[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 146 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E895-E896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE ISRAEL-GAZA CEASEFIRE

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                           HON. DARRELL ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 13, 2021

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding the cease-fire 
brokered between Israel and Gaza earlier this year after 11 days of 
attacks against Israel. I include in the Record the following article, 
``Let This Be the Last Israel-Gaza Ceasefire'' published by CNN on May 
25, 2021, written by Ambassador Motaz Zahran.

                        [From CNN, May 24, 2021]

               Let This be the Last Israel-Gaza Ceasefire

                      (By Ambassador Motaz Zahran)

       Egypt worked around the clock over the past two weeks to 
     end the deadly fighting between our Palestinian and Israeli 
     neighbors. Since the early hours of the conflict, Egyptian 
     mediators led de-escalation talks with both Hamas and Israeli 
     leadership. We supported humanitarian efforts on the ground, 
     including by opening the Rafah border crossing for the 
     provision of immediate medical care to the injured in Gaza. 
     Ultimately, in close partnership with the United States and 
     others, we were able to broker a ceasefire.
       On Thursday, President Joe Biden called Egyptian President 
     Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated the vital role mutual 
     coordination between the US and Egypt can have in the region. 
     Egypt will spare no resource in bringing about peace in 
     there, whenever violence erupts. This was true during the 
     2014 war, when we were instrumental in forging a truce. It 
     was true during the conflict this May. And it will be true at 
     any point in the future.
       However, we will also never accept the notion that this 
     cycle of bloodshed is inevitable. That is why we refuse to 
     let this issue recede in international priorities--as it has 
     in the past--until the next crisis emerges and imposes.
       Building a lasting solution must start now. Egypt is ready 
     to do everything to help negotiate a lasting peace to the 
     core conflict in

[[Page E896]]

     the Middle East. We are calling on the US to work with us to 
     restart that process immediately.
       Egypt's historic role in planting the seeds of peace, our 
     substantive contributions toward a Middle East peace plan, 
     our proximity to the conflict, and the direct ramifications 
     of belligerency to our nation, all make Egypt singularly 
     positioned to help restart negotiations toward a two-state 
     solution between Palestinians and Israelis--and with the full 
     span of their rights upheld; prime amongst them is statehood 
     to the Palestinians and security to the Israelis. But we need 
     sustained international efforts.
       Working together, Egypt and the US can broker an honest and 
     open dialogue with Israel on concrete steps it should take to 
     work towards peace, such as refraining from taking any 
     further steps detrimental to the wellbeing of the population 
     and the status of the city of Jerusalem, which was occupied 
     by Israel since the 1967 War.
       In turn, Cairo and Washington must impress on Palestinians 
     the need to work for peace. While having the militants lay 
     down their arms for good might seem a long way off, stopping 
     further attacks is essential to move forward. Those factions 
     rejecting peace efforts and seeking instability, whatever 
     their name or affiliation is, have to be contained, including 
     by undermining their international network of support and 
     finance. After all, armed attacks and military operations, 
     whatever their cause is, never serve the path towards peace 
     and only sets back the ultimate objective of a two-state 
     solution.
       We must work to uphold and enable the Palestinian National 
     Authority. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian 
     Authority, has a crucial role in furthering any future peace 
     negotiations. His role as a national leader has been 
     overshadowed by Hamas' recent conflict with Israel, yet he 
     has all the credentials and willingness to return to the 
     table for serious and meaningful discussions. Elevating Abbas 
     in the eyes of the world will bring him back into his 
     historic role as chief negotiator for the Palestinian people; 
     after all, no one on the Palestinian side has worked more on 
     the vision of a two state solution than President Abbas.
       A strong and lasting peace in the Middle East may seem far 
     off given the recent heightened tensions in the West Bank, 
     including Jerusalem, and Gaza, but that should still be the 
     goal for the US, Egypt and, most importantly, Israelis and 
     the Palestinians.
       We must continue to march forward toward peace, or we risk 
     continuing to suffer with this vicious cycle of despair and 
     bloodshed.
       The continued partnership between Egypt and the United 
     States in peace efforts is a crucial cornerstone to achieving 
     peace in the Middle East. It is indeed no coincidence that 
     the latest ceasefire was declared mere hours after President 
     Biden called President Al-Sisi. When it comes to giving peace 
     a chance in the Middle East, Washington and Cairo must 
     continue to work together as peacemakers and arbiters.

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