Thread by @IlhanMN

Today, I believe we are squandering a real opportunity to support peace in Israel/Palestine.

Here is why I can't support the final version of H.Res 326, a resolution about U.S. support for a two-state solution that I fear will make it impossible to ever bring about that peace.

First some background: before Trump, the two-state solution was the policy of the United States for decades. It is the only way to end the occupation and for both Israelis and Palestinians to have their own sanctuaries and self-determination.

I cosponsored the original resolution for that reason.

While far from perfect, affirming the importance of a two-state solution is especially important because of increasingly radical moves by the Trump and Netanyahu admins to to make peace impossible, such as:

- Annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank

- Israeli settlement growth on Palestinian land

- Demolitions of Palestinian housing in East Jerusalem

- Deportation of human rights activists

After I and many progressives cosponsored, the resolution was altered to remove the word “occupation.”
It also removed a reference to the “broadly held consensus” on the two state solution.

Here is what they took out.

Then @RepJoshG introduced an amendment committing to “ironclad” support for $38 billion in military aid to Israel with no conditions—essentially eliminating any potential leverage the U.S. has to bring about peace.

The goal of these changes was clear: to pass a resolution that will not actually bring a resolution to this conflict.

That’s why the resolution doesn’t have support from Palestinians in Congress or Palestinian advocates.

We are told to swallow these changes in the name of “pragmatism.”

But there is nothing “pragmatic” about a vote that makes peace unachievable.

We cannot be silent about settlement expansion, move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and undermine any steps to create a Palestinian state, and still claim to support peace.

This isn’t a criticism of @RepLowenthal or @jstreetdotorg—who have been champions of a clean two state resolution.

It’s a criticism of the pro-occupation establishment who tried to undermine them at every turn.

When it comes to this issue, you are either for peace or you are for occupation.

But you can’t be for both.

For this reason, I voted no.