In his speech, the Hon. Jason D. Greenblatt stated that pursuing peace is a daunting, almost impossible task, but he believes that there is a path to peace despite all the rhetoric. He has held meetings with Israel and with the Arab states, which are confronted by an aggressive Iran and a population that is eager for economic opportunity. He said that he believed that the Arab world understood that Israel was not the problem and that Israel could be part of the solution.
Acknowledging that President Trump’s actions and language have changed the expectations of what is possible, Greenblatt stated that fresh thinking and bold decisions are needed. The US approach is rooted in the belief to give the parties the space that they need, and not to blame one party or the other for the lack of progress. According to Greenblatt, President Trump will support whatever is agreed upon, and the United States will not impose upon them.
Addressing the issue of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Greenblatt said that the president was recognizing the “obvious reality.” In this decision, the United States was not pre-judging the final status talks and was not making any changes to the status quo at the holy sites, nor did it reflect a bias for one side or the other. Greenblatt emphasized that since this announcement, the US government remains dedicated to resolving the conflict. He added that peace would not be achieved by denying Judaism’s connection to Jerusalem or by walking away from the negotiating table, and that only dialogue and negotiations could lead to an agreement. Finally, he underlined that the common factor in all previous negotiations has been the involvement of American mediators.