| Statement on Israeli/Palestinian Conflict in Response to Congresswoman
Rosa DeLauro's statement concerning the U.S. House of Representatives'
resolution "Expressing Solidarity with Israel in its Fight Against Terrorism."
May 14, 2002 - Congresswoman DeLauro's May 2nd statement in support of a House of
Representatives resolution ("Expressing Solidarity with Israel") places the
blame for escalating hostilities and civilian deaths solely upon the
established Palestinian leadership. According to her statement, "it is they
who are responsible for the violence that kills the innocent and for the
young people who are suicide bombers today."
This is a dangerous, misguided, one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. The most important role for the United States is to help the
warring parties negotiate a lasting peace, by not allowing extremists on
either side to derail the peace process. Furthermore, to strengthen its
role as mediator, the United States should impose a moratorium on military
assistance to all parties in the region until a final peace agreement has been reached.
Congress can play a constructive role by sending clear messages about what
should guide U.S. policy in the Middle East. Our primary national interest
is to make the world a safer place. Choosing sides, placing blame, selling
weapons of mass destruction--these policies have been tried, and they serve
no useful purpose. Pledging one-sided support to Israel further destabilizes
this volatile region, setting off seismic ripples that are felt around the world.
Israelis and Palestinians basically want the same thing: a place in which to
live in peace. Most Israelis are willing to concede occupied territory in
exchange for assured peace. Most Palestinians are willing to accept Israel's
right to exist in peace, in exchange for a Palestinian state. This tradeoff
has been, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of peace negotiations.
This is the kind of resolution that was passed by the United Nations in
1947. This is the kind of resolution that Congress should be reaffirming now.
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