Robert Torricelli: “I strongly support S. Con. Res. 5 and urge all of my colleagues in the Senate to adopt it. S. Con. Res. 5 states not…”

“I strongly support S. Con. Res. 5 and urge all of my colleagues in the Senate to adopt it. S. Con. Res. 5 states not only our opposition to a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state; it also urges the President of the United States to make very clear the opposition of this Government to such a unilateral action. It is fair to state that the peace process in the Middle East has reached a critical point. Since the signing of the Wye River agreement, there has in truth been little progress. Some predicted that with the passage of the January 29 implementation date, the agreement might fail. All parties have a common interest that the Wye Plantation agreement not fail because the consequences would be enormous. The arguments for success remain overwhelming. First, only implementation of the agreement will allow the parties to move to talks on final status, and only talks on final status hold the promise of ending this decades-old dispute. Second, only implementation of the agreement will allow the parties to build of the basic elements of trust and confidence that are required for any complete and final agreement. And finally, only a successful agreement will contribute to stability in the region, and bring an end to the use of the Palestinian dispute to fuel other conflicts.”