[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REGARDING THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL AND THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACE IN THE 
                              MIDDLE EAST

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JESSE L. JACKSON, JR.

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a passionate 
proponent of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the 
Middle East. I will vote for this resolution, but I have deep 
reservations about specific aspects of it.
  Today, as yesterday, I am in strong support of the Road Map for peace 
devised by the United States, European Union, United Nations and 
Russia. As the world's only Superpower, it is the responsibility of the 
U.S. to work assiduously as an honest and balanced broker in this 
complex process to bring about a just and fair resolution.
  The U.S. can only be effective in our role as mediator if we are able 
to maintain the trust and confidence of both the Israelis and the 
Palestinians. To embrace one side to the exclusion of the other is to 
undermine the credibility of the U.S. in the world, further deepen the 
divide within the region, compromise the security of Israel, and 
further endanger U.S. citizens and interests throughout the Middle 
East.
  In his April 14, 2004, letter to Mr. Sharon to which this resolution 
refers and endorses, President Bush seems to make a troubling shift in 
the long standing policy of the United States. For years, the U.S. has 
attempted to facilitate, encourage and promote Israeli-Palestinian 
negotiations.
  Now, however, with the issuance of the Bush letter and completely 
outside of the framework and process of final status negotiations, the 
United States has approved of Mr. Sharon's unilateral plan involving 
two very central and sensitive issues--the disposition of Israeli West 
Bank settlements and the Palestinian refugees' ``right of return.'' To 
prematurely make significant determinations in favor of one party--the 
Israelis--without any input from the other--the Palestinians--is, at 
the very least, imprudent and prejudicial. In my view, this shift will 
further complicate, frustrate and forestall final status talks.
  As stated in an Israel Policy Forum (IPF) commentary, ``Shutting the 
Palestinians out also means that they incur no new obligations. At a 
time when Israel needs Palestinian assistance to end terrorism, they 
are locked out of the room. At a time when America needs the Islamic 
world to view the United States as not hopelessly biased against it, 
the Palestinians are given the back of the hand.''
  In the end, to resolve this two-party conflict requires a two-party 
commitment. I hope that the Israelis and the Palestinians soon will 
realize that their future and their fortunes are inextricably linked. 
As the Road Map envisions, both sides ultimately must reconcile 
differences, make concessions, accept obligations, and take 
simultaneous steps for progress and peace. In the words of IPF, ``Any 
successful movement toward an agreement requires Israeli-Palestinian, 
and not Israeli-U.S., negotiations.'' I agree.
  While the evacuation of Gaza could be a first and positive step 
towards a just and lasting peace, many other steps must follow. But 
only a negotiated resolution, involving both the Israelis and the 
Palestinians, will bring about a just and lasting peace. Unilaterally 
evacuating Gaza alone will neither stabilize the region nor produce an 
enduring peace. As President George Bush has said--and President Bill 
Clinton before him--in the past, only a solution that is ``mutually 
agreeable'' to both sides has a realistic chance of long-term survival 
and success.
  It is because I believe deeply in the role of the U.S. as a genuine 
partner for both sides in the peace process that I remain committed to 
the Road Map.

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