President Obama just held his first trilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas.
We couldn't say it better than the President himself: "It is past time to talk about starting negotiations -- it is time to move forward.... Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward. We have to summon the will to break the deadlock that has trapped generations of Israelis and Palestinians in an endless cycle of conflict and suffering. We cannot continue the same patter of taking tentative steps forward and then stepping back. Success depends on all sides acting with a sense of urgency."
Wide gaps still exist between the parties, and it is only with bold US leadership that we'll be able to bridge those divides and bring true peace and security to Israel, the Palestinians, and the entire region. J Street's full statement on the trilateral meeting is available below the fold.