[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 101 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORT FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for a two-
state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. I 
believe peace can be achieved only through negotiations between the 
parties. I believe, further, that these negotiations must be based upon 
mutual respect and upon the unequivocal commitment of each to the 
rights of the other, including the right to live in peace and security 
in a sovereign state. Because I believe this, I supported H. Res. 268. 
I did not, however, vote ``yes'' because I felt the resolution was 
likely to promote those ends. I voted in the affirmative because I 
could not take exception to its substance.
  I oppose and I believe the United States should continue to oppose a 
unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians, with a veto in 
the Security Council, if necessary. I believe that Hamas should accept 
the conditions set forth by the Quartet--the UN, the EU, the Russian 
Federation, as well as the United States--to renounce violence and 
acknowledge the right of Israel to exist. That said, I am not sure that 
it is helpful to the Palestinians, or to Arab governments in transition 
to democracy, to threaten suspending assistance to the Palestinian 
Authority as they seek to bring the West Bank and Gaza closer to a 
position from which negotiations with Israel could take place. If the 
resolution had called for the outright suspension of aid, rather than 
the consideration of its suspension, I would have had more difficulty 
supporting it. I would prefer, too, that the resolution had encouraged 
Israel to take positive steps, such as limiting settlement expansion, 
towards reconciliation with its neighbors.
  I look forward to constructive U.S. engagement in real bargaining, 
not just in an interminable ``peace process.'' I hope leaders in Israel 
and in Palestine will have the courage to present realistic options to 
their people, and I would like to see the United States foster serious 
diplomacy.

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