Washington, D.C. - Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Barack Obama’s remarks to the United Nations General Assembly.
 
“President Obama was right today to come to Israel’s defense before the United Nations General Assembly, extolling Israel’s success as a state and proclaiming the unshakable US commitment to Israel’s security.  The President spoke directly to the Palestinian Authority when he said that the Palestinians would only achieve an independent state via direct negotiations with Israel.  His message to the Arab world and Iran was clear: blatant efforts to delegitimize, terrorize, and incite hatred towards Israel undermine peace efforts and must come to an end.  I join Prime Minister Netanyahu in thanking President Obama for standing with Israel and supporting peace through direct negotiations.”