Chris Coons: “if I might extend my remarks briefly, then conclude. There is another path a bipartisan group of us worked hard to…”

“if I might extend my remarks briefly, then conclude. There is another path a bipartisan group of us worked hard to support, and I hope is still possible. This path forward, which I also discussed directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu, was given real life just 2 weeks ago--3 weeks ago--when Iran attacked Israel. Israel's defense against these Iranian missiles and drones was, yes, primarily provided by missile systems and by Israeli jets but also by the cooperation and assistance of the Saudis, the Jordanians, the Americans, and the British. There is another path forward where ending Hamas in Gaza and the region is the joint project of the Saudis, the Egyptians, the Jordanians, and that there is an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was exactly that prospect that helped precipitate the Hamas attack of October 7. Yes, Hamas is a hateful terrorist organization dedicated to eradicating Israel and killing Jews. But the timing, the timing of the October 7 attack was very closely aligned to when a final next step in the Saudi-Israel reconciliation was about to move forward. They have been determined to prevent peace. There is a way forward whereby Hamas may be eliminated from having any role in Gaza and the West Bank and, in the future, of the region by a regional cooperation which could be facilitated by achieving peace. That is also much to be hoped for and worked for. I yield the floor and thank my colleague. The PRESIDING OFFICER.…”