Instead of Pressuring Israel To Make More Concessions to the Palestinians, Secretary Kerry Should Prioritize Imminent Threats From Iran, Syria, and Egypt, Says Ros-Lehtinen

Statement

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding the latest developments in Egypt, which is under a state of emergency after the reported deaths of over 150 people, juxtaposed with the Administration's pressure on the ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"With the current turmoil in Egypt, the ongoing bloodbath in Syria, and Iran's continued progress toward full nuclear breakout capacity, Secretary Kerry must prioritize U.S. national security interests and focus on the imminent threats facing the region, the U.S. and our allies. The peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are quite important, but they should not be our first priority at the moment while other regional crises threaten to increase the already high tensions and further destabilize a region already on edge.

"The Israelis have consistently given concession after concession -- releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners with blood on their hands - while receiving nothing in return other than rockets from Gaza and a continuation of inflammatory propaganda from the Palestinian Authority. The only way there can be viable solution is for both sides to act as honest brokers seeking a true peace -- something we have not seen under Abbas because it's far more beneficial for him to preserve the status quo. Yet even as Secretary Kerry's team sits with the two sides as they again attempt to negotiate a settlement, next door in Egypt, the violence is reaching a boiling point as the already fragile situation is causing more deaths and instability. Interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei has resigned over the latest clash of violence that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds and the authorities in Egypt have declared a month-long state of emergency.

"The Administration's foreign policy approach to the current crisis in the Middle East is akin to worrying about an overdue library book as you're being evicted from your home. Instead of using what little political capital we have left on the peace process, the Administration should deal with the current situation in Syria, Egypt, and Iran, which more directly threaten U.S. national security interests in the region."

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