New York, NY, November 27, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed support for the path to peace spelled out today by President George W. Bush and Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Annapolis. ADL commended Pres. Bush for "creating the conditions for a new way forward for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to engage in the difficult bilateral process of negotiations toward peace."

However, the League indicated that "success will ultimately depend on a true commitment by the Palestinians and Arab countries to fully accept Israel as a Jewish state, to end the culture of terrorism and hatred, and to demonstrate flexibility on issues that heretofore they have not exhibited."

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:

We  support the path to peace spelled out today by President George W. Bush and Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Annapolis and commend Pres. Bush for creating the conditions for a new way forward for the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to engage in the difficult bilateral process of negotiations toward peace.  However, we continue to believe that success will ultimately depend on a true commitment by the Palestinians and Arab countries to fully accept Israel as a Jewish state, to end terrorism and the culture of hatred, and to demonstrate flexibility on issues that heretofore they have not exhibited.

Israeli Prime Ehud Olmert was clear that Israel is ready, and has always been ready, to make significant concessions for peace.

We hope the moderation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the expectation that Arab states will play a constructive role, and the fear that extremists could plunge the region into endless violence and instability will lead to a new attitude of conciliation in the thinking, policies and actions of the Palestinians.  In the past – whether it was the Oslo Accords, the Camp David and Taba negotiations, the Road Map and Israel's disengagement from Gaza – the Palestinians had direct opportunities to demonstrate their interest in living in peace with Israel.  On each occasion, the Palestinians' unwillingness to take the necessary steps for a peaceful co-existence undermined the efforts.  The test now is whether the Palestinians this time will be different.

We hope the international community will insist that change in the Palestinian and Arab camps must now actually take place, in word and in deed.  If so, the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security can be realized.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.