Arlen Specter: “it is my expectation--and really prediction--that this resolution will pass the U.S. Senate by overwhelming numbers and…”

“it is my expectation--and really prediction--that this resolution will pass the U.S. Senate by overwhelming numbers and that it should be heeded by any of those who wish to have a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. My colleagues have already articulated the point that Chairman Arafat has made a commitment to determine issues such as the Palestinian state by negotiations, and we would expect that commitment to be preserved. There are very delicate matters involving Israel and the Palestinian Authority with respect to withdrawals, and there are major risks in ceding as much real estate, as much ground, as much territory as Israel has ceded to the Palestinians. There is an element of great emotionalism, over and above the issue of security. I recall the famous handshake on the White House lawn on September 13, 1993, with the expectation of working out a permanent peace in the Middle East. In December of 1993 I had occasion to travel with a congressional delegation and visited Egypt. President Mubarak arranged a meeting with Chairman Arafat at that time, where he renewed his pledges to live by the Oslo accord. A few weeks later I was in Israel, in Jericho, and found for sale at the roadside stands, flags of the Palestinian state. The ink was barely dry on the Oslo accords and the handshakes were barely unclasped on the White House lawn before people were talking about a Palestinian state and there was, in fact, the Palestinian flag.”