[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TWO-STATE SOLUTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
(Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, we had the honor of listening to King
Abdullah of Jordan and his speech before. I must be candid and say that
I was somewhat disappointed in some of the things that he mentioned.
When he talked about the plan in Riyadh for two states living side by
side, we all, of course, hope for that, but the plan in Riyadh forces
Israel to go back to the 1967 borders, which are indefensible and is
really a nonstarter.
If the Palestinians really want peace in the region, then they know
what they have to do. They need to do three things, and the Hamas
government needs to do three things. They need to recognize the right
of Israel to exist, they need to abide by all previous agreements
signed by the Palestinians, and they need to renounce terror and
violence.
I would have liked the King to have said that. I think that would
have been most hopeful, but it is important that all of us that want
peace in the Middle East work to the ultimate solution, which is two
states in peace, living side by side, an Arab Palestinian state and
Jewish Israeli state, and it can only happen if the Arabs recognize
Israel's right to exist.
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