The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), today applauded President Bush for his State of the Union pledge to help the Palestinian people build their state, ask Congress for aid for the Palestinians, and help Israelis and Palestinians achieve the goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace.

In his address, President Bush said that one of the main purposes of Secretary of State Rice's upcoming visit to Israel and Palestine would be to help the Palestinian people "build the institutions of a peaceful, independent and democratic state." In a tangible expression of U.S. commitment, the President indicated that he would request that Congress provide $350 million to "support Palestinian political, economic and security reforms." ATFP calls on the international community to join President Bush in providing the critical assistance needed at this time to help the Palestinians build their viable and democratic state.

"All of us, Americans, Palestinians and Israelis, working towards a peaceful solution to the conflict, are heartened by the President's continuing and consistent commitment to his vision of two-states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace," said Ziad Asali, president of ATFP. "This vision is truly within reach as the President noted, and for it to be ultimately realized, the parties must remain focused on measures to bring an end to violence on all sides, engage in political and security negotiations, and refrain from all measures that escalate tension and create obstacles to implementing the Roadmap and ending the occupation."

ATFP notes that President Bush's State of the Union remarks follow comments made earlier this week by Secretary of State Rice that peace would be impossible to achieve between Israeli and Palestinians unless the Palestinians gained a state of their own that was viable and that satisfied their aspirations.