U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., now the chairman of the U.S. House Helsinki Commission, is teaming up with a high profile congressman to try and influence the Middle East peace process.
This week, Hastings joined U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, D-NY, the chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee;U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., to introduce a resolution urging “support for a two-state solution negotiated between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and urges the Palestinian Authority and regional Arab and Muslim-majority states to engage in negotiations with the state of Israel to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and support the normalization of bilateral relations" while approving of “Israel's ongoing efforts to improve relations with Arab and Muslim-majority states in the region and those Arab and Muslim-majority states that have taken steps to improve bilateral relations with Israel.”
Hastings explained why he was backing the resolution on Thursday.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents an immensely difficult challenge that has no easy answers,” Hastings said. “Despite the lack of progress on a formal peace agreement, Israel and some of her Arab neighbors have worked quietly and behind the scenes to improve bilateral relations in recent years. Recent signals from Arab nations, including Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, underscore the opportunities that exist to improve security, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East. The concurrent-track approach, where Arab and Muslim-majority states work to improve their bilateral relations with Israel as Israel and the Palestinian Authority work concurrently to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, can help establish a new paradigm for the region. I thank my colleagues for introducing this bipartisan resolution with me and urge its timely consideration by the House.”
"The United States has every interest in helping our ally, Israel, find new opportunities for cooperation and peace with all of its neighbors. I welcome the recent advances of Oman and recent statements from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates about Israel,” Engel said. “These are critical steps toward a more secure Middle East. This resolution makes an important statement about Congressional expectations for establishing peace in the Middle East, and I applaud Mr. Hastings and Mr. Schweikert for their leadership on this issue.”
“I am pleased to see this resolution re-introduced. As a steadfast supporter of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and one of America’s strongest allies, it is important to support peace in the region,” said Schweikert who applauded the Trump White House for trying to bring Arab nations to the table and work with Israel. “The administration has long pushed for Arab states in the region to improve relations with Israel, which is something we should continue to encourage.”
“There is no question in my mind that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people will only be solved when both sides are able to come together and agree on a peaceful, two-state solution,” Woodall said. With the unwavering support of the United States and peace-loving countries in the region and around the world, I hope that we can help provide Israel and the Palestinian Authority the opportunity to seize that two-state solution.
“I am so proud to join my good friend Mr. Hastings in being an original co-sponsor of this resolution. Our long partnership working together on this issue is testament to how important resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is and how it transcends traditional partisan lines,” Woodall added.
Hastings introduced the resolution on Tuesday and it was sent to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
