Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Reinforces Commitment to Peace Through Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after voting against H.Res.11:

“A few weeks ago, the United Nations voted on a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. While the UN resolution was one-sided and problematic in many respects, it recognized that the continued expansion of Israeli settlements undermines the path to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On January 5, 2017 the U.S. House of Representatives considered H.Res.11 which condemns the UN’s actions, as well as the U.S. government’s decision not to block the UN Resolution.  I voted against H.Res.11 because it represents a one-sided view of the current situation, and undermines a long history of bipartisan U.S. efforts to work through bilateral and multilateral forums toward a two-state solution.

“I know how important our enduring alliance with Israel is. My vote upholds my commitment to maintaining and strengthening this alliance, as well as my long-held position that the most viable path to peace between Israel and Palestine can be found through both sides negotiating a two-state solution. While I remain concerned about aspects of the UN Resolution, I share the Obama Administration’s reservation about the harmful impact Israeli settlement activity has on the prospects for peace.

“Ultimately, a negotiated solution must come from Israelis and Palestinians themselves, and can only happen when both parties are committed to peace, where they alone determine the terms of the settlement.  I co-sponsored H.Res.23 which reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Israel, and a negotiated settlement leading to a sustainable two-state solution that re-affirms Israel’s right to exist as a democratic, Jewish state and establishes a demilitarized democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to support bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine in order to bring an end to this enduring conflict.”

Background: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard signed on as an original cosponsor of H.Res.23 on January 5, 2017, which reaffirms U.S. commitment to Israel and supports the U.S. policy of vetoing any one-sided or anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolutions that seek to impose a negotiated settlement on Israel and Palestine. It also expresses support for bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine, and condemns boycott and divestment campaigns and sanctions that target Israel.