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APN Praises Results of Sharm el-Sheikh Summit

Americans for Peace Now (APN) today praised the results of the Israeli-Palestinian summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, noting that support from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah is crucial to the ability of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make progress in fighting violence and resuming peace negotiations.

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Washington, D.C.-Americans for Peace Now (APN) today praised the results of the Israeli-Palestinian summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, noting that support from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah is crucial to the ability of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make progress in fighting violence and resuming peace negotiations. APN also recognized the positive role being played by President George Bush in raising the level of U.S. engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The Israeli Peace Now movement sent a delegation to Sharm el-Sheikh to demonstrate grassroots Israeli support for renewed Israeli-Palestinian cooperation.

"After more than four years of bloodshed, we hope that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit marks the closing of a dark chapter in Middle East history and the turning of a new page in Israeli-Palestinian relations," said Debra DeLee, President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now, a Jewish, Zionist organization that works to enhance Israeli security through peace and to support the Israeli Peace Now movement. "Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas have expressed their determination to address violence, instability, and despair in the region. They will need the continued support of President Mubarak and His Majesty King Abdullah in order to meet their mutual obligations and stand firm in the face of those who want to destroy this moment of promise.

"At the same time, President Bush must continue to be an active force for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Even with the best intentions of regional players, nothing will happen without ongoing American political, security, and economic involvement. We applaud the President's appointment of a security coordinator to work with both sides and his offer of a generous aid package to President Abbas to help stabilize the situation and fight violence in the Palestinian territories. But President Bush also needs to be politically engaged with the peace process on a continuous basis. The Intifada should have taught everyone how easily the Israeli-Palestinian situation can spin out of control if America stands on the sidelines."