Duluth, GA – Representatives from over 70 countries met in Paris on Sunday for a conference to discuss Middle East peace. The conference, which was hosted by French President François Holland and attended by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, issued a closing statement, which was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority, “to reaffirm their support for a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” and to “take urgent steps in order to reverse the current negative trends on the ground, including continued acts of violence and ongoing settlement activity, and to start meaningful direct negotiations.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the conference and its conclusions as “ a rigged conference, rigged by the Palestinians with French auspices to adopt additional anti-Israel stances.” British diplomats, who attended as observers, concluded the conference by saying, “We have particular reservations about an international conference intended to advance between the parties that does not involve them – indeed which is taking place against the wishes of the Israelis – and which is taking place just days before the transition to a new American President when the US will be the ultimate guarantor of any agreement.”
“This latest attempt by anti-Israel bureaucrats across the globe to pressure the only U.S. ally in the Middle East to abandon its sovereignty and security through this so-called “peace conference” and the recent actions of the United Nations Security Council are an affront to the people of Israel searching for a peaceful resolution, and are a continuation of a failed U.S. foreign policy that enables the enemies of freedom,” said Tim Head, executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.
The U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 2334 on December 23, 2016, criticizing Israel for allowing its people to live in Judea and Samaria, with tacit approval from the Obama administration as the United States abstained from the vote.
Last week, Senator Marco Rubio introduced S.Res. 6 along with 69 bipartisan co-sponsors, declaring the U.S. Congress’ objection to Resolution 2334 and to all efforts that undermine direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The U.S. House of Representatives joined in an overwhelming show of bipartisanship by passing House Resolution 11 objecting to the Security Council vote.
Further, Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the “Safeguard Israel Act of 2017″ which would end all U.S. contributions to the United Nations until the Security Council completely and resolutely repeals Resolution 2334.
“People of faith across the country, in solidarity with our friends and allies in Israel, call for a repeal of Resolution 2334 and for Congress and the incoming Trump administration to end U.S. funding of the U.N. until the resolution is repealed,” said Head. “Thanks to Senators Rubio, Cruz and Graham and the U.S. House of Representatives for recognizing the urgency of this problem and their leadership in crafting legislation that shows the world our solidarity with the Israeli people. We all look forward to the end of this week as U.S. policy will finally recognize Israel’s rights under international law and provide real leadership toward lasting peace in the region.”
To speak with a representative of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, contact Lance Lemmonds at [email protected]
