Howard Berman: “I will fight terrorism as if there were no negotiations. I will negotiate as if there was no terrorism. While he will…”

“I will fight terrorism as if there were no negotiations. I will negotiate as if there was no terrorism. While he will never admit it, Prime Minister Sharon in the last 3 weeks has moved to that position. Notwithstanding 17 Israelis killed in a bus bombing, other Israelis killed in two other terrorism attacks since the Aqaba statements, the Israeli government has continued with these negotiations. The notion that the Roadmap would exist, that this process would be moving forward, that the hope that we heard at a conference this weekend by the Dead Sea from both Arabs and Israelis about the chances of moving forward would come because the United States played a neutral role in this conflict, are terribly misplaced. The reason that the Israelis have the courage to move forward, notwithstanding the continued terrorist attacks, is because they know that the United States Government and particularly that the Congress stands with them in this conflict. This is a resolution that for the first time in the history of this House of Representatives recognizes a two-State solution, an independent Palestinian State, and seeks to strengthen and embolden the Palestinian Authority in governing a State without terrorism. I urge support for the resolution.”