did. He fought in the wilderness camping. He was at chancellorsville. He was at antietam. He nearly died and he saw hundreds of his friends and fellow soldiers faulty vicious injuries. He returns to boston scarred deeply i what he saw. And his experience of the civil war did deeply affect his view of the law. As a professor and then later as a jurist. In an era where the revolutionary era natural law theory still abounded, holmes said quote may make their own laws. These laws do not flow from some mysterious omnipresence in the sky. With his own ideas seem to the horror of the civil war, what each side would not capitulate. Because they believed in financial basis for their cause. Holmes found a new legal school of whats called legal realism, the understanding that law was based in power and in politics. And i think about homes a lot when im told that all policy that flows from the bosom of a just cause must be in and of itself just as well. I think about holmes when im told that if one thing is black or white, and Everything Else that flows from it must also be black or white. Americas support for israel is absolute. It is a black and white issue. My belief in the righteousness of a permanent jewish state in the middle east, its unbreakable. I suspect if youre in this hall today, you believe the same. But the man who will likely be the next ambassador to israel, called my work on behalf of israel antisomatic, simply because i dont agree with his particular position on the future of israel. And i wasnt alone in being on the receiving end of this scorn. He called the president s actions at the somatic as well, and i to tell you what he called all of you. Now, mr. Friedman gave a remarkable performance before the Foreign Relations committee upon which i sit. He effectively recanted almost every strong statement that he has made cascadin casting thoseo support israel, without perfectly. The position of the statement of the current Israeli Government. And though it seems more than a little bit coincidental that this epiphany about the artfulness of his words happen to record the exact moment of his confirmation, i hope he is telling the truth. I truly hope that he regrets these words. Because while our nations support for israel cannot be questioned, we do not ask some questions about what it means to say that you support israel. His legal writings, holmes begged us to consider all opinions, not to be so close minded as to shut debate, refusing to see all sides. He knew that the civil war was a just cause, but the inability to see the other sites perspective due to the war to last too long, taking countless unnecessary lies. J street demand the space to expand the scope of what it means to be proisrael, to be passionately, vigorously proisrael, to understand if youre for israel you dont have to be blind to the cause of the palestinians, understand if youre for israel you dont have to reject the genius of diplomacy. [applause] i dont support settlement construction inside the generally accepted boundaries [applause] i dont support settlement construction inside the generally accepted boundaries of a future palestinian state because i support israel. [applause] a two state future is a center for israels longterm survival as explained if you put in one of all the living former heads of and Israel Defense forces, more than 90 of them would say its simpler to protect israel from a border that assures our security interests next to a palestinian state and to protect a greater israel with millions of palestinians living under its control. [applause] putting up more and more settlements makes a future viable sustainable palestinian state less likely. I was what i do for senators to announce my support for the Iran Nuclear Agreement because i support israel. [applause] a nuclear iran would be a disaster for israel. In the first year of this agreement there is no doubt that it is working and israel is safer because of it. More than twothirds of irans centrifuges have been removed. 98 of enriched uranium has been shipped out of country. The iraq reactor has been removed and filled with cement. The most intrusive inspection regime given iaea access is happening now. Iran is complying with the deal. I thought it was a horrible dangerous idea for Prime Minister netanyahu to speak against agreement in congress because i support israel. [applause] in order to influence a domestic political debate only served to heighten the growing politicization of this issue, the issue of israel and congress that it made it look falsely like republicans stood with israel and democrats didnt his speech didnt affect the outcome of the debate. It just so to help republicans who wanted to turn support for israel into an Election Year wedge issue. And finally, i opposed President Trumps muslim ban because i support israel. [applause] last week i stood at the new haven Area Jewish Community center talking about the fear that a sweeping across communities in kinetic and across the nation because of this vicious increase in hate speech against jews, but how can we effectively push back against his hate speech . When our governor is proposing to pass hateful discriminatory policies against another religious group . We [applause] we need to urgently come together to oppose the antisemitism that has come roaring back into public view. Just this past weekend, a dozen more swastikas and racial sores were drawn on cars and buildings in buffalo, new york. We need to come together to republicans and democrats, liberals and conservatives to condemn it, to stop it now, and our Company Needs to morally consistent in discrimination and violence against all religious groups. [applause] and so im thrilled to be here with you today as a member of the Foreign Relations committee at the center of what is a very perilous a moment for the world. As the pirates avenue is continue to burn, im watching the influence of the United States shrank in real time as shrink as the Trump Administration frankly fumbles its way through its initial forays into International Relations is the only thing that consistent about this administration Foreign Policy so far is that every day it changes. Thats bad news for israel, frankly, at our other allies the world who rely on the constituency consistency of american influence. But was also bad for israel is a debate in the United States where some people try to say that theres only one set of policies that is considered to be proisrael. As always has been the case has to be room for debate within the proisrael community about what u. S. Policy best serves the long term secured interest of a a jewish state in the middle east. Thats what j street stands for, creating that room for debate and making sure that theres a place in that debate for progressives proisrael voices. Now [applause] i know that this seems like a more difficult endeavor today than it has been in the past, and it is, frankly. Your work is going to be more difficult over the next four years than it has been before. But you here because you know this. It is also going to be more important that you invest in this debate over the next four years than it ever has been before. And so im just going to leave you with some closing words from justice holmes. If you have a chance, read a brief speech he gave i think in 1884 during memorial day. After speaking about all of the factors that are outside of ones control when trying to take on a just a difficult cause, he reminded his audience that quote, the one and only success, which it is his to command, is to bring to his work a mighty, mighty heart. Having worked with j street since its beginnings, having seen your power, your influence, your command here grow, knowing the urgency of the cause to which you all subscribe, i know that when it comes to a mighty heart, j street as this in spades, and im so pleased to be an ally of yours in this fight. Thank you very much for having me here this morning. