McCollum Shares Views on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

Congresswoman Betty McCollum made the following comments on her Facebook page after Secretary of State John Kerry delivered an address on the state of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process:

"A two-state solution is only possible when there are partners who are willing to make the hard choices that advance peace. Right now, it appears that neither Israel nor the Palestinians are willing to make the sacrifices needed to resolve their longstanding conflict.

"Last week, the United Nations took a very appropriate step by condemning the ongoing construction of illegal Israeli settlements, one of the most serious obstacles to peace. Today, Secretary John Kerry outlined other difficult — but critical — steps that must be taken by Israel and the Palestinians to achieve a durable and lasting peace.

"Unfortunately, the incoming Trump-Pence administration has already embraced the extreme policies of the Netanyahu government that are designed to make a Palestinian state impossible. Instead of playing such a divisive role, the United States should be working to urge both Israel and the Palestinians to embrace justice and human rights and bring a lasting end to this conflict."