White House Implores Organized Jewry To Support Peace Summit

TALING THE TALKS: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's efforts to enlist American Jewish support for upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks included an address this week to the United Jewish Communities' annual General Assembly

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the pitch Tuesday in a high-profile speech in front of United Jewish Communities, the roof body of North America’s local federations of Jewish charities. The organization was having its annual General Assembly here. Speaking to 3,500 Jewish communal leaders, Rice said that “failure is not an option” for the upcoming summit, which is set to take place in Annapolis, Md.

“What is at stake is nothing less than the future of the Middle East,” Rice said in her speech.

Rice’s appeal for support from the Jewish community comes less than two weeks before the Israelis and Palestinians convene for a meeting meant to kick-start peace negotiations. Most mainstream Jewish groups in the United States have avoided taking strong positions on the summit. More....