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our moderator and panel, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, ambassador marty indyk, bob malley and michele flournoy. [applause] good morning. Great to be here at the conference of president s of major nonrightwing jewish organization. [applause] the actual heart and soul of the american Jewish Community. [applause] my name is Thomas Friedman or as we say at the New York Times, no relation to david friedman, okay . [laughter] we have a great panel this morning. Bob malley, former Senior Advisor to president obama and the middle east. Michele flournoy, former undersecretary of defense, and martin indyk, former everything important on the middle east, okay, for several administrations. I want to begin by posing a question to all of you. What strikes me about this moment, moments like this review followed this region and this conflict most of my adult life, is havent been here before. Havent been to a time and place where israel was more free to be whatever it wanted to be. I cant imagine a time when the country country surrounding it were weaker. When europe was more distracted, and when we had an administration in washington that either didnt care or wouldnt care about whatever israel does. Martin, start with you and it will go down the panel. What do you think this means . What do you expect to come out of this unique situation for the Israeli Government right now . Not much. [laughter] thank you. Michele . [laughter] go ahead. First of all, i just want to say hi, everybody. Its great to see you here in such large numbers. Ive had the honor of addressing j street conferences i think almost from your inception, and its great to see how much you have grown over the last few years. [applause] i could add a few other points to your leadin to the question. I mean, in terms of the strength of israels economy, the strength of its military, the strength of its relationships with major powers, china, india, europe, even though those are often under strained but they are wellestablished, and, of course, with United States. Israel has never been stronger and more capable of taking risks for peace. And given the imperative of resolving its conflict with the palestinians for the sake of its own future, as senator coons murphy, senator murphy spoke so clearly. What better time when you have president of United States basically think whatever you decide, ill support. And certainly congress will, too. So if not now, when . [applause] unfortunately, and i say this with great regret as somebody who strongly identifies as a zionist and somebody who cares deeply about the fate of the jewish state and jewish people, something has gone very wrong. And there is a deep central state operating in israel today that will make sure that piece for the palestinians if it involves giving up any kind of territory in the west bank, simply will not happen. And instead they see the opportunity to take advantage of this rise in population and greater nationalism and the United States and around the world to advance their narrow nationalist agenda of annexation of the west bank. And we know where that leads. That will lead to a binational state, not a jewish state, and yet they are determined to press on. They had the Prime Minister of israel by the throat politically, and that is a great danger that in this permissive environment they will achieve their objectives. And so i think that that really underscores the need to do everything we can to, first of all, see clearly what the agent is here, and call them on it in every step of the way. Spin martin, just a quick followup before ask michele, that is, because of your experience, what does it mean to have an American Ambassador to israel who will be to the right of the israeli Prime Minister . [laughter] luck, one shouldnt exaggerate the influence of the ambassador. [laughter] hes going to be in jerusalem. Hes not going to be in washington. Hes not going to be in the white house. He has his channel of course, but his ability to actually influence policy win his job is to implement policy, it shouldnt be exaggerated. If we fixate on ambassador designate friedman instead of focusing on the policy as its constructed in the white house, we are looking at the wrong place. Whats important in that regard is that notwithstanding ambassador designate freedmans boasting about how hes going to move the embassy to jerusalem, it didnt happen. And thats just underscores the point. Why didnt happen is a interesting issue in itself but i want, i dont need to get into but the point is that he couldnt want to move the embassy. He clearly expected the embassy was going to be moved and it didnt happen. And i predict boldly, because for a few of have ever come true, i predict that donald trump will not move the embassy to jerusalem short of an agreement between the israelis and the palestinians spirit just between us is that because the transfer of visual is telling him not to . No. The Prime Minister of israel would not dare to tell him not to for fear of the political consequences involved with that to be leaked. So bibi has to say yes, we want the embassy, great idea. No, its because it seems that the theory indicates that Jared Kushner has, is a way to achieve Regional Peace, to bring the sunni arabs into a tense the peace and that will somehow sort of facilitate and lubricate the deal, and once he started down the road he heard from the sunni arabs, dont embarrass us. You want us to play, dont create problems for us. And if that is the exact reason, i have reason to believe it is, why did the lady, they will continue to delay. A cause that reason is not going to go away. Michele, you serve and a Senior Pentagon position. You saw this on the security side. Give us your take on what you think is going to evolve out of this very unique moment when israel is home alone more than its ever been in terms of its diplomatic options. Yoyou know, when i was in the pentagon i did spend a lot of time on the question of how we bolster israels security working in particular on qualitative military edge issues and so forth. And i must say i am more worried now about israels longterm security than ever. I agree with martin that the idf is stronger today than its ever been, and the u. S. Commitment to israels security is as rocksolid as ever. But what disturbs me is that this administration has so sort of cavalierly walked away from a u. S. Commitment to supporting a twostate solution that every administration, republican and democrat, has held onto and this advocated for for decades. And the reason for that is as was referred to by the senator, the only way that we can only secure peace for an israeli state that is both democratic and jewish is with a twostate solution. [applause] this administration seems to have sort of set well, we dont care, whatever they decide, without really delve into the details of could a onestate solution ever be secure . And as was mentioned every seekesecretive professional on e israeli side or almost every, 90 plus, say the answer is no. We as a think tank have done a lot of work on the question of could you secure a twostate solution, bringing american and Israeli Military officers together to design what that would look like. And ill tell you the only thing that can secure israel longterm is a twostate solution. So the fact that that is somehow now in question, i find that more disturbing than anything ive seen in all of my years working on Israel Security issues. I was going to bring up your work at the think tank. Give us the highlights of that security plan, if you could. What is it about, why should we understand that there is a way for israel to have a secure separation agreement with the palestinians . So we undertook the study because we understood that the paipermit issue for israel is is the question of security, and we wanted to demonstrate that that question could be satisfactorily answered. And what is involved in a multilayered Security System where first and foremost we give the israeli state the capacity to defend itself by itself to every extent possible. We also do serious Capacity Building work with the new palestinian state. But very important is the role of the neighbors so what role for jordan, securing the Jordan Valley . What role for egypt in helping to secure the sinai . What role for the United States at the International Community as guarantors of the arrangement quick so its a great teacher report and again it wasnt just a bunch of americans. We had former idf and intelligence officials from israel being part of the design team. The report is now published page you can find on the cna website, but we are also using this to have a series of conversations not only here but in israel with the jordanians come with egyptians and with others to try to build consensus around this approach. Thank you. Rob, when the Trump Transition Team sat down with you all and said what can we learn from what you learn in the previous eight years, what did you say to them . What made you think that conversation took place . [laughter] i want to start first because its my first time speaking for j street since i joined the administration. I really want to thank you. Thank you j