Obama/Netanyahu meeting: The time for carrots without sticks is over

Jewish Voice for Peace offers the following quote for publication regarding today’s meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rebecca Vilkomerson, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace:

“The discussion of the strained personal relationship between Obama and Netanyahu distracts from the reality of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Over the last eight years, the pattern that emerged is of the United States deepening its financial and diplomatic support of Israel, while simultaneously issuing contradictory and ultimately hollow messages of condemnation for Israel’s continued intransigence over settlement expansion and excessive uses of force.

“It is clear that trying to change Israel’s behavior by offering only carrots and no sticks has failed. The reality that President Obama named at the UNGA, that Israel cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land, must be addressed with concrete steps to put pressure on Israel until it ends its human rights abuses and violations of international law.”

Rebecca Vilkomerson and other JVP representatives are available for interviews. Please contact: Naomi Dann | media@jvp.org | 845-377-5745.