[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MIXED SIGNALS ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I was disappointed to note that the United 
States, alone among its allies on the United Nations Security Council, 
vetoed a proposed resolution urging Israel to abandon its plans to 
build housing for Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem. This housing 
initiative, which was reported last week to have been pushed by the 
right wing of Prime Minister Netanyahu's party, threw a cold towel on 
the peace process that had been so painfully promoted through U.S. 
intermediation.
  Indeed, the President and the Secretary of State, Ms. Albright, both 
correctly criticized Israel's position on this issue. It is unfortunate 
that the President felt compelled to mix that clear signal of American 
displeasure with an American veto of essentially the same policy 
position, expressed in a United Nations Security Council resolution. 
American policy on this very important matter needs more consistency if 
the United States intends to maximize its influence and leadership on 
the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It is 
unfortunate that the message of displeasure has been diluted, because 
that softening risks emboldening the hard-liners in Israel who act as 
if they do not want that process to succeed.
  I believe that the policy of the administration rightly remains 
opposed to the recently announced settlement initiative by the Israeli 
government, and I spoke out on the floor a few days ago in support of 
that position. It does not seem logically consistent that a Security 
Council resolution essentially expressing the same disapproval could in 
any way itself ``jeopardize efforts to keep the peace process moving'', 
as was reported by the Washington Post on March 8, 1997. Strong 
leadership on this matter requires sustained consistency in all foras, 
both national and international regarding American policy, and I hope 
that there will be further opportunities to make our very correct 
position in opposition to this new housing initiative abundantly clear.
  The Israeli leader stands at a pivotal point in the Middle East. The 
peace process is clearly very fragile, and great efforts are needed on 
a sustained basis by all the parties, not some of the parties, for it 
to succeed. The alarming exchange of letters between King Hussein and 
Prime Minister Netanyahu, released publicly yesterday reveals the 
damage that the Israeli housing initiative is causing. Neither the 
U.S., not the Palestenians, nor the Israeli people should passively 
allow the Israeli right wing to sabotage this process anytime it 
decides it has gone far enough for their taste. I congratulate the 
President for sending an American envoy to meet in Gaza with Mr. Arafat 
on the overall situation.
  I make an urgent plea to Prime Minister Netanyahu to look history in 
the face and to take a bold step and reverse his decision on the 
housing matter, regardless of the merits of the initiative in his mind 
from a narrow geographical perspective. This decision has become the 
central indicator of his government's commitment to peace in the Middle 
East. It is clear that, regardless of any merits which may attach to 
the housing decision, it is causing grave damage to the peace process 
which our governments have worked so painfully to engender. Therefore, 
I urge the Israeli Prime Minister to reverse that decision. This would 
certainly require considerable personal courage and political 
difficulty on his part, but it would mark him as a true leader at a 
time when such leadership is desperately needed. He alone is in the 
position to make a crucial change in the present explosive atmosphere. 
The process of peace in the Middle East has reached a vital juncture, 
and its future is highly dependent on the action he takes now.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from New 
Jersey.

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