street, jeremy. Real shout out when were fighting for the jcpoa which senator murphy just spoke about we knew we had all of you behind that effort. We knew we couldnt do it without you and its a deal i think is registered that in our view tremendous good for the United States and for israel, prevented iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb, averted a war, open diplomacy into the critique that this is done and gave around judgment iran 100, first of of all, its utmost 50,000,000,002nd of all its their money. So its a deal whereby iran is using its own money to prevent itself from having a nuclear bomb. It trump is really the art of the deal band, he should appreciate that outcome. But again, thank all of you for everything youve done over the last several years. [applause] i dont how to answer question because the truth is there really wasnt much of a transition passing the baton on the middle east. I cant really answer that i could answer this moment though, what do you expect, you know, from what an Israeli Government now that is really more free than ever . Welding this obama . Will bibi miss obama because bibi use obama a lot to say discount at times, i suspect, i would do this except obama wont let me speak im going to take a slightly critical view on this. I dont mind what President Trumps said for the following reason. Let me ask the question if the its that i believe in a twostate solution, how many people in th the gym think he actually would have achieved it . Okay, i dont see too many hands going up. So what he said, martin and i and many others tried under the clinton administration, didnt succeed. Tried, then president bush tried to achieve a twostate solution, didnt succeed. President obama and secretary cary were as committed as anyone i ever knew, have ever known to try to reach a twostate solution. They didnt succeed either. So i think its time for the palestinians and need for israel to ask themselves on his questions as martin said about where they want to go, what direction they want to head in an neither said look to the u. S. For protection or cover. The fact the cover is removed there some benefit to it. Theres an honest conversation that now has to take place. Because reese have asked themselves that question without either the illusion of a Peace Process which didnt produce peace or the notion of the american restraint which didnt really wasting all that much and ask themselves, what future do we want . How are we going to secure our future as a Jewish Democratic state courts and if its not a twostate solution, what is it . [applause] is it too late for that conversation . Im not sure what that means. If they had that conversati conversation, is it just too strong that basically nothing can happen . If i would reach that conclusion i would be doing something very different these days. So maybe its just for selfpreservation im not prepared to say that what has been built through political decisions cant be unveiled to political decisions. These are decisions. Its not that its going to be difficult and the politics are going to be wrenching for any israeli Prime Minister, but i dont know what the mathematical formula is that tells us that twostate solution is dead and buried. Again its a matter of political will, energy, courage. On all sides. Israel, palestinians and ultimately the u. S. And the rest of the world. But im not a prophet who knows when weve reached that tipping point. Martin i think its dead. Well, lets talk about that. As good as to about the weather, but if you think its dead. [laughter] climate change. Why do you say that . Well, first of all its important to understand, in the holy land theres a difference between being dead, and being dead and buried. [laughter] [applause] dead doesnt mean it doesnt get resurrected. And i do imagine there are circumstances under which it can get resurrected. Look, i mean, i think we all at this point understand a number of realities. The first is the one i already described. The second is that doesnt reach a solution. The alternative to a twostate solution, what the call of onestate solution is one solution. They are just recipes for continued conflict. It may be quiet now that might be quiet forever. Its impossible to imagine that peace between israel and the palestinians will be achieved anything other than a twostate solution. But for the time being, there is no way in which i can see that the twostate solution can be achieved. Certainly not with the current configuration of the Israeli Government, which is the most right wing in history and most opposed to a twostate solution, such that Prime Minister isnt allowed to say the words when it comes to washington. But also, lets be honest, divided with a weak leadership, doesnt feel he has the mandate to make compromises on palestinian rights that makes it impossible to move on his side. And the notion that somehow the sunni arabs, because of a real common interest that they have with israel in combating the hegemonic ambitions of the iranians, somehow leads to them being willing to in effect compromise palestinian rights and take the risk of being accused of doing that, by the palestinian leadership, which they will be accused of. Theres no saudi or egyptian leader whos going to take that kind of risk. So given all of those realities, with all the will in the world, Jared Kushner, donald trump are not going to be able to achieve a twostate solution. And as i said, and onestate solution is an achievable either. So what are we left with . The people who are pushing for a onestate solution, pushing against a twostate solution, are the people that have the bit in her teeth now, particularly on the israeli side but hamas as well, also advocating for onestate solution. And they are pushing it politically, gaining strength in the west bank, consolidating control in gaza. So its like the era of the triumphalist one state solutions now, and thats where j street and everybody else who cares about the future of israel and the palestinians need to redouble your efforts, our efforts. Because in these circumstances it the one stators are the only ones were out there pushing, they will drive off the twostate solution for a long time, and it will eventually explode. It is not, in the short term it looks sustainable, and so we have to watch out for that line that we always use if its not sustainable. It is sustainable. But in the longterm its not sustainable. And it will explode and it will have, i fear for the consequences for israel. So we must never give up on the effort to maintain the belief in the twostate solution, even though today it doesnt look possible. If Jared Kushner were here, the president soninlaw, and seemingly designated the next martin indyk of this administration, what would you tell him . Dont start from here. No, i would tell him first of all, read tom friedman spoke. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] by the way, im not just telling you that only to flatter you. Because thats what i tell everybody who is new to the middle east. Appreciate that. Just add one thing to the question. He does seem to think they rediscover the wheel. The idea that will have the arab states, in. Those of us who know something about the saudi peace plan i mean 20 years ago. But why do i say read tom friedman book . Because you unpacked for the naive american solution is who comes into the middle east bazaar believing that the good old american way every problem has a solution. And so, therefore, we will just try a little bit different, outside in, bottomup, and somehow because we have the will to do it, we will find the solution that nobody else has been able to find. And what you explained in the book is that they are all just waiting for you out there. The israelis and arab leaders alike spirit have we got a carpet for you. Speeding and they are all very expert at selling shoddy merchandise and dreams of peace and nobel prizes to naive americans at twice the price and no peace in the end. And i say that as a naive american who went through the experience. Thats why i wrote my book called innocent abroad. Because thats what we have. We keep on doing it, every time, every administration. Because thats who we are. Thats the great beauty of us as americans. Thats the first thing. Dont be naive. Dont be bifold by those who whisper ideas into your ears about how we can do it this way or that way. Theyre just designing a Rabbit Rabbit hole for you to go down. And thats true of all of us, equal opportunity here. They are all great at it. So secondly do something which i think actually give them credit