EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT THROUGH A NEGOTIATED TWO-STATE SOLUTION; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 196
(Extensions of Remarks - December 09, 2019)
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING UNITED
STATES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT THROUGH A
NEGOTIATED TWO-STATE SOLUTION
______
speech of
HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO
of oregon
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 6, 2019
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I will vote in support of H. Res. 326, a
non-binding resolution reiterating the U.S. House of Representatives'
support for long-standing U.S. policy to resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution.
I have consistently supported a two-state solution throughout my time
in Congress. While there is no perfect solution to this complex and
heated conflict, I believe a negotiated two-state solution between
Israeli and Palestinian leaders is a viable framework to achieve
security, peace, and address the legitimate needs of both peoples.
Furthermore, I am pleased that H. Res. 326 condemns actions by the
Trump administration and the Israeli government under Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu which have severely undermined the possibility of a
two-state solution.
For example, H. Res. 326 puts the House of Representatives on the
record as opposing unilateral annexation of territory. This is an
important rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
disturbing announcement that he plans to annex large swathes of the
occupied Palestinian territories, a move that I strongly oppose.
Additionally, I am opposed to President Trump's decision to
discontinue bilateral assistance to the Palestinians and U.S.
contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
That's why I am pleased H. Res. 326 states that ``it is in the United
States' interest to continue promoting the security, stability, and
humanitarian well-being of Palestinians and their neighbors by resuming
the provision of foreign assistance pursuant to United States law.''
I am also pleased this resolution opposes the Trump administration's
continued greenlighting of Israeli settlement expansion in the West
Bank. This declaration is especially timely given the Trump
administration's recent outrageous reversal of the decades-long U.S.
position that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian
territories are against international law. I also joined my colleagues
in signing a letter condemning President Trump's reversal.
However, while I support this resolution, I believe it should have
gone further to address additional actions by the Trump administration
and the Netanyahu government which have severely undermined a two-state
solution.
For example, H. Res. 326 fails to condemn the Trump administration's
decision to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and
to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and it fails to denounce the
Netanyahu government's continued human rights abuses, including
demolition of Palestinian homes and villages, military detention of
Palestinian children, and more. Protecting human rights, regardless of
any ongoing tension between Israelis and Palestinians, should be a
fundamental American value.
Additionally, the original text of H. Res. 326--which I cosponsored--
included a call for an ``end to the occupation'' of Palestinian
territory. Unfortunately, this language was removed from the final
version brought to the floor.
As an ally of Israel, the United States invests more than $3 billion
in aid to Israel annually, and H. Res. 326 reiterates U.S. support for
this aid. Accordingly, I believe it is only appropriate that lawmakers
voice their legitimate concerns with Israeli policies in a constructive
way, as I have done throughout my time in Congress and will continue to
do.
Unfortunately, recent rhetoric over U.S.-Israeli relations and the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict has devolved into a divisive--and even
partisan--war of words. It is only through thoughtful, respectful,
nuanced debate that Congress can productively contribute towards
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and addressing the
legitimate needs of both peoples. The bottom line is it is critical
that the U.S. pursue policies that will move Israelis and Palestinians
towards a negotiated, two-state solution, and I will continue to push
the Trump administration and Congress to do so.
____________________