On the recordOctober 21, 2015
This morning an initiative aimed at delegitimatizing Israel was defeated at UNESCO. Abu Mazen is set to head to the U.N. Human Rights Council for an emergency meeting next week where he will surely spew more of his dangerous rhetoric and even further inflame the tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis. The U.S. has had a clear policy of defending Israel from these biased attacks at the U.N., but recently we have seen perhaps a troubling shift in policy by the current administration. The administration's refusal to stand publicly and firmly with Israel emboldens groups at the U.N. to push forward with these initiatives and undermines longstanding U.S. policy. If the administration won't counter these efforts at the U.N., then Congress must use every tool at our disposal to hold these agencies and Abu Mazen accountable. Mr. Speaker, we must send a clear message to all the member states at the U.N. that Congress stands with Israel and that we will not allow these efforts to continue that seek to undermine the Jewish state, our best ally, and the U.N. ____________________
