Lois Capps: “Mr. Speaker, January 9 was an important and historic day. For many Palestinians it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. They…”

“Mr. Speaker, January 9 was an important and historic day. For many Palestinians it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. They went to the polls and elected a new president in a contested, free, and fair election. The Palestinian election was a milestone not only for the Palestinian people but for the safety of Israel and for our own national security as well. I was privileged to witness this remarkable event with my own eyes. From 5:30 in the morning until nearly midnight I traveled in and around Bethlehem in my capacity as an election observer for the mission co-sponsored by the National Democratic Institute and the Carter Center. Let me first take a moment and commend President Carter, Governor Christie Todd Whitman, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, and NDI President Ken Wollack for leading our delegation and the 80 participants from 16 different nations who did a remarkable job. With a few exceptions, what I observed in Bethlehem held true across the West Bank and Gaza. The balloting process was exceptionally well organized, in part because nearly 14,000 public school teachers were deployed as election officials. The Israeli Government did a good job facilitating freedom of movement in the territories. There was little violence. In fact, an almost reverential quiet enveloped the polling places.”