Dear Friends:

It gives me great pleasure to extend my heartfelt greetings to all those gathered for the American Task Force on Palestine’s sixth annual gala. As friends and supporters of ATFP, we recognize that the cause of peace cannot be the work of governments alone. True and lasting peace must reside in the hearts of ordinary people who must live, work, study, and raise their families together, as neighbors. We must never forget that peace between Palestinians and Israelis is in the interest of Palestinians, Israelis, and people across the region, as well as the United States. Tonight, I commend everyone at ATFP, and those of you who support its mission, for your tireless commitment to our shared goal – two states, the State of Palestine and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security.

Despite the inevitable difficulties we face, the Obama Administration will never waver in its pursuit of this goal. That is why the United States has worked so hard to help support President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad, and the Palestinian people as they have improved security, strengthened institutions, and unleashed economic growth that is giving new hope and opportunity to people across the West Bank. The United States will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and we will continue to push for negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians that can achieve a lasting peace.

Palestinians deserve an independent state, Israelis deserve security, and Palestinian and Israeli children deserve the opportunity to pursue their dreams and fulfill their God-given potential with dignity and peace. I remain grateful for your unwavering commitment to these goals, and on behalf of the American people, I thank you, as proud Palestinian-Americans, for everything you do each and every day to enrich our beloved country.

With best wishes for a wonderful evening, I am