[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 99 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPLORING MISUSE OF INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE BY UNITED NATIONS 
                 GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2004

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today the House passed H. Res. 713, a 
resolution to condemn the recent decision by the International Court of 
Justice in opposition to Israel's security barrier. I voted for this 
resolution, not out of support for Israel's security barrier, but 
because the International Court of Justice overstepped its bounds in 
issuing this decision.
  Make no mistake, I strongly oppose the route of Israel's security 
barrier, because it deviates significantly from Israel's 
internationally recognized eastern border. In so doing, the fence 
encroaches on Palestinian lands and fully encloses some villages, 
overtly harming many Palestinians by turning these areas into isolated 
enclaves. I fully support Israel's right to defend itself. But this 
resolution is not one of support for the fence, it's one of opposition 
to the politicized ruling by the International Court of Justice. If 
we're going to achieve peace in the Middle East, we've got to get rid 
of the politics that have tainted this issue for so long on both sides.
  Prior to the International Court of Justice ruling, Israel's High 
Court issued a ruling calling for Israel to take into account the 
humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. The High Court stated 
that the path of the fence must be adjusted--even if this change 
results in less security for Israel--and the Israeli government stated 
its willingness to comply with this decision. Given the High Court's 
ruling, the decision rendered by the International Court of Justice was 
both irrelevant and moot, and demonstrated political partisanship 
rather than a desire to truly affect change in the Middle East.
  In the end, Congress must do much more than pass resolutions that 
carry no real weight. Instead, the U.S. should be the lead negotiator 
to achieve peace in the Middle East. When we take sides on this issue, 
we diminish our ability to play the role of impartial negotiator. The 
Bush Administration should be providing leadership in the Middle East 
by ensuring that both the Israelis and the Palestinians live up to 
their commitments as stipulated by the Road Map, and by bringing both 
parties to the negotiating table. Only by re-establishing trust, 
respect, and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians will we be 
able to achieve a lasting resolution to this devastating conflict.

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