Chris Smith: “Sadly, the drumbeat for unilateral United Nations action on this issue continues. On October 14, the U.N. Security…”

“Sadly, the drumbeat for unilateral United Nations action on this issue continues. On October 14, the U.N. Security Council held a special debate, titled, ``Illegal Israeli Settlements: Obstacles to Peace and the Two-State Solution.'' The session was held at the request of Security Council members Egypt, Venezuela, Malaysia, Senegal, and Angola, with the backing of the Palestinians. Such one-sided initiatives only damage prospects for peace. Last April, 390 Members of the House on both sides of the aisle signed a letter to the President. It was signed by so many of us, including some in this room, including Nita Lowey, Kay Granger, Karen Bass, Ted Deutch, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ed Royce, Eliot Engel, Kevin McCarthy, Steny Hoyer, Nancy Pelosi, and myself--390 in all--that laid out the simple principles that have guided our policy. These principles include: A refusal to support counterproductive efforts aimed at imposing a solution on the parties; Opposition to Palestinian efforts to seek recognition of statehood status in international bodies; and A willingness to oppose, if need be, a one-sided U.N. resolution by way of a veto. I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution.”