for this, take their time to listen, to everybody. They need to be talking more to the palestinians are Jared Kushner i dont as any exposure to the palestinians. He needs his assistant in this, greenblatt who were clearly have a role there. So i think that listening, taking the time to listen to get a sense of what actually can be done realistically before they decide what to do is really important. Thirdly, that got to get the structure right. This cant be done without the state department, pure and simple. Cannot be done without the white house. [applause] why not . First of all, Jared Kushner has got a hell of a lot of other things to do, so we cant be the envoy. It would be a terrible mistake if he wasnt the envoy. It would just be his fatherinlaw setting him up for failure. So i strongly recommend he not be the envoy, as he gives it to Donald Trumps real estate lawyer, mr. Greenblatt, maybe thats the right thing to do. But he needs to stay in the state department. Info such times in terms of engagement and necessary engagement. That the structure of that engagement is going to be unique. Then you have to see what can happen. I do think theres something michelle and i have worked on that probably going to, a democrat just brought out a report friday but in the middle east, what we see is a bipartisan strategy forthe Trump Administration. We need to spend some time rebuilding the relationships. At least in the air out of state , working with them to deal with iran and out of that make him a better understanding of the way in which they can then help the Israeli Palestinian dimension of the policy but first things first. Rebuild your relationships, establish an understanding of what is possible and then see what can be done. You remind me from beirut to jerusalem, a central story there was when i was living in beirut with my wife in the early 1980s, we used the walk by a carpet store every day. And they had this beautiful, blue persian carpet in the living room and we admired it every day and one day we said lets just go in and see what it costs. We go in and the man looked out the window, he laid down on the floor and takes a high intensity lamb and puts it on top so we can examine the threads and its beautiful and we said would you flip it over . And so we can see the threads on the back and he did and the second he did that, there was a power surge which often happened in beirut and the high intensity lamb exploded and burning shards came down on the back of the carpet. And without missing a beat he said, sometimes theyre worth more this way. [laughter] ill never forget that. Thats the story i would tell jared. Michelle, martin really set you up i think for what is a really important question and that is the erratic question. That you know, so far theres a lot of talk by the administration but no action about either getting with any rhyme deal or adopting a more aggressive posture toward iran. What do you expect to happen out of them, knowing the characters and how we talk about madison tellers in and what you think should happen, viscvis the american iran that would enhance the possibility as martin alluded to to actually advancing israelipalestinian Peace Process . I think the good news is that the they did take the nuclear question off the front burner with iran. The program is ultimately not held back and in very important respects, that were described before, these for a decade or more. So what the first is now is really on irans other stabilizing activities in the region. Its support, is the use of the rgc, to try to undermine regimes, just dont civil wars and gain position whether its in syria or iraq or yemen. And to gain power and influence in the region. And you know, i think that that trend is real. I think this administration right now is speaking loudly and hearing a small stick when we all know they should be carrying a big stick but they wanted to push back on iran, harder i think it would , the right course of action would be in quiet, intelligence, respected operations, interdiction activities. Between the United States and israel, United States and other partners and so forth. Our chances then when they ran, that when we actually put up some resistance to their behavior, not with a lot of public threat but quietly sit in us walls, they often back off. We need to do that but we need to do it in a way that does not take so much tension and so much over, doesnt create a crisis and undermines the important part of the nuclear site but it has to be developed. I think there are people inside the Administration Like secretary matus who understand that, like atr mcmaster. The question is will they be listened to . Whos going to drive this thing at a time when you really dont have integration , you dont have a National Security process that is leveraging the balance that you may have in your cabinet and its departments directly informing the decisions that are being made. Rob, can there be a successful and sustainable israelipalestinian Peace Process without a successful and sustainable sunni shiite Peace Process . I think obviously one makes the other much more complicated and its a little more better run. Three points first, we made the point about how we need to repair relations with the region and im not going to deny that the Obama Administration had some rough revelations. But this is not a matter of only, maybe bad management in some cases. But we are susceptible to differences, differences on the Peace Process with israel, theres a difference with israel in iran and about, they were not in favor of the gc poa, there were differences on the wisdom of the elections and allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to govern. The roles of democracy so the really difference is its not going to be easy unless, maybe the Trump Administration will put all those aside but it wasnt those relationships in the state that one would invite them to be given the substantive differences which are real and part of the Obama Administrations approach is to clarify these relationships by making clear the us stands for a deal with their, it stands for democracy in the region and it stands for a two state solution. Doesnt want tointervene in syria and if thats going to confront our allies we will have to manage those problems and not sacrifice the ministration, number one. Point number two, i think michelle just alluded to , its going to be hard to crank up and we dont always sound what people mean when they pushed back against the ram, concretely, what does that mean in iraq . What does that mean in syria . What does that mean in yemen . Does it mean military, other steps . Does it mean reinstating some of the sanctions that have been lifted under the gc poa in which case the iranians may see whats in it for us . We did this for the sexes to be elected now you are imposing them on the grounds that its active but you could very quickly come to a point where the deal unravels. The first point, in terms of the rent, the Trump Administration is going to face what i call a trump team dilemma. There are three objectives that President Trump during the campaign and then when he was elected said that he wants for the middle east. Crush isis. Crush the rack. Put america first, meeting tbar footprint in the region thomas levels. You could have two of those three, i have my preference about which to i would choose. You can have three of them. You cant simultaneously give the authorities to isis. Keep our presence on the ground modest. But at the same time, are you going to eject iran and as well from experience it has many ways of retaliating against our president in iraq, against our presence in syria which will make the fight against isis impossible unless we increase our presence to a two front war against isis in iraq. At the conundrum and i think thats where iran is going to largest, both in terms of whether we can the trumpet ministration wants to preserve the deals. And that means being careful about how far you push and what kind of person you are and also, when i call this trilemma. Its not a menu where you can eat everything you want. You have to choose two of the three. The Obama Administration chose to. At this point its not clear which the trumpet ministration is going to pick. The Obama Administration chose crush isis, get a modest american presence there and affect a standstill with iran. With iran, the devil was i would argue that it was pretty well, not entirely was the sanctions, a multilateral diplomacy and you could keep the place where its magical. It wasnt a solution and a story address. The concerns