Middle East peace talks are a positive step forward (Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin)

The
Palestinian Authority’s participation in this week’s talks is encouraging. But
for peace to truly take hold their leaders also must be committed to speaking
out within Gaza and the West Bank against those, particularly Hamas, who would
like these and any peace talks to fail. We cannot allow extremists to remain an
obstacle to peace. Israel has consistently shown a commitment to a long-term
peace and now is the time for the Palestinian Authority to do the same.

Now that U.S. efforts in Iraq are winding down,
there is an opportunity for us to truly foster a productive process towards
peace in the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel have always shared the same
goals: to restart the peace process and prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear
state. It is imperative that we do all that is possible to protect our shared
values and joint national interests.