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Congresswoman Schakowsky's Statement on Passage of H. Res. 326

December 6, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, made the following statement on the passage of H. Res. 326, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the United States efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution, by a vote of 226-188, with 2 voting present:

"Today the House of Representatives sent an important message to those seeking a just peace, dignity and security for Israelis and Palestinians: We firmly stand behind a two-state solution and oppose any action that makes that goal harder to achieve.

"As both a Zionist – that is, someone who believes that the Jewish people have the right to a state of their own -- and a person that believes the Palestinians have rights and deserve a viable state of their own, I felt duty-bound to help facilitate the passage of this resolution. I firmly believe that only a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can ensure Israel's survival as a secure Jewish and democratic state and fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a secure and independent state of their own.

"All Americans need to think about the alternatives to two states. There are only 2 likely options that I see. The first is an ugly, one-state nightmare in which Israel's government tries to retain the West Bank permanently but does not grant equal rights to Palestinians. Were this to happen, Israel would actually become an ‘apartheid' state as many wrongly accuse it of being today. The second option is to move toward one state, but with equal rights and equal votes for all. In this scenario, in short order the Jewish population would be in the minority, and Israel as a Jewish state would cease to exist. Would Israeli Jews accept that outcome? Do Palestinians really want that shared state instead of a state of their own? Is that really a state we imagine could live in peace? Every poll we have shows us that Israeli Jews and Palestinians both still prefer two states for two people. And that's what we should help them to achieve.

"I'm not naive to the challenges of achieving a negotiated agreement that produces two states for two peoples. First and foremost, Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, controls a large parcel of what will eventually be the Palestinian State. Also, the Palestinian Authority is not an ideal partner, as they continue to incite and are doing nothing to prepare their population for peace. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his right-wing government partners have also been a detriment to peace – pushing an agenda that includes the annexation of the West Bank, increasing settlement activity, and taking other provocative actions alongside President Trump that have put the two-state solution on life support. Then there is Iran, and other outside influencers, who spend millions of dollars and significant energy attempting to attack, disrupt, delegitimize and destroy Israel and stoke conflict.

"As difficult as the current situation is, we cannot stop fighting for peace. History has proven the necessity of a Jewish State, and the Jewish State of Israel is a modern miracle and a source of pride, as well as a valued friend of the United States of America. And history has also shown that the Palestinian people are likewise linked forever to the land. Both peoples deserve better than being consigned by cynicism to a future of more conflict.

"It is crucial for the United States to stand on the side of justice and peace and support the goals of this resolution."