FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 19, 2006
CONTACT: Noam Shelef - (202) 728-1893

Washington, D.C.-Americans for Peace Now (APN) today welcomed President Bush's announcement of a new diplomatic mission for Secretary Rice in the Middle East. APN also expressed the hope that his speech at the UN was more than empty rhetoric. APN is a Jewish, Zionist organization dedicated to enhancing Israel's security through peace and to supporting the Israeli Peace Now movement.

"Time and time again this Administration has unveiled peace initiatives or spoken in lofty terms about the pursuit of peace but failed to invest the political capital in getting the job done," said Debra DeLee, President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now. "Today we heard President Bush speak of 'standing up for peace in the Holy Land,' of a new diplomatic mission for Secretary Rice, and of efforts to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority. These could be important components of an effort to breathe new life into the peace process."

"The question remains: Is the Bush Administration pursuing a credible peace process - one that offers Israelis and Palestinians the prospect of moving beyond the recurring bouts of violence towards a two state solution - or is the Bush Administration once again just going through the motions. President Bush has previously failed to follow up effectively on numerous diplomatic efforts regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict including the Mitchell Committee recommendations, the Tenet ceasefire plan, the Zinni missions, and the Road Map."

"Similarly, President Bush's call that Syria pursue peace sounds hollow in the face of the widespread impression that the Bush Administration is blocking Israel-Syria negotiations. In the wake of this summer's war, hopefully the Bush Administration now understands that rhetoric must be matched with action."