[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1567-E1568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            H. CON. RES. 165

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2016

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend the 
House on passage of H. Con. Res. 165, which reaffirms Congress' 
approach to Israel and Palestine. This bipartisan resolution supports 
the longstanding approach of the United States as a facilitator of 
bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine. It properly 
recognizes that a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict will only come about through direct, mutual negotiations 
between the two parties. Attempts by Congress or other outside bodies 
to interfere with bilateral negotiations by establishing parameters or 
imposing solutions on Israel and Palestine will inevitably complicate 
the situation and delay its peaceful resolution.
  Since 1972, the United States has opposed and vetoed 42 United 
Nations Security Council resolutions dictating binding parameters on 
the peace process. The current Administration has time and again 
refused to aid Israel by tolerating Palestinian threats, harming the 
U.S.-Israeli relationship, and undermining Israel's peacemaking 
efforts. Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East, and I believe 
the country deserves our full support. I have consistently demanded 
this Administration recognize the importance of Israel, and today's 
resolution provided another opportunity to affirm my commitment to our 
relationship with that nation. I strongly urge continued opposition to 
efforts by the UN Security Council to force agreements that are one-
sided or anti-Israel.
  Israel has continuously demonstrated its willingness to coexist with 
its neighbors, and the United States must promote direct talks between 
Israelis and Palestinians, not the international intervention of the 
United Nations or other bodies. Through passage of this resolution, the 
House of Representatives publicly reaffirmed our support for bilateral 
negotiations between Israel and Palestine, demonstrated the strength of 
our relationship with Israel, and rebuked faulty attempts to impose the 
terms of peace.
  I was proud to join my colleagues in support of this important 
resolution.

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