[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE STATE OF ISRAEL

  (Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Speaker, it is with tremendous pride 
that I rise today to reaffirm my deep and unwavering commitment to the 
State of Israel, our greatest friend and closest ally in the Middle 
East.
  This is a country that has celebrated our triumphs and mourned our 
tragedies, a country that has shared our principles of peace, freedom, 
and democracy, and, most of all, a country that has, without fail, 
defended America in her darkest hour.
  As the U.N. considers recognizing an independent Palestinian state, 
it is more important now than ever that we stand up, speak out, and 
oppose this blatant attempt to circumvent direct talks with Israel. 
I've joined with many other colleagues in a letter to President Obama 
urging the U.N. to veto any resolution that grants the Palestinian 
statehood without direct negotiation with Israel.
  Peace cannot be created or sustained through a single unilateral 
decision from the U.N. I will continue to urge the U.N. to veto, and I 
will stand with tremendous pride and admiration beside our friends in 
Israel.

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