U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

July 17, 2006

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Comm. Director

                        303-455-7600

Andrew Nannis  – Press Secretary

                        202-224-5852


 Sen. Salazar comments on Middle East situation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar released the following statement regarding escalating events in the Middle East.

“I support Israel's right to defend herself. At the same time, I am deeply concerned about escalating violence in the region, and hope that responsible Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese leaders can find a way to de-escalate the conflict and eventually move the region back onto a peaceful path toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I strongly support American leadership and intense diplomatic engagement toward that end, and I urge President Bush to send a high-level delegation to the region that might be led by former Presidents Bush and Clinton to help bring about an end to this crisis.

“Recent events have led me to vividly recall standing at the Israeli-Lebanese border in 2003, watching Hezbollah taunt the Israelis with graphic pictures of captured Israeli soldiers. I thought then, and continue to believe now, that the deplorable behavior and provocations of the very worst actors must not be allowed to dictate events in the region.”

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