Events 2007

Secretary Condoleezza Rice

Secretary Rice on Moving Toward Peace in the Middle East

November 14, 2007

"Israelis have waited too long for the security that will come living side by side with a peaceful and democratic neighbor. Palestinians have waited too long for the dignity that will come with an independent state. We've all waited an awfully long time for peace. We should wait no longer. So let us move confidently forward to the future.

…Now I do not deny that the present moment is challenging and complicated, but when has the Middle East ever been unchallenging or uncomplicated? The fact is conditions between Israelis and Palestinians are now fundamentally different and, frankly, better than they were a few years ago. And we now have a real opportunity to seek peace. Just consider, most Israelis now believe that a responsible Palestinian state is in the national interest of Israel and that true security will require an end to the occupation that began in 1967. Most Palestinians now believe that Israel will always be their neighbor and that no Palestinian state is going to be born through violence.”

To read the complete speech, please click here.