RAMALLAH and JERUSALEM – Today U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees had substantive discussions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. They also met with a group of Palestinian business leaders and entrepreneurs, Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Members of the Israeli Knesset.

In conversations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials, both Senators expressed full support for peace between Israelis and Palestinians through a two state solution, and urged Palestinian leaders to continue supporting Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts. The Senators were encouraged by young Palestinian business leaders and entrepreneurs, and visited the offices of Exalt Technologies in Ramallah, a Palestinian software company supported in part by funding from USAID.

Kaine and King also discussed the importance of peace with Israeli Justice Minister and chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, and met with Members of the Knesset Hilik Bar and Omer Barlev to express their support for two states living side by side in peace and security.

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