[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 92 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1213-E1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MAY 19 SPEECH ON U.S. POLICY IN THE 
                              MIDDLE EAST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2011

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a very important issue 
which has generated much debate and misinformation in recent weeks. 
When President Obama articulated his vision for U.S. policy in the 
Middle East on May 19th at the State Department, he laid out an 
historic call to support the democratic aspirations of people living 
under decades of autocracy and tyranny.
  President Obama also reaffirmed our commitment to finding a peaceful 
solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He 
restated the need for a negotiated settlement, and he opposed the 
Palestinian attempt to unilaterally seek UN recognition of their 
statehood. He also called for a resolution of the disputed lands based 
on the ``1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.''
  President Obama's call to use the borders that existed before the Six 
Day War as a basis for future borders was also made by President George 
W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. This is an almost two-decade old 
U.S. position. This policy position is well understood as the 
mainstream position by every diplomat, pundit, and scholar familiar 
with this issue.
  The position is shared by Israel's own Defense Minister, and by 
Israel's former Prime Minister. It is shared by Israel's Opposition 
Leader, and it is shared by a majority of the Israeli public.
  The issue of a negotiated peace settlement between Israelis and 
Palestinians is far too important to cede to those who criticize the 
President for their own political aims. We must emphasize the facts. 
Support for Israel as a secure Jewish democratic state is a bipartisan 
priority, and this Administration has done at least as much as any 
other to expand and improve our security cooperation and diplomatic 
ties with her.
  I call on each of my colleagues to refrain from distorting or 
misrepresenting this issue, and to join together in support of a 
negotiated settlement that will bring peace and prosperity to a region 
riddled with conflict for far too long.

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