The Final State of the Union
This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.
National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice hosts Palestinian and Israeli kids in a basketball game on the White House basketball court Oct. 9, 2014. The children are in Washington, D.C., on a State Department funded exchange that builds reconciliation and understanding between communities in conflict. Phil Gordon, White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region, and Maher Bitar, Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, also participated. October 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Yesterday, I had the pleasure and honor to take a few minutes away from my desk and the Situation Room to play basketball with some remarkable young Israelis and Palestinians that have come together through sports to build bridges between their divided communities. These inspiring young leaders are visiting the United States on a State Department sports diplomacy program with PeacePlayers International. These youth were aware of my love of basketball and asked to come to meet with me. Rather than sit in a conference room, I invited them over to the South Lawn Basketball Court for an hour of hustle and fun.
When it comes to Middle East peace, nothing is easy. But our commitment to a just and sustainable resolution to this conflict is unwavering, and we will continue to work closely with both sides -- the Israelis and Palestinians -- to help find a way forward. The work that the State Department does to foster people-to-people diplomacy is vital to our efforts to build trust and understanding in conflict situations. The teamwork these young people show on the court underscores just how much the dreams and aspirations of young people all around the world are the same. And it helps demonstrate that a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is possible, and within reach. The youth are our future, and they want and deserve to live in peace and security.
National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice hosts Palestinian and Israeli kids in a basketball game on the White House basketball court Oct. 9, 2014. The children are in Washington, D.C., on a State Department funded exchange that builds reconciliation and understanding between communities in conflict. Phil Gordon, White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region, and Maher Bitar, Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, also participated. October 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
