[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1704-E1705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REAFFIRMING THE STRONG U.S.-ISRAEL PARTNERSHIP IN PURSUIT OF LASTING 
                           MIDDLE EAST PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose Palestine's bid for 
statehood at the United Nations (U.N.) and to encourage the

[[Page E1705]]

Palestinian leadership to pursue a peace agreement with Israel through 
direct negotiations, as they have demonstrated their willingness to do 
before.
  Lasting peace is possible only if an agreement is accepted by the 
Israeli and Palestinian people--it must not be forced on either side. I 
have continually shared this message with my colleagues in Congress and 
the international community, most recently by urging members of the 
European Union to stand with the U.S. and Israel in opposing 
Palestine's unilateral action at the United Nations.
  All citizen in the region deserve a peaceful and prosperous future 
and I am hopeful progress will be made. However, the U.S. will not 
ignore the serious security threat that faces Israel. The path to peace 
lies in working together, not exploiting differences. I will stand with 
Israel to support peace through direct negotiations and urge Palestine 
to embrace this approach.

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