[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                PRESIDENT OBAMA MUST STAND UP FOR ISRAEL

  (Mr. HULTGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, this week, President Obama went to New 
York to address the United Nations General Assembly. He did so, 
remarkably for an American leader, from a position of weakness.
  As the Palestinian Authority began to campaign to upgrade its status 
at the U.N., this administration wavered and vacillated and did nothing 
for too long. This was a failure of leadership and leaves us, our 
Israeli allies, and the ever tense Middle East at an uncertain 
crossroads.
  The President might have been able to rescue the situation with a 
forceful speech laying down a clear marker of America's support for 
Israel. Instead, he falsely blamed Israel for the stalemated peace 
process.
  I have always believed that our relationship with Israel is unique in 
world history and critical to both countries. Those beliefs were 
reinforced when I had the opportunity to visit Israel and meet with 
Prime Minister Netanyahu in May.
  President Obama must stand up, not only for Israel and the Israeli 
people, but also for a commitment to the peace process and the rule of 
law.

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