Secretary of State John Kerry asked AIPAC to publicly support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in peace talks with the Palestinians.

Kerry told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s national summit in Napa on Oct. 14, via satellite from London, that the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a two-state solution, the Jerusalem Post reported. The event was closed to the media.

“If Prime Minister Netanyahu decides that it is in the best interests of the people of Israel to make reasonable compromises for peace, he will need to know that you have his back,” Kerry said.

He also asked AIPAC members to make their “voices heard” in support of Netanyahu’s “courageous choice” to enter into peace talks with the Palestinians, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have met at least eight times in the past three months in talks that are slated to take nine months. — jta