[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN 
                                CONFLICT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud co-sponsor and 
strong supporter of H. Res. 268, which reaffirms our national 
commitment to a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through 
direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
  Madam Speaker, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has persisted for 
generations. It has claimed thousands of lives and has contributed to 
instability in the world's most volatile region. Few things would do 
more to advance the cause of world peace than the achievement of the 
two-state solution which recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish 
state with secure borders and the right of the Palestinians to govern 
themselves in an autonomous state with the resources and factor 
endowments to enable the Palestinian people to live in dignity.
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a strong and vocal 
advocate for direct negotiations, has already accepted a two-state 
solution, only to be continually rebuffed by the Palestinians at every 
turn.
  Madam Speaker, attempts by Palestinian leadership to circumvent 
direct negotiations with Israel and instead seek direct recognition 
from the United Nations and foreign governments is counter-productive 
and undermines the work that has been done over the last several 
decades to come to a peaceful and mutually beneficial resolution.
  The unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinian Authority 
shows a disregard for and violation of the underlying principles of 
Middle East peace agreements, including the Oslo Accords, the Road Map, 
and most recently the Annapolis Conference.
  Madam Speaker, a two-state solution is the only feasible resolution 
to this long-standing conflict. Therefore I strongly applaud the 
Administration for opposing international recognition of a Palestinian 
state that is not reached in direct negotiation with Israel.
  I urge the President to direct the United States Ambassador to the 
U.N. to exercise our veto with respect to any resolution of the United 
Nations Security Council to the contrary and call upon Palestinian 
leaders to return to the negotiation table in a good faith effort to 
reach a mutually acceptable agreement to bring about the two-state 
solution, which is one and sure path to the just and lasting peace we 
all seek.
  For these reasons, I strongly support H. Res. 268 and urge my 
colleagues to join me.

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