Amendment reiterates longstanding, bipartisan consensus on need for separate, mutually-recognized states for Israelis, Palestinians
Earlier this month, Senator Reverend Warnock supported an amendment requiring the use of U.S. supplemental aid comply with U.S. and international law
Last year, Senator Reverend Warnock pushed the Biden Administration to support Israel’s defense while taking action to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza civilians caught in the crossfire
Senator Reverend Warnock: “In the long-term, we must all recommit to a two-state solution that will preserve lives, maintain peace, and allow both Israelis and Palestinians to live with peace, security, and dignity.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and a majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus announced support for an amendment to the forthcoming national security supplemental package that reiterates longstanding U.S. policy in support of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“In the long-term, we must all recommit to a two-state solution that will preserve lives, maintain peace, and allow both Israelis and Palestinians to live with peace, security, and dignity,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
The Senators’ amendment:
- Reaffirms it is the policy of the United States to support a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace, security, dignity, and mutual recognition.
- Requires any comprehensive solution must ensure the survival of Israel as a secure, democratic, and Jewish state.
- Requires any comprehensive solution must include a state of their own for the Palestinian people.
Senator Warnock was joined by 48 of his Senate colleagues, including the author of the amendment, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT, Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV.), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA).
The text of the amendment is available HERE.
Following October’s deadly terrorist attacks by Hamas militants against innocent Israelis, Senator Warnock urged the Biden Administration to provide international humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and further support to Israel for their immediate defense while protecting civilian lives. Additionally, Senator Warnock urged the Treasury Department and the White House to investigate and halt the illicit usage of cryptocurrency by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah for money laundering and financing of their operations, including the recent terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas. In November, Senator Warnock cosponsored a bipartisan Senate resolution condemning Hamas, demanding that Hamas provide care for the hostages they have taken, and demanding Hamas release all hostages. Senator Warnock remains committed to supporting our allies while upholding U.S. and international law and human rights for innocent civilians. Additionally, earlier this month, Senator Warnock signaled his support for an amendment introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would maintain congressional oversight of foreign military assistance by striking a provision in the proposed national security supplemental funding bill that waives oversight requirements for U.S. aid. If passed, the amendment would preserve the congressional notification process for assistance provided to Israel, just as congressional notifications are required for all other nations.
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