that we have about ran our concerns iran has about his own security. That was not part of the deal and if it had been part of the deal, it would still be located. So with a deal, compartmentalized deal i would argue that Everything Else would be far worse. But that would be, that was the deal because the rest of it, the people didnt think it would be great if iran wouldnt continue with its Missile Program or support for its other regional activities, its just if you added to the mix, then the negotiations would go on the table more. What do you say to our sunni era allies when they say if you guys do not take iran seriously, iran is now the influencing power in the capitals of beirut, damascus, baghdad and sauna. . First of all, its not as if this happens all of a sudden. They were, they had instance in beirut, in damascus, in baghdad. I think yemen is a different case and good luck to anyone who wants to govern there. So listen, i dont want to belittle the concerns. I think we in the United States have to make a difference between understanding their concern and buying into the notion of sectarian war or a war between arabs and persians or scratching the deal. Theres a line there and im not sure that the purpose of a lot of our allies was simply to keep iran in a box. Some of them have far more aggressive agendas. Thats why i think the Obama Administration didnt complete it and im the first to admit where we fall short there needs to be a clarification in our dealings with israel and the sunni arab states. Its not going to go away were not going to be able to get in the military because it is proven , they know the middle east better than we do and just an active, when i met a lebanese before, just with the lebanese close to iran and i was talking to him about what happened if hossein goes and dont even think about it, but after i press them from sometimes he said lets assume you americans get what you want. Whos better at dealing with them, you or us. Look at afghanistan, iraq, look at syria. We do it you so fine, you can get your media political objective but ultimately we, hezbollah, the iranians, we will be better at understanding and manipulating and dealing with chaos and uncertainty and confusion so i think we have to be clear about what is, what role iran will play in the region and the meeting of the minds between us and our allies, were going to be a bit at a disadvantage, will talk more about the Obama Administration now. Theres going to be a gap because what they want, what israel wants is not the same as what some of us here in iran wants. Click on that. On the margin question of repeated in a different way which is can we have an israelipalestinian Peace Process without an iran us Peace Process, the iran us cold war has supported seems to be the middle east in our policy there. As much as, i will save more than anything but as much as anything else. X what are the interesting radical moves or trump be by the art of the deal to the iranians . I think thats a very good question and there is a way that trump could actually approach this but let me say first of all, that i understand from the perspective of iran, basically they see us coming. They understand the relationship between the public and the hegemonic ambitions very well. And so now, its israel and the sunni arabs are reminded that theyre going to try to over the palestinian faith in politics. They will make sure to start something in the israelipalestinian agreement so one of the consequences, of all of this talk about Regional Peace is that the chances comes either between hezbollah and israel for hamas and israel, how to fully satisfy the iranians, they will talk about others so many times. The minute we proceed down that track. In the middle east, beware of unintended consequences. Now, trump has the art of the deal. If the iranians see that trump under the influence of the United States is going to congress with this kind of automatic support for ratcheting up the sanctions, theyve already started down this road. Particularly ratcheting up unanswered things. Been the iranians are going to get to the point where they say hey, thats not the deal that we made. The sanctions relief for our Nuclear Program, not our Nuclear Program diplomacy section. So i think thats part of the calculation here is that the sections, the iranians would be actually the ones get out of the deal but not the other space. And that would lead to a very got bad contents which i dont think that trump actually wants. He would actually be able to address the deal, and get a sense of description and actually to maintain the deal because he understands that its cost his entire position of eight years, and its still not going to face the city around Nuclear Weapons deals. Its better i think to benefit him to start to reach out collaboratively with the iranians. We can put an occupation on us sanctions and by doing that lets talk about the deal in which we actually remove our Bilateral Solutions or put it on the table. Here we need something. First of all, youre going to have to step away from supporting the intense in the region. Secondly, were going to have to back away from your effort to subvert the Israeli Palestinian negotiations and thirdly, and importantly, we need to talk to you about the deal. We want to talk about provisions of the deal. Right . In other words, to take things that the critics of the deal say are off the table and fix it by offering not to increase, although its out there, anything out there is a sort of doubt but rather take your private data how many as a smart negotiator you could give the iranians to a point where you want them to be not through confrontation but through negotiation. [applause] theres a domestic parallel to that. You actually at this point if trump wanted to be successful, they say theres tort of a mood out there that this administration reflexively saw in bracketed of what i call rivets, dont fix it. I use a different word for the first part, it starts with an f but that is the revolutionary mood out there. Obamacare, rivets, dont fix it. Randy l, rivets, dont fix it. Nasa, rivets, dont fix it. If they wanted to pursue all those, they have enormously negative implications but the really interesting move would be to actually on obamacare, you should have accomplished but you send your three top negotiators, ill send mine. We send them all to david, let them come up with a fix. We will both get credit, i will get more but it will be okay. Youd be at 70 percent at the polls right now instead of trump. Michelle martin knows i have 50 rules of middle east reporting that are in a safe somewhere that one day when im long gone i will publish because theyre so politically incorrect but the first one is that any us general pointed to operate in the middle east should have to take a test. The test is very simple, its one question. Do you think the shortest distance between two points is a Straight Line . And if you say yes, you can serve in korea, okinawa, japan, germany, but not the middle east. For all the reasons mark just gave you, that kind of perfect scratch your left ear with your right hand approach. So i think what martin is talking about, why turn moscow into putin . This administration has this bizarre relationship with the russians which we do not know the mom of and nothing disturbs me morethan that. But as you think about putin right now, the ukraine, syria, the influence on the iraqi randy oh, how do you look at the us russian relationship evolving and let me add just one codicil here. Does the fact that we have all these Unanswered Questions about trumps relationship with the russians, questions that go as far as wondering whether they have compromising material on us, does it limit his ability to collaborate with russia Going Forward . And what might the implications of that be . The easy question. I do think that until we have a full, independent investigation that gets to the bottom of the russian interference in our domestic political process and the role of people in the Trump Campaign and around the Trump Campaign, there will be questions about any agreement that he negotiates on any topic when it comes to the hill and to the American People for support and potentially ratification so the first step is the have to have a full independent investigation in and let go where it goes and get to the bottom of this. But when it comes to russia in the middle east, i think that putin has played a relatively limited hand very well. He has wanted to reassert russia as a world power and one of the ways that he has done that is stepping into