Rep. Susan Davis Praises President Obama's Appointment Of A Middle East Special Envoy

Press Release

Noting that the United States had not devoted enough diplomatic resources to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in recent years, Congresswoman Susan Davis introduced a resolution (H. Res. 143) in the 110th Congress calling for the appointment of a special envoy to the Middle East

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton selected Former United States Senator George Mitchell to serve as the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East.

"In light of decades of conflict and the recent crisis in the Gaza Strip, the time to take diplomacy off the backburner and into the forefront of American international efforts is now," said Davis. "I applaud President Obama's decision to quickly dispatch a special envoy to the region with the mission of securing a lasting peace."

This conflict shows that the United States cannot manage the situation from the sidelines. This approach only serves Iran and radical elements in the region. Rather, the United States must maintain a high-level diplomatic presence that allows responsible parties to capture every opportunity for peace.

The new Administration and the new Congress represent an opportunity to regain our position as an honest broker in the region. For this to happen, the tone coming from Washington must be in sharp contrast to the last eight years. Congress helps set that tone, which is why Members of Congress should use President Obama's selection of a Special Envoy as an opportunity to call for an end to this conflict and a broader American diplomatic presence in the region.

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