[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   CONCERNING VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 24, 2000

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to House 
Concurrent Resolution 426, Concerning the Violence in the Middle East.
  It is truly disheartening to witness the renewed violence that has 
plagued Israel and the Palestinian territories for nearly thirty days. 
World leaders, especially President Clinton and United Nations 
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have made numerous attempts to engage the 
Israeli and Palestinian leaders in negotiations toward an immediate 
cease-fire agreement that can realistically be implemented. 
Unfortunately, the latest emergency summit that took place in Egypt on 
October 16 had little impact on the cessation of violence or the 
pacification of hostilities.
  The United States, as one of the foremost advocates of a sustainable 
Middle East peace agreement, must be very careful not to actively 
create conditions which defeat the very progress we are trying to 
achieve. H. Con Res. 426 suggests that Palestinian Authority Chairman 
Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) are the 
sole parties responsible for the current tragic state of affairs. By 
supporting this type of inaccurate portrayal, we damage our credibility 
as a neutral party genuinely seeking to bring about a peaceful solution 
to an extremely volatile situation.
  On October 4, 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed 
Resolution 1322, condemning the surging violence by both Israelis and 
Palestinians, and the destruction of holy sites in the city of 
Jerusalem. This resolution passed the Security Council without a single 
opposing vote--the United States was the only nation to abstain. Due to 
language in the UN measure regarding the provocation of violence by 
Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon, and the excessive use of force against 
Palestinian civilians by Israeli troops, H. Con. Res. 426 expresses its 
desire for the President exercise UN veto power to ``ensure that the 
Security Council does not again adopt unbalanced resolutions addressing 
the uncontrolled violence in the areas controlled by the Palestinian 
Authority.'' Yet H. Con. Res. 426 itself is undeniably unbalanced and 
fails to acknowledge any responsibility on the part of Israel.
  The conflict in the Holy Land has endured far too long, resulting in 
the unnecessary loss of human life, creating a rift between ethnic and 
religious groups, and eroding the historic and aesthetic attributes of 
the area. A lasting peace agreement will require the commitment of both 
Israeli and Palestinian leaders and citizens. At this fragile moment in 
Middle East history, let us not assign blame to one group or another, 
but rather suggest shared responsibility. The goal of the U.S. is to 
foster mutual, unwavering effort on the part of both parties to desist 
from violence and to accept negotiation as the only means of political 
action.
  Last month, I further demonstrated my commitment to the negotiation 
process by supporting H.R. 5272, the Peace Through Negotiations Act of 
2000. This measure strongly encourages the Palestinian Authority not to 
undermine the prospects of peace by unilaterally declaring Palestinian 
Statehood. Before the United States can be accepted as an honest broker 
in these or any negotiations, it must demonstrate an even-handed 
approach with both parties. H. Con. Res. 426 undercuts this goal.
  I extend my heartfelt condolences to the surviving family members of 
the individuals killed on both sides of the conflict. May the memory of 
those victims serve as a catalyst to end the cycle of violence.

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