what he saw as an impossible vacuum in syria. Hes done it without a lot of cost and hes put himself in a position of being a real powerbroker in whatever negotiation ultimately occurs do end the catastrophe that is the Syrian Civil War and so forth. I think the thing i worry about is in any sort of trump putin deal is if trump goes into the negotiation thinking that the objective is to lower tensions, we will get a very bad deal. It would be nice to have a less tense relationship with russia, dont get me wrong, but we have clear us objections in the middle east and thats what we have to address. And oh by the way, israel has a stake in the kind of deal that comes out of syrian negotiations. If it ends up with Iranian Proxy Forces riding in the golan heights, that is not a good deal for israel so israel really have to care about how this comes out. The other thing i would say is that its very difficult to separate all these issues, even what you are talking about with martin. If trump really does want to make substantially more progress either through isis, you have to worry about iran because right now, ran is pushing back to maintain a hard line against the sunnis inside iraq. Iran has got the approach of more innovation, and if that continues we will have a very hard time even if we are successful in mobile with iraq keeping isis out, keeping it from coming back again and again like a terrible week. Same is true in syria. Cannot follow the isis problem unless you get a solution for the broader syrian problem that doesnt completely marginalize the majority of the population. So you have to, these things are going to be connected and again, this is where i worry that a sort of simplistic approach to the deal that says lets reduce tensions with russia will actually deliver on the very Real Security objections that the United States has in the region. Very important, i want to get your take on that. Both questions that michelle raised and one is does trumps really odd and unknown relationship with the russians limit his capacity to any major deal with them . And then does is, what struck me as rather nacve approach, we want to work with the russians to extricate isis, when russias allies are hezbollah and iran, when iran did not go to syria to extricate isis but to reinforce a genocidal dictator. Is there any sort of us russian deal to be had . First, i think the question, yes it does constrain the administration. Its notable that after having spoke about how he wanted to work with russia on syria, the us has not even sent a highlevel delegation to talk with russia and turkey sponsoring, part of it is that it makes sense that they dont want to give more validity to the notion that theres something untoward in their relationship with russia so that answer is yes. I spent most of the last two years dealing with the russians on syria so on the one end id say youre not going to be able to resolve syria. Syria is not going to be able to be resolved if the russians are not at the heart of it so that has to be at some point. I make no apologies even though we say for many reasons , that explains that. The question is what does it look like . The problem is within the four corners of scenic syria itself, its hard to see what the us gives russia that russia doesnt already have. So the question is whether youre going to have to expanded to areas which i dont know which for now, the ukraine and others which is dynamite. But if im putin, what i want from the americans in terms of getting them out of syria is not syria because i basically have it the way i like. I see something in isis that would rehabilitate the russians and make them look like a power in the fight against terrorism but the real payback i think is going to be in other areas and the european theater and thats not something this administration typically is of concern and the constrain that you raise compared to contemplation with the house. If i can jump in here, one point about cooperation with russia in syria. Its important to understand that russia got this wrong but my sense is russia is not fighting against isis. Its fighting against the sunni arab opposition to us on. And their objectives in syria is to get assad in power so what exactly are we going to park partner with them to do . We eventually get out of any partnership is the assurance that assad is there to stay. That means that as long as thats the case, there can be a solution in syria because the sunni arabs that hes killed so many of and displaced billions more with will not accept that. On the other hand, what happens inthat kind of deal , this is great beneficially, not just for assad but for iran. For iran and hezbollah and the assad regime is in effect part in the proxy and it syria is for them the linchpin to what they are describing, entering yemen and iraq and syria and lebanon. So recognizing this, some of the Trump Administration has already said well, part of the deal will be we will wean russia from iran in syria. And good luck with that. But i think that there is no chance that russia would turn against the iranians. In syria because they know the consequences of. Syria is weaning turkey away from russia. The turkey can and wants to play a more assertive role in syria and we need in the east if were to seed in defeating succeed in defeating isis. This issue has been out there. Should we declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization . No. I would not . The Legal Foundation does not exist there has be proofed the leadership is engaged in terrorism. You cant make the case. The Muslim Brotherhood is a vast organization, some of it branches and networks are terrorist organizations. Ham mass is hamas is designated other, are not. They have work nothing to do if terrorism. So part of the reason i would it was on the list of the priorities of the executive orders the Trump Administration will roll out, it has not ahead but some cooler minds have said we cant do it. I dont know where to draw the line. What would you do with turkey . The akp is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Too knee shoulds and jordan and morocco and have an influence sal role. That whole notion is part of the miscon sellings that have misconceptions that have come up but hopefully reason will prevail. When i listen to you now as we come to a close and all of these issues issues issues issuy im reminded reminded of favorin interview with robert strauss, the great texas lawyer, negotiator, who was believely sent out to be the american middle east negotiator, and he had never been to the west bank so he came to israel and the israelis gave him a helicopter tour of the west bank, and afterward head gathered the King David Hotel with a group of reporters. They said, mr. Strauss, what did you think of the west bank . He said, couldnt tell you. They said, no. He said i couldnt tell you. He said off the record. They said off the record. I said i dont know why one though would want and it why the other one wouldnt just give it to them. I think of that when i think of the job of being secretary of defense or secretary of state today or National Security adviser, and i want to close with each of you talking about this to give each a chance. Is it not the worst time to be responsible for American Foreign policy . That is somebody comes to you and says, martin, michelle, rob, be secretary of state. Wouldnt you want to say i had me heart set on agriculture. Thats the the cold war was all about managing power. The post cold war was all about american power. And the postpost cold war is all about managing weak in ours, allies and weak collapsing states. Martin. Michelle. Its about managing the chaos that is all around us in the world, and i think what i would say is i dont think the given our historical role, architect can the post world war ii order, that is provided the basis for stability, economic growth, and incredible peace and prosperity in a number of regions of the world, given the pressuressen the order, the fraying of the order, this is what the report that martin and i participated in is all about. We america has to lead. We dont get the choice to step back and say, we dont have an interest in how the order whether the order survives, whether its adapted to deal with new realities. To do that is to throw away an historical legacy and any hope that were going to get a Better Future that is more conducive to both our interests, our values and our ability to continue to be a force for good in the world. I wanted michelle to lead on this because she says it so much better than me. There is an International