[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5891-S5892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MIDDLE EAST PEACE

  Mr. MORAN. Madam President, this is a historically significant week 
for the United States and for all those who care about peace and 
stability in the Middle East. As we know, it is a region that is 
already roiled by protests and war and faces the prospect now of even 
more tension, more uncertainty, and potentially more violence.
  We know this to be the case if the Palestinian Authority's President 
Abbas goes forward with his plan to seek recognition of Palestinian 
statehood at the United Nations in New York. We have known for some 
time that this was coming and, thankfully, the U.S. Government has 
expressed opposition to this ill-conceived idea, and the administration 
plans to direct a veto of the measure.
  Our government has also worked to persuade other nations to join us 
in opposing the Palestinian statehood bid. But I am afraid we have not 
done enough to convince the Palestinians there will be consequences for 
their actions.
  By pursuing recognition of a state at the U.N., President Abbas is 
choosing confrontation rather than negotiations with Israel. In doing 
so, he is violating the Oslo peace agreements signed 18 years ago which 
state that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians must be 
solved through direct negotiations between the two parties. Direct 
negotiations are not just the best way to achieve peace, they are the 
only way to achieve lasting peace.
  Direct negotiations are meant to bring the two sides to the finish 
line, where all the final status issues, including borders, can be 
resolved. By rejecting negotiations with Israel and appealing to the 
U.N., the Palestinians are trying to make the previous agreed-upon 
finish line the new start line. If President Abbas pursues statehood 
this week at the U.N., the Palestinians will find it more difficult to

[[Page S5892]]

compromise in the future, given the terms of the state they are seeking 
recognition for.
  Israel will also find it more difficult to enter into future talks 
when the starting point is already an unacceptable result. Years of 
American efforts to foster peace will be set back and threats to 
security will increase once the Palestinians discover that votes in 
favor of their statehood have not changed any of the circumstances of 
their daily lives.
  The Palestinian statehood bid will do nothing to bring Palestinians 
or Israel peace, for peace cannot be made by votes in the Security 
Council or the General Assembly. All parties involved stand to lose if 
President Abbas pursues statehood at the United Nations.
  It is important the truth be told. Israel is not what stands in the 
way of a Palestinian state; neither is the United States standing in 
the way of a Palestinian state, for both the United States and Israel 
have endorsed the creation of that future state. What prevents the 
state's creation is the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as a 
Jewish state with historical rights going back thousands of years, to 
the land and to Jerusalem.
  The Palestinians must recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish 
state and must return to the negotiating table. Rejecting these terms 
and instead going to the United Nations will result in widespread 
repercussions. The Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people 
rely heavily upon international donors and support. Chief among those 
benefactors are the American taxpayer. Last year, Americans sent about 
$550 million to the Palestinians.
  In June, this Senate unanimously passed a resolution cosponsored by 
90 Senators, including me. That resolution stated that the Senate 
intends to consider reductions and restrictions on aid to the 
Palestinian Authority should it continue its efforts to circumvent 
direct negotiations by turning to the United Nations.
  My request this evening of my colleagues is that we should abide by 
this resolution. There might be consequences. Lasting peace requires 
it.
  I yield the floor.

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