Reaffirming Longstanding United States Policy in Support of a Direct Bilaterally Negotiated Settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Floor Speech
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Mr. DOLD. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), for yielding the time.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, stand in strong support of H. Con. Res. 165. What I find so fascinating is that we need here in the United States to respect Israel's democratically elected leadership. They are a nation, and they are our one true ally; and any efforts by the United Nations or by any other body to try to impose a two-state solution, frankly, I think, is detrimental and reckless. We should never try to force their hand. Frankly, what we find now is it is not the time to try to establish a legacy for an administration that has just a very few short days left by attempting a reckless Hail Mary pass. We here do want a two-state solution, which I think is important to note, but it must be done by direct negotiations by the two parties; and when the United States pressures Israel, all we do is weaken the chances for long-term, durable peace.
My good friend from Virginia talked about his actually being fearful of the next administration. Let me simply say that I hope this body will stand in bipartisan support to ensure that any administration does not pressure Israel. We understand that a long-lasting peace, which is what we are hoping for, comes through direct, bilateral negotiations.
I, for one, am hopeful that this body will stand united to make sure that the world knows that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our one true ally--Israel--and with the hope that the administration and the United Nations Security Council will veto any efforts by the United Nations to try to unilaterally put a statehood in there for the Palestinians. We know that true peace can only happen through direct, bilateral negotiations.
Mr. Speaker, again, I stand in strong support of Mr. Royce's and Mr. Engel's resolution, and I sincerely hope that my colleagues will stand together, in bipartisan support, to make sure that this administration does not take steps that will weaken Israel's hand in going forward. I hope, in going forward, in administration after administration, that this body will stand as we do today--in bipartisan support.
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