Order out there that is now being threatened. It was already being challenged before donald trump came along. But donald trump has around him people who consider that this is a teardown, not a renovation job, to take your fword and rework them into civilized language. So, that is the challenge here. Yes, its difficult. Always difficult. But the United States has huge ability to lead the world. Theres still a great deal of desire for American Leadership. When americas when the president over the United States says we are going to put america first, he sends a signal to everybody else, thats put our own interests first. Everybody else. Particularly the larger pals like china and russia, who want to do that anyway. The rest of the world looks to the United States not just to put it own interests first but to put the interests of this International Order, freedom, rule of law, and protectionist all the states against the stronger ones and promotion of all of the my next call. And multilateral agreements and institutions, particularly in climate change, but in so many other ways in which over the last 70 years the United States has constructed a world order that serves not only american interests, it definitely does that. But serves the interest of the vast majority of humidity. Humanity. [applause] if we give that up now, for some sense of narrow selfish purpose, we will in the end reap the whirlwind and pay the price in terms of our interests in the world. Not only is it really important that you push back on the state in israel and preserve the idea of a twostate solution and the future of a Jewish Democratic israel, but its really important because who but the jews, amongst all of them, have such an interest in a liberal International Order. We need to push back on that as well. [applause] rob. Youre batting cleanup. To ims up im going to be very quick and try to turn your question around. Base chris your question is issue is is the worth time to be e the worst time to be the u. S. Given what is happening in the world. Maybe the question is, is it the worst time to be the world in terms of what is happening in the u. S. Lets thank the panel. [applause] [inaudible conversations] good morning. My name is victor covner, Founding Member of the board of j street and cochair of the Political Action committee. [applause] ambassador, the chief palestinian negotiator, passionate supporter of the twostate solution and a good friend to j street was scheduled to join us today. Unfortunately we learn just a few days ago he is enable to unable to make the trip but were very grateful, his colleague, another great friend of j street, was able to step in and join us on short notice. Ambassador. [applause] ambassador is chief trent off the general delegation of the palestinian liberal organization to the United States. He has dedicated his life to bringing about a twostate solution for israel and palestine. Let me just say that again. A twostate solution for israel and for palestine. [applause] as a proisrael american jew, it is a high honor to introduce him today. Over the course of his career, ambassador has served as a leading palestinian diplomat and negotiator, attending peace talks and representing the Palestinian People in countries around the world. Last fall, ambassador joined joint speaking tour in the pacific northwest, a first of it kind between an american and palestinian leader. Speaking to packed houses, and meeting with jewish in palestinian communities in salt and san francisco, they happened show case the value of open debate and working together to find kwon ground for progress. As jeremy and the ambassador wrote together in the Seattle Times the discussions allow to us recognize our common humanity and interests. Theyre vital if were going to move forward toward an acceptable solution that both sides can claim. Our main focus must be the fewer and reaching an arrangement that will satisfy the national at aspirations of both people. The ambassador knows firsthand that negotiating compromise and peacemaking are built on principled disagreements and critical debate. That hasnt stopped some figures in the American Public from charging that proisrael organizations that associate with him and other palestinian leaders are somehow outside the tent. Ambassador, on behalf of j street, cannot think of anything more important for the proisrael, propeace movement that continuing to engame with you toward our common purpose. That white we are so honored to have you here to speak with us today so in the spirit of our shared commitment, to peace, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the ambassador. [applause] thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, victor. I dont think i will need my glasses. Ill put them on when i need them. Good morning to all of you. It is an honor and pleasure to be here today. Im filling in for dr. Areikat who really plant to be with you. Unfortunately for some unforeseen reasons he could not make it to this conference so it is an honor to speak at your sixth annual conference. Congratulate you, a few years ago not too many people thought that you will that long doing [applause] doing what you have to do, which is to serve the cause of peace between palestinians and israelis the middle east. I know how much criticism has been directed at j street for inviting plo officials and palestinian officials to speak at your venues and activities, and my dear friend jeremy came under attract when we were on our tour last october in san francisco, from the usual source of criticism for being with me on that joint tour that took us to seattle, san jose and san francisco. The role j street is playing today is very important. We do not agree as palestinians with everything that j street is advocating. We do not agree with some of the narrative. However, there is a very strong shared value and agreement between us. Which is that there is no way out for this conflict between palestinians and israelis but the twostate solution. [applause] now, this seems to be getting difficult every day. Unfortunately, the current policies or the policies of the current Israeli Government is making things more difficult from the ground to realize that objective of two states, palestine and israel, living sidebyside in peace and security. The Israeli Government, the current Israeli Government, is acting with total impunity, defying international law, defying signed agreements and violating signed agreements with the palestinians, and also undermining the creation of the palestinian state that would put an end to the conflict and will put an end to all historical claims. This is something that people tend to forget here. President has said the agreement were seeking with israel will not onliened the conflict and also end all historical claims between the two people. This is very important for you to remember. [applause] this shows you that our objective of creating a palestinian state is not a tactical objective. It is a strategic objective. One we made the historic compromise in 1988, to accept the creation of a palestinian state in the west bank, the gaza strip would see jerusalem as the capital. We accepted the state on 22 what used to be historic palestine. Now that was a very painful compromise for us. We still are committed today to that painful compromise. However, we cannot compromise on the compromise. [applause] i enjoyed what the panelists or the guests who were here earlier, very fine group of people, whom i had the pleasure of working with, ambassador indick, meat him maybe the first time in 1993, 1994, when he worked for the clinton administration, rob melee, on two occasions, and they both spoke about one state versus two states. Now, if this current Israeli Government and its supporters in this country do not want a twostate solution, what do they want . They want one state with equal rights . Fine. Let go for that. If this is what they want, we are willing to accept that as a solution to the conflict. However, you all know that this is not what they are exactly seeking to achieve. They are trying to prolong the conflict to sustain the status quo and to continue building illegal settlements, continue to swallow more Palestinian Land and to, once and for all dierks destroy nobility for the establishment of a palestinian state. Destroy any possibility for the establishment of a palestinian state. This is an young that neither you or us are working to achieve. And today, despite all the actions that israel is taking on the ground, we continue to be committed to a twostate solution because what we have today