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“STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MAY 19 SPEECH ON U.S. POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1213-E1214 on June 24, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MAY 19 SPEECH ON U.S. POLICY IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
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HON. ANNA G. ESHOO
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 24, 2011
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a very important issue which has generated much debate and misinformation in recent weeks. When President Obama articulated his vision for U.S. policy in the Middle East on May 19th at the State Department, he laid out an historic call to support the democratic aspirations of people living under decades of autocracy and tyranny.
President Obama also reaffirmed our commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He restated the need for a negotiated settlement, and he opposed the Palestinian attempt to unilaterally seek UN recognition of their statehood. He also called for a resolution of the disputed lands based on the ``1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.''
President Obama's call to use the borders that existed before the Six Day War as a basis for future borders was also made by President George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. This is an almost two-decade old U.S. position. This policy position is well understood as the mainstream position by every diplomat, pundit, and scholar familiar with this issue.
The position is shared by Israel's own Defense Minister, and by Israel's former Prime Minister. It is shared by Israel's Opposition Leader, and it is shared by a majority of the Israeli public.
The issue of a negotiated peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians is far too important to cede to those who criticize the President for their own political aims. We must emphasize the facts. Support for Israel as a secure Jewish democratic state is a bipartisan priority, and this Administration has done at least as much as any other to expand and improve our security cooperation and diplomatic ties with her.
I call on each of my colleagues to refrain from distorting or misrepresenting this issue, and to join together in support of a negotiated settlement that will bring peace and prosperity to a region riddled with conflict for far too long.
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