Signatories to the letter include legislators from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Parliament, Costa Rica and Uruguay. The statement lays out the necessary ingredients to creating a lasting peace: direct negotiations “without preconditions, threats or walkouts; this is the only real path to peace.”

B’nai B’rith has partnered with the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation to broaden the reach of this joint, global effort to fight a Palestinian universal declaration of statehood. Elevating the Palestinians to a “nonvoting observer state” would bypass legitimate peace talks and only continue to denigrate and isolate Israel.

“This letter is good start in responding to the statehood effort,” said B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs. “The United Nations is simply not the venue for promoting the recognition of a Palestinian state. Peace between the Israelis and Palestinians can only be created through honest, direct, bilateral negotiations between both parties.”

Since the establishment of the United Nations, B’nai B’rith has worked to ensure Israel is treated fairly and responsibly by discussing Jewish and Israel-related concerns with U.N. officials, ambassadors and other key players in the international community.

“We have been working with our partner organizations to attract additional signers from around the world,” B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “We must ensure that this world body does not perpetuate the delegitimization of Israel by granting the Palestinians member state status without direct negotiations.”