is one state with to two statements. We have an occupation, settlement enterprise and the population that. Does not have any control over it life and is still under military occupation. So, when we talk about two state and one state we have to be careful because the alternatives to a twostate is not going to be favorable to either israelis or palestinians and thats why we share that with j street and we commend you for your courage. He work youre doing among the american Jewish Community and the work youre doing with congress, with the government, to continue to drive this message across and to continue to rally support for the twostate solution. Through on the ground, its fading away. However, again, there is no other solution that will put an end to the conflict and allow both palestinians and israelis to develop their National Identities and to be Good Neighbors and to turn the page and open a new chapter in their lives. [applause] now, of course we cannot ignore the recent changes that took place in this country, the new administration, the confusion about one state, two state, and thenbreak to we like two states, everybody is confused. Here we are confused as much as you are. Its going to be difficult to predict the course of action that this administration is going to take. However, as palestinians and we have not been approached yet by this new administration, believe it or not. They have approached arab countries in the region. They have soughted a advice of arab diplomats in this city about the future of the region, and they still are calculating or waiting for the right time to approach us. We have had indirect contacts with them through third parties. The highest level meeting that took place between us and the new administration was when the cia director visited the west bank two weeks ago and met with president abbas. However, we are ready to engage this administration. We are ready to engage this administration based on mutual respect, international law, longstanding u. S. Positions, that do not condone or support settlement activities, and does not turn their eyes away from any violations or actions that israel takes to undermine the prospects of peace between palestinians and israelis. [applause] so, the talk about the transferring the embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. Now, jerusalem is a sensitive issue. Jerusalem is important to arabs, muslims, christians, jews, and israelis. We under that. Our vision of jerusalem as palestine palestinians, a city of peace that will be open to all the followers of the three monolithic relations. All the religions have the right to protect and preserve their holy sight. This is our vision of jerusalem. Not a divided city as it is today, where East Jerusalem is a totally different sector. What we envision jumpum to be is the capital of all capitals for both israeli and palestine is. On vision is a vision of peace, coexistence and tolerance and thats what we cant to continue to promote. The United States cannot take any unilateral objection to undermine june lateral action to undernine any issue to be decided in final negotiationsment neither west nor East Jerusalem are recognized by any country in the world as being the capitol of palestine or israel to. We really need to sit down, palestinians and the israelis, in order to sort out this problem. Any emotional decision to move the embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem is going to have very, very negative repercussions and could seriously complicate and undermine any future efforts to dissolve the conflict between the palestinians and the israelis. Way have made our position clear to the new administration, directly and indirectly. And i hope that this administration will be wise enough to under stand how delicate the issue is and to leave it to the pears to reach a final agreement on the future of the city. You hear many talk about outsidein, insideout. They spoke before about economy first. They spoke before about security first. They spoke before about peace with the arabs first, and now were hearing this once again. That they are trying to first make peace with the arab countries, and i dont like the description with all due respect that was used earlier of sunnis, sunni countries. I am A Sunni Muslim. But i never really thought of myself as A Sunni Muslim until recently when they started talking about shiite, sunnis. I am a muslim. And any attempt [applause] i urge, i urge people here, not to further the divide between among muslims by describe something to be shiite and some sunnis. It is time that we stop that. If you look at the arab countries, 22 arab countries, 20 of them are sunnis. Iraq is not divided. Iraq the population is shiite and sunni. Majority shiite and sunni. Lebanon is a different situation, of course, were christians and muslims share the country. So what is the purpose of continuing to describe the arab world as being divide between sunnies and shiite . Our allies, the sunnis. I reject that and i urge everybody to be careful about this description. We dont want more religious sectarian strive strife in our region. We have had enough. [applause] and this is an issue here that many maybe in that think it could be done. Let bring the saudis, the emirates, the gulf countries, and try to make them sense this common danger with the country, the Regional Power in region, iran, and hopefully maybe israel can manage to convince them to accept to make peace with them first before they make peace with the palestinians. This has been tried many times before. It did not work. Even if there are certain persons who want to do that in region, its not going to happen. Its going to be difficult to justify to arab people in all these countries why their governments are making normalizing peace with israel before the Palestinian Conflict, if the Palestinian Conflict is not resolved. Instead of doing that. Instead of circumventing the ahard peace initiative, lets push the Arab Peace Initiative that will enable israel to have peace not only with 2 arab countries but with 57 arab and muslim countries and end the conflict with the palestinians, normalize relations between israel and the arab neighbors ns and the muslim world at large. This is the best result to abolish the conflict. Now, i dont want to talk much but i want to touch on the issue of antisemitism. I am in muslim semite and we have, we have to all Work Together antisemitic together to make sure these bigots, racists, santa semites, homophobics do not succeed in this country. We [applause] we know history. We know history very well. Its not a surprise when a mosque is attacked or torched that the first to come to condemn it are American Jews in this country. And it was not a surprise to see a group of Muslim Charities raised 100,000 last week to repair damage to jewish cemeteries. [applause] this is a fight that we would like to see our Christian Brothers in this country also join us. [applause] there is no place, no room for bigotry. Antisemitism, islamophobia and those who are exporting fear should not prevail and should not succeed. We want this country to continue to be the example of tolerance between different religions, different ethnics and i respect senator chris murphy but his opposition the islaming travel ban should not be only because he supports israel. It should be because it violates u. S. Principles and values. [applause] its not enough to say i am doing this because i want to protect israel, i want to protect the existence. Its because undermines the very basic foundation that the country was built on. [applause] so, jeremy, dear guests and friends here, we will continue to work with you. We will come under attack. You will come under attack. I will come under attack, however, we do have the fundamental shared value to see an end to this conflict between palestinians and the israelis. We talk about your children and you talk about my children. I want palestinian children and israeli children to have a Better Future and a better life. And we only can do that if we put an end to this perpetual conflict based on a twostate solution, palestine and israel, a viable, sovereign, democratic, contiguous palestinian state that can live sidebyside with israel in peace and security. Security for both. Because we need security. [applause] and this is not a slogan. Believe me, its not a slogan. This is a very solid commitment on the part of palestinians, the plo, the palestinian leadership, to continue to work with you to promote our joint message and to achieve our joint objective. Thank you very much. [applause]