SCHUMER COSPONSORS SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL & CONDEMNING PALESTINIAN TERROR ATTACKS
In Recent Weeks, Israel Has Been Subjected to an Alarming Wave of Terrorism By Palestinians; Eleven Israelis Have Been Tragically Killed, 145 Have Been Wounded, Two Americans Were Killed
Resolution Calls on President Abbas to Denounce and Stop Incitement By Palestinian Officials; Supports Agreement to Install Surveillance Cameras on Temple Mount
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he is a lead cosponsor on a bipartisan resolution in the Senate. The resolution supports Israel and strongly condemns the Palestinian terrorist attacks that have occurred in recent weeks. There have been approximately 69 such attacks since October, tragically killing 11 Israelis and wounding 145 Israelis. As a result of the attacks, two Americans were killed. The bipartisan resolution has support from U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“This resolution supports Israel as it defends itself from a wave of gruesomely violent attacks from Palestinians aimed at innocent civilians. Palestinian leaders, like Mr. Abbas, must strongly condemn these violent acts and cease their incendiary rhetoric, which fans the flames of violence. It would be far better and more productive for the Palestinian people if their leadership would spend less time condoning or excusing hate-based violence and more time sitting down with Israel to come up with a peaceful resolution,” said Senator Schumer.
Specifically, the bipartisan resolution:
(1) Condemns these brutal attacks in the harshest terms possible;
(2) Welcomes Israel’s commitment to the continued maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount;
(3) Urges the President and the international community to join in forcefully condemning these Palestinian terror attacks;
(4) Clarifies that there is no justification for these types of attacks and that there is a direct correlation between the recent upsurge in violence and Arab incitement regarding the Temple Mount;
(5) Stands with the people of Israel during these difficult days;
(6) Supports Israel’s right to self-defense and rejects any suggestion of the moral equivalence of Israeli security personnel protecting its citizens from senseless violence and terrorists intent to deliberately take innocent lives;
(7) Supports the agreement reached to install surveillance cameras on the Temple Mount according to the arrangements to be determined between the parties;
(8) Calls upon President Abbas to stop all incitement by Palestinian officials and by Palestinian media, to strongly and unequivocally demand an end to the violence, and to take all steps necessary to halt these attacks;
(9) Expresses support and admiration for individuals and organizations working to encourage cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians;
(10) Encourages President Abbas to continue strengthening and maintaining security cooperation with Israel;
(11) Reiterates that Palestinian political goals will never be achieved through violence; and
(12) Calls on all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and without preconditions, as direct discussions remain the best avenue to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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