[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1410-E1411]
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

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                               speech of

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2004

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution, and I would like to elaborate upon the important issues 
that are involved in securing Israel and peace in the Middle East.
  As a strong supporter of Israel, I believe that Israel has every 
right to defend itself and that a security fence is an understandable 
response to three years of terrible suicide bombings and other attacks 
that Israeli citizens have suffered through.
  I also believe it was unfortunate that the issue of the fence was 
brought to the International Court of Justice at all. But the issue was 
brought to the ICJ, and the ICJ has now made its non-binding ruling. I 
am disappointed and puzzled that the opinion of the court does not seem 
to recognize very real Israeli security concerns. Nor does it tell us 
how Israel or any other state is supposed to defend itself from non-
state threats.
  But I'm not certain that passing this resolution today will help to 
advance the cause of peace. And advancing the cause of peace would go a 
long way toward restoring our credibility in that part of the world 
where we need it most. To advance the cause of peace, the resolution 
might have mentioned the thousands of Palestinians who have also died 
in the violence of the last three years. To advance the cause of peace, 
the resolution

[[Page E1411]]

might have mentioned that both parties have obligations under the Road 
Map.
  Mr. Speaker, I am suggesting merely that balance is valuable, and 
that it makes sense to seek points of commonality instead of to focus 
on those that drive us apart. I hope that the Administration can look 
beyond the ICJ ruling to pursue more vigorously the peace process that 
has stalled for too long.

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