David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, if we can eliminate the bloviating, let me simply say that I oppose this amendment for two reasons: Number…”

“Mr. Chairman, if we can eliminate the bloviating, let me simply say that I oppose this amendment for two reasons: Number one, it is my understanding, we do not have the facts in this case. We do not have the facts in this case, and we should not take an action which could interfere drastically in the peace talks now going on at Camp David on the basis of a 5-minute explanation from one Member of Congress who has an ax to grind on the subject. The gentleman may be right; he may be wrong. All I know is that my understanding is that at this very moment the company to which the gentleman refers may be under investigation by the U.S. Government itself for the way it does business. Secondly, for us to eliminate all funding for the Palestinian Authority would be incredibly against the interests of the United States Government. The last time I talked to Prime Minister Rabin before he was assassinated, he said to me, 'For God's sake, do not let anyone interfere with the ability of the United States Government to deal with the Palestinian Authority, because if you cannot deal with them, then the only party left on the Arab side you can deal with in the Middle East is Hamas, and they are terrorists, and then there will be no hope at all for an agreement for peace in the Middle East.' Mr. Rabin gave his life looking for that peace.”