AJC Applauds House and Senate Resolutions Opposing Palestinian UDI

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC applauded the passage by the House and Senate of similar resolutions decisively rejecting the Palestinian leadership's campaign to seek recognition of a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI).

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"We pay tribute to the House for passing, by an overwhelming majority, this critically important and timely resolution declaring that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can be achieved only through direct negotiations," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We note, too, that the House resolution follows last week's equally welcome Senate resolution similarly urging the Palestinian leadership to abandon its dangerous unilateral campaign."

H. Res. 268, introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), was passed by a vote of 407 in favor, 6 against. The resolution called upon the Administration to announce that it would "veto any resolution on Palestinian statehood that comes before the United Nations Security Council which is not a result of agreements reached between Israel and the Palestinians." The resolution urged the Palestinian leadership to "resume direct negotiations with Israel immediately and without preconditions," adding that a continued UDI campaign would "have serious implications for the United States assistance programs for the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority."

In its letter to members of the House of Representatives in support of the resolution, AJC stated that "only through direct negotiations with Israel can the Palestinians fully realize their national aspirations. Any attempted shortcut, either at the UN or elsewhere, will only delay a solution, thus unnecessarily prolonging the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians who desire to live in peace and security. If the UN recognizes a Palestinian state on unilateral Palestinian terms, it will make it harder for the two parties to negotiate and compromise in the future.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee