[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE MID-EAST SITUATION

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I take the floor this morning with a heavy 
heart over reports that violence has again claimed innocent lives in 
Israel. In the shadow of this tragedy, it concerns me deeply that 
President Clinton has reportedly agreed to United States participation 
in Yasser Arafat's meeting in Gaza this weekend.
  Although Israeli representatives will be excluded from this meeting, 
Chairman Arafat has invited other diplomats worldwide to criticize 
recent developments in Israeli-Palestinian relations. This meeting will 
obviously provide a platform for one-sided presentation of very 
complicated issues that are the subject of ongoing negotiations between 
Israel and the Palestinians.
  Rather than encouraging counterproductive rhetoric, Mr. President, 
you should be protecting the traditional United States role of Mideast 
peace broker. The United States participation in the Gaza meeting will 
jeopardize that role.
  Mr. President, now is the time to stand firm on principle. I urge you 
not to send a United States representative to the Gaza meeting this 
weekend.

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