[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            PALESTINIAN UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Palestinian leadership's decision to 
seek status as a non-member observer state in the United Nations 
General Assembly is a reckless and dangerous move. The General 
Assembly's vote to approve this gambit is a new low point for the 
institution.
  I commend President Obama for his unwavering stance opposing the 
Palestinian motion and the tireless efforts by this Administration to 
try and avert today's outcome.
  No country has done more than the United States to advance the true 
cause of Palestinian statehood. No one has done more to undermine that 
goal than the Palestinians themselves.
  Time and again the Palestinian leadership has chosen empty slogans 
over substantive achievements. These attempted short cuts have 
shortchanged the Palestinian people who aspire to achieve genuine 
statehood with the political, economic and social infrastructure to 
support a stable, functioning democracy.
  Today's vote undermines the key principle of mutual recognition that 
has been the foundation of a generation of diplomacy and successive 
Security Council resolutions concerning the peace process. It threatens 
to further derail a U.N. system already struggling under the weight of 
an unrelenting Palestinian agenda to attack Israel in the U.N. Human 
Rights Council and the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organization. We now must consider the irreversible damage that could 
be wrought by irresponsible action in the World Health Organization, 
the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.
  This maneuver will also make it more difficult for the United States 
to constructively engage the Palestinian leadership and chart a 
productive path ahead.
  At this uncertain time, the one thing that is abundantly clear is 
that the United States is committed to standing with Israel. We will 
continue to do all we can to maintain stability and security as we 
navigate the way forward.

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