If leaders on both sides seriously engage with Secretary Kerry's initiative, the countdown at Times Square could be the beginning of a countdown to an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

If Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas show leadership, this coming year could be a historic year of transition to Middle East peace.

If.

Yes, that's a big "if," but it leaves room for hope -- and for action. And that public action is where Peace Now and Americans for Peace Now (APN) come into the picture. Peace Now (Shalom Achshav), Israel's peace movement, is at the forefront of creating the kind of public demand for peace, which is necessary for leaders to make the hard yet necessary choices, ones that involve risks but promise enormous gains. And APN, Peace Now's American sister-organization, complements Peace Now's efforts here in the United States, in Washington and beyond, solidifying the support that President Obama and Secretary Kerry need to continue pressing on toward Middle East peace.

In March, addressing young Israelis in Jerusalem, President Obama said: "Political leaders will not take risks if the people do not demand that they do." He added, "you must create the change that you want to see."

Now is the time to create this change. And it can happen only if there is a solid and vocal constituency for peace - both here and in the region. It can happen only if that constituency applies pressure on the leaders, creates safe space for them, and educates the public to join in doing the same. Nobody has the track record that Peace Now and APN have in doing just that. Nobody does it better.

We can't do it without your support. Help make 2014 a year of a new beginning for Israelis and Palestinians, a year of peace.

James Klutznick
Chair, Americans for Peace Now