[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E555-E556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VOTE AGAINST H.R. 3099, THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ABRAHAM ACCORDS ACT
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HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address my vote against H.R.
3099, the Special Envoy for Abraham Accords Act.
The Abraham Accords fails to address the plight of millions of
Palestinians who are working to build a peaceful future and who have
been abandoned by Congress and the broader international community.
Peace in the region can only be achieved by respecting human rights,
especially the rights of children. By turning a blind eye to the
ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian children living under Israeli
occupation, Congress only contributes to the continuation of in
Justice.
I include in the Record my June 2016 letter to then-President Obama
urging him to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth to
encourage diplomatic engagement with the Government of Israel, the
Palestinian Authority, and human rights groups in the region to address
the serious human rights abuses that have been well documented against
Palestinian children who are living under Israeli military occupation.
I believe no U.S. military aid to Israel should be used to enable or
support the military detention and torture of Palestinian children. the
demolition of Palestinian homes, or the annexation of Palestinian
lands. The American people expect that all children, including
Palestinian children, are treated with dignity and have their human
rights respected. If the United States is to play a role in ending the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we must end human rights abuses against
Palestinian children.
My calls for a Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth have gone
unanswered.
Enabling an ambassadorial level of U.S. representation for a Special
Envoy for the Trump-era Abraham Accords, while ignoring the need for a
Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth, is an affront to all those seeking
to end the human rights abuses of Palestinian young people living under
military occupation. Peace in the region will only be possible if we
build a brighter future for Israelis and Palestinials alike.
Therefore, I voted no on H.R. 3099.
Congress of the United States,
Washington, DC, June 20, 2016.
President Barack Obama,
The White House,
Washington, DC.
Dear President Obama: We are deeply appreciative of your
administration's efforts in
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pursuit of a negotiated peace to end the violence and
settlement expansion that are the hallmarks of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. While diplomatic efforts to resolve the
conflict will certainly continue to require American
leadership, for the foreseeable future any move to advance
the peace process is in the hands of Prime Minister
Netanyahu, President Abbas, and their respective governments.
Regardless of the manner in which Israeli and Palestinian
political leaders decide to act upon their common future, a
reality that must be acknowledged is that forty-six percent
of the 4.68 million Palestinians living in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories are under 18 years of age. These
children deserve to grow up with dignity, human rights, and a
future free of repression.
This enormous youth cohort represents another generation of
Palestinian children growing up under military occupation
with very few opportunities to improve their lives. These
children live under the constant fear of arrest, detention,
and violence at the hands of the Israeli military, as well as
the threat of recruitment or conscription into armed groups.
We view this as an unimaginably difficult and at times
hopeless environment for children that only fuels the
conflict.
The recent attacks against Israelis, including those
perpetrated by Palestinian youth, are profoundly disturbing
and must be condemned. These attackers are often using crude
weapons knowing they will likely be killed by Israeli
security forces. Appropriate measures must be taken by
security forces to defend themselves and innocent civilians.
At the same time, the root cause of such violent acts must be
examined and understood within the context in which they are
taking place. Does a life of utter hopelessness and the
collective psychological trauma associated with the
Palestinian people living for decades under Israeli military
occupation directly contribute to the violence?
The people of Israel have a right to security and we
support U.S. policies which advance Israel's security. We
also strongly believe that human rights--including the human
rights of Palestinian children--must be protected and
promoted, never ignored. As far as U.S. policy is concerned,
we should expect an Israeli child and a Palestinian child to
receive equal treatment from the authorities and the legal
system. If in fact we are truly seeking security for Israel
then it is in the interest of the American people to advance
the cause of security, human rights, equality, dignity,
justice, and opportunity for Palestinians, just as we do for
Israelis.
We must raise our profound concern regarding a longstanding
policy of detaining, interrogating, and imprisoning
Palestinian children as young as 12 and 13 for up to a year,
sometimes longer, without a trial and in violation of
international standards. Recently, the Associated Press
reported that a 12-year-old Palestinian girl was imprisoned
by Israel's military justice system. UNICEF, Human Rights
Watch, B'Tselem, and other international NGOs have documented
these human rights abuses against Palestinian youth. A report
released in April by Defense for Children International-
Palestine, based on the testimony of 429 Palestinian children
detained by the Israeli military or police, found that three-
quarters endured some form of physical violence following
arrest. Israeli interrogators used position abuse, threats,
and even solitary confinement to coerce confessions from some
of these children. Such blatant abuses are unacceptable and
contrary to U.S. interests and values.
The situation on the ground is rapidly deteriorating and we
must act now. At the end of February, there were 440
Palestinian children in Israeli military prisons. This is the
highest number since data became available from Israel Prison
Service in 2008. For the first time in nearly four years,
Israel has reintroduced the use of administrative detention
against children. This is a procedure whereby a child can be
detained without charge or trial, often renewable
indefinitely. According to the most recent data from the
Israeli Prison Service (February 2016), there were seven
Palestinian children being held under administrative
detention orders.
Mr. President, we believe the U.S. has a critical role to
play in shaping the environment for peace between the people
of Israel and the Palestinian people. Palestinian youth is
one of the most critical demographic groups to building a
secure future. We must act now to send a clear signal that we
value their lives and well-being.
Therefore, we urge you to appoint a ``Special Envoy for
Palestinian Youth'' to travel to the West Bank, East
Jerusalem, and Israel to hear directly from Palestinian
youth, human rights and legal experts, NGOs, Palestinian and
Israeli officials, including police and military leaders.
Such a fact finding mission will provide the Obama
Administration with vital information necessary to actively
promote human rights, but also establish a framework for the
next U.S. administration. Both Israel and the Palestinian
Authority have obligations under universal human rights norms
and international human rights instruments for which they are
accountable and a ``Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth''
will serve the important role of highlighting their
respective successes and the shortcomings that demand action.
We are also calling on the Department of State to elevate
the human rights of Palestinian children to a priority status
in our bilateral relations with Israel and our ongoing
engagement with the Palestinian Authority. The immediate
appointment of a ``Special Envoy for Palestinian Youth'' will
send a strong signal that truly reflects the spirit of your
administration's tenure in the White House. Conversely,
ignoring the trauma being inflicted on millions of
Palestinian children undermines our American values and will
ensure the perpetuation of a conflict and occupation we all
want to see ended peacefully.
Sincerely,
Betty McCollum, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Andre Carson, John
Conyers, Earl Blumenauer, Donald Beyer, Barbara Lee, Keith
Ellison, Henry ``Hank'' Johnson, Bobby Rush, Marcy Kaptur,
Chellie Pingree, Danny Davis, Peter DeFazio, Raul Grijalva,
Sam Farr, Luis V. Gutierrez, Jim McDermott, Yvette Clarke,
Mark Pacon, Members of Congress.
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