[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING UNITED 
 STATES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT THROUGH A 
                     NEGOTIATED TWO-STATE SOLUTION

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                               speech of

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 6, 2019

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I will vote in support of H. Res. 326, a 
non-binding resolution reiterating the U.S. House of Representatives' 
support for long-standing U.S. policy to resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution.
  I have consistently supported a two-state solution throughout my time 
in Congress. While there is no perfect solution to this complex and 
heated conflict, I believe a negotiated two-state solution between 
Israeli and Palestinian leaders is a viable framework to achieve 
security, peace, and address the legitimate needs of both peoples.
  Furthermore, I am pleased that H. Res. 326 condemns actions by the 
Trump administration and the Israeli government under Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu which have severely undermined the possibility of a 
two-state solution.
  For example, H. Res. 326 puts the House of Representatives on the 
record as opposing unilateral annexation of territory. This is an 
important rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 
disturbing announcement that he plans to annex large swathes of the 
occupied Palestinian territories, a move that I strongly oppose.
  Additionally, I am opposed to President Trump's decision to 
discontinue bilateral assistance to the Palestinians and U.S. 
contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). 
That's why I am pleased H. Res. 326 states that ``it is in the United 
States' interest to continue promoting the security, stability, and 
humanitarian well-being of Palestinians and their neighbors by resuming 
the provision of foreign assistance pursuant to United States law.''
  I am also pleased this resolution opposes the Trump administration's 
continued greenlighting of Israeli settlement expansion in the West 
Bank. This declaration is especially timely given the Trump 
administration's recent outrageous reversal of the decades-long U.S. 
position that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian 
territories are against international law. I also joined my colleagues 
in signing a letter condemning President Trump's reversal.
  However, while I support this resolution, I believe it should have 
gone further to address additional actions by the Trump administration 
and the Netanyahu government which have severely undermined a two-state 
solution.
  For example, H. Res. 326 fails to condemn the Trump administration's 
decision to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and 
to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and it fails to denounce the 
Netanyahu government's continued human rights abuses, including 
demolition of Palestinian homes and villages, military detention of 
Palestinian children, and more. Protecting human rights, regardless of 
any ongoing tension between Israelis and Palestinians, should be a 
fundamental American value.
  Additionally, the original text of H. Res. 326--which I cosponsored--
included a call for an ``end to the occupation'' of Palestinian 
territory. Unfortunately, this language was removed from the final 
version brought to the floor.
  As an ally of Israel, the United States invests more than $3 billion 
in aid to Israel annually, and H. Res. 326 reiterates U.S. support for 
this aid. Accordingly, I believe it is only appropriate that lawmakers 
voice their legitimate concerns with Israeli policies in a constructive 
way, as I have done throughout my time in Congress and will continue to 
do.
  Unfortunately, recent rhetoric over U.S.-Israeli relations and the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict has devolved into a divisive--and even 
partisan--war of words. It is only through thoughtful, respectful, 
nuanced debate that Congress can productively contribute towards 
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and addressing the 
legitimate needs of both peoples. The bottom line is it is critical 
that the U.S. pursue policies that will move Israelis and Palestinians 
towards a negotiated, two-state solution, and I will continue to push 
the Trump administration and Congress to do so.

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