WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the statement below regarding Middle East peace talks set to begin today in Washington, DC.
"I applaud Secretary Kerry’s success in bringing the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Peace and a two-state solution in the Middle East will only come about by Israelis and Palestinians talking face-to-face. Negotiations require compromise and yesterday’s vote by the Israeli cabinet to free convicted Palestinian terrorists as a confidence building measure exemplifies the painstaking decisions that lie ahead for everyone involved. The Palestinian leadership will need to quickly demonstrate similar political courage as talks move forward. I wish Secretary Kerry, Ambassador Martin Indyk, and both delegations success today and in the days ahead."
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