Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 268) reaffirming the United States commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 268 Whereas the policy of the United States since 2002 has been to support a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; Whereas a true and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties and acceptance of each other's right to exist; Whereas Palestine Liberation Organization Chair Yassir Arafat pledged in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on September 9, 1993, that ``all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations'' a pledge that served as a critical basis for the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles signed 4 days later; Whereas the unity agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas on May 4, 2011, was reached without Hamas being required to renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist, and accept prior agreements made by the Palestinians (the ``Quartet conditions''); Whereas Hamas, an organization responsible for the death of more than 500 innocent civilians, including 24 United States citizens, has been designated by the United States Government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a sp…”