[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 28 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS POLICY IN JERUSALEM

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, last week the Israeli leader, Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to authorize a politically volatile housing 
project for Israeli settlers in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem. This 
disappointing act has thrown into confusion the promising opening that 
was generated by the long and difficult, but successful negotiations 
last month, which culminated in an agreement returning control of the 
West Bank city of Hebron to the Palestinians. The United States 
invested very considerable efforts, negotiating talent and prestige to 
move the peace process along. The agreement over Hebron gave the world 
great hope that a long-term peaceful settlement of the outstanding 
issues between Israel and the Palestinians was on an upward track.
  Therefore, it is very unfortunate, in my view, that the reality of 
the substantial success over Hebron prompted the right wing of Israeli 
politics to pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu into this latest act on 
housing settlements. According to the New York Times of March 2, 1997, 
``a powerful group of Mr. Netanyahu's conservative colleagues'' 
``leaned on him'' to prove his commitment to Jerusalem by building Har 
Homa, threatening to bring down the government if he failed. With new 
territorial concessions to the Palestinians looming, Mr. Netanyahu told 
Americans and Palestinians privately that he had to ``fill his right 
wing tank'' on Har Homa if he was to keep on the peace route.
  This is a most disappointing situation. Progress on peace is regarded 
as a threat by the Israeli right wing and has resulted in efforts to 
force the Prime Minister to retreat from his own success. The Israeli 
right wing should know that their behavior will have consequences in 
the United States, and I for one will relate my support for their 
agenda to their support of that of the United States, which is a fair, 
equitable and just peace in Jerusalem and the Middle East. The process 
of American intermediations between the Israelis and Palestinians is a 
serious matter and we cannot stand by and watch the Israeli right wing, 
at their whim, pull the rug out from under whatever progress is 
accomplished. Such actions should be understood to have consequences 
for support for Israel's various interests as they are considered by 
Senators.
  I hope the Israeli Prime Minister will do better at withstanding the 
pressure of his right wing and, that the considerable influence of 
American groups will be exercised to counter those negative pressures. 
I hope, as I am sure my colleagues do, that the peace process will not 
be derailed by the actions of an extreme right wing minority in Israel 
and that the settlements issue will be adjusted by the Prime Minister 
to reflect the opportunity that the successful Hebron agreement has 
provided.
  Mr. President, I thank my friend from Indiana, Senator Coats, for his 
courtesy in allowing me to proceed ahead of him. I thank him very much 
indeed.
  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, it is not difficult to yield to the Senator 
from West Virginia because the content of what he says is always 
instructive, and I am always pleased to be on the floor when he is 
speaking because I always learn something.
  Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Coats pertaining to the introduction of S. 409 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to extend the 
normal time of 5 minutes to 13 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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