Washington (dpa) – The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution condemning a UN resolution last month on the expansion of Israeli settlements. The vote on the House resolution was 342 in favour and 80 against, with four Democrats voting “present,” indicating they did not wish to vote either way. The UN resolution on…
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The Republican Jewish Coalition on Friday issued this follow-up statement:
Washington D.C. – Last night, House Republicans overwhelmingly voted in support of a resolution reaffirming the United States’ commitment to Israel after President Obama turned his back on our closest ally. In the past, a resolution like this would have sailed through with near unanimous support, but once again Democrats showed they are no longer the party for pro-Israel Jews.
Despite House Republicans’ efforts to achieve full bi-partisan support for the pro-Israel resolution, 76 Democrats voted against it.
The least surprising vote against the resolution was Representative Keith Ellison’s. It’s clear that Ellison, a leading candidate to head the Democratic National Committee, and endorsed by establishment Democrats like Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, will continue the anti-Israel policies of President Obama, which alienate and wrongly pressure the one true democracy in the Middle East.
“Five years ago, Democrats on the floor of their convention booed a pro-Israel resolution, and yesterday 76 Democrats in the House voted against another pro-Israel resolution. Today’s Democrat Party is no longer a home for pro-Israel voters. The Republican Party is.” – Matt Brooks, RJC Executive Director
Democrat Nay Votes
Bass
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bustos
Butterfield
Carbajal
Carson (IN)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Clark (MA)
Clay
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Ellison
Eshoo
Foster
Gabbard
Garamendi
Green, Al
Grijalva
Gutiérrez
Heck
Huffman
Jayapal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kaptur
Kelly (IL)
Kihuen
Kildee
Kuster (NH)
Larson (CT)
Lee
Lewis (GA)
Loebsack
Lowenthal
Lynch
McCollum
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Moore
Nolan
O’Rourke
Payne
Pelosi
Pingree
Pocan
Price (NC)
Schakowsky
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Slaughter
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tonko
Tsongas
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Yarmuth
U.S. Rep Brian Mast released the following statement:
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today (Thursday) voted to object to the anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which the Administration refused to veto. H. Res. 11 passed the House of Representatives 342 to 80. Rep. Mast was a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Following his 12 years of service in the United States Army, Rep. Mast volunteered to serve alongside the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to show support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and peace in the Middle East. He is the only Member of Congress to have served with the IDF.
“While I was serving alongside the IDF, I learned at the Shabbat tables of my hosts how much each family in Israel truly desires peace. Sadly, the current Administration has seriously undermined peace efforts in the region with this shameful stunt at the United Nations,” Rep. Mast said. “The overwhelmingly bipartisan condemnation of the actions of the United Nations and the Administration today proves that supporting Israel will never be an issue of right versus left. Standing with Israel – for democracy and human rights – will always be an issue of right versus wrong.”
Following the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Rep. Mast wrote an op-ed for the Times of Israel about his experience serving in Israel and the importance of supporting Israel’s quest for peace. Earlier today, he spoke on the House Floor in support of H. Res. 11.
U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) issued this statement:
Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) voted with a broad bipartisan majority to pass legislation that disapproves of the contentious United Nations Security Council resolution 2234 passed in December. The Security Council resolution, which the United States abstained from voting on, criticizes Israeli and Palestinian actions and their effects on the peace process. After the vote, Rep. Peters released the following statement:
“The United Nations Security Council Resolution undermined the fundamental idea that long-term stability can only be achieved through bilateral negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian people.
“The construction of Israeli settlements in disputed territory undercuts efforts to bring consensus on a two-state solution. But seeking to extract concessions outside of a joint negotiation is unproductive and divisive at a time when we should be focused on bringing the parties together.
“I disagree with much of the language in today’s resolution and the manner in which it is presented, but ultimately voted for the resolution as the clearest, and only, way to express my dissatisfaction with the UN Security Council resolution and the chilling effect it could have on the peace process.
“I remain committed to a bilaterally negotiated two-state solution as the only way to bring about the one thing that all nations can agree they want – everlasting peace.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition issued this statement:
The Republican Jewish Coalition released the following statement from Executive Director Matt Brooks:
“Today’s vote was an important first step to reversing the damage caused by President Obama’s actions toward Israel, most recently by not defending Israel at the United Nations. Now, President-elect Trump and the GOP majorities in Congress mark a new direction, one of rebuilding the important bonds between the two countries.
“The overwhelming support for this resolution shows that there is a strong commitment to fighting back against the U.N.’s persistent targeting of Israel. As President-elect Trump has signaled, the time has come to reevaluate U.S. funding of the U.N. and let them know we will not stand by their anti-Israel policies.”
The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the passage of a House of Representatives resolution repudiating the recently passed United Nations Security Council resolution on Israel and urged the U.S. to oppose and veto future biased resolutions on Israel at the U.N. Security Council.
The resolution also affirms that “a durable and sustainable peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians will come only through direct bilateral negotiations” and that “the United States should work to facilitate serious, direct negotiations between the parties without preconditions toward a sustainable peace agreement.”
Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:
We commend the House of Representatives for repudiating the biased U.N. Security Council Resolution and for affirming its commitment to ensure that all final status Israeli-Palestinian issues, including settlements, are resolved through direct negotiations between the parties.
This vote and the statements, even by some Members who did not support the Resolution, sends an important signal about the deep bench of support in Congress for Israel and for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As we enter a period of one party government, it’s vital for Americans and Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to move forward in unison, building on decades of America’s bipartisan support for its vital ally and sister democracy, Israel.
A similar measure was introduced yesterday in the Senate rejecting the Security Council resolution and at the same time, strongly supporting a two-state solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.
American Jewish Congress issued this statement:
AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS SUPPORTS THE ADOPTION OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE ANTI-ISRAEL UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2334
Following the House of Representative voting to oppose the Anti-Israel UN Resolution, American Jewish Congress President Jack Rosen, Vice President Dr. Munr Kazmir, and the Secretary of the Organization Dr. Ben Chouake issued the following statement:
“The American Jewish Congress welcomes today’s vote by the House of Representatives against the one-sided and anti-Israel UN Resolution 2334. We cannot sit by and passively allow this administration to set back the Israel-Palestinian peace process for generations in their final weeks of office. The motion is right to set out that by abstaining from the UNSC resolution the Obama Administration turned its back on years of American Foreign Policy.
“The bipartisan congressional measure led today by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel recognizes that by mentioning the ‘4 June 1967 lines,’ UN Resolution 2334 effectively states that the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest sites, are ‘occupied territory.’ The American Jewish Congress has been voicing its concern to lawmakers on this critical issue in the UN resolution, as it’s an appalling affront to Jewish communities all over the world and needs to be rejected.
“For generations, America and Israel have been the closest of allies. We cannot allow this administration, in its closing hour, to continue with its anti-Israel agenda. Rather, we hope this vote by the U.S. Congress will be the first step in rebuilding our bond with Israel.”