Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today issued the following statement:

"Mr. President – I am here today to speak about the growing violence in Gaza.  I support the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire.  Both the Israeli air strikes and the Palestinian rocket attacks must stop immediately, and Israeli ground forces should withdraw from Gaza.  I regret that President Bush chose to have the United States be the only Security Council member not to support this UN resolution. 

"Last week, the Senate responded to the hostilities by passing S.Res.10, a resolution that I do not support.  While I agree with some parts of the resolution, I believe it left out important provisions.  The resolution called for Hamas to end the rocket and mortar attacks but it did not call on Israel to stop its airstrikes and ground assault.  Nor did the resolution call on Israel to withdraw from Gaza.  Moreover, I believe the resolution downplayed the humanitarian situation in Gaza.  Thousands of people in Gaza do not have access to food, clean water, or medical care.  The United Kingdom's Foreign Minister, David Miliband, speaking about humanitarian conditions in Gaza said, "the word 'crisis', which is sometimes overused, is wholly appropriate" to describe how bad things are.

"I support Israel's right to defend itself.  Israel has no stronger ally than the United States, and we have no better friend in the region than Israel.  But friends can make mistakes. 

"The rocket attacks that Israel has suffered are unacceptable.  But I believe Israel's use of force has been excessive and I do not believe it will help Israel achieve its long term goals.  Instead of weakening Hamas, the incursion is boosting support for Hamas both among Palestinians and the Arabic world and is undermining support for moderates in the region.  Instead of making Israel's enemies fear its military power, I believe this conflict shows its enemies that they can taunt Israel into reacting so strongly that it undermines its international support.  Instead of rebutting the accusations that Israel has ignored the long-deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the growing death toll and worsening living conditions will fuel similar accusations long into the future.

"This violence is but another chapter of violence in the long history of the Middle East.  What's needed is an international effort to broker an immediate truce and to build that into a lasting peace.

"A lasting peace requires a two-state solution.  It is hard to see how such an agreement can be achieved without the deep involvement and leadership of the United States.  I have been disappointed that the Bush administration has failed to lead the peace process for the past eight years.  President Obama should not repeat that mistake after he takes office next week.  He should appoint a special envoy to the region soon after his Secretary of State is confirmed by the Senate.  President Obama should commit his administration to a steady and persistent effort to engage both Israelis and Palestinians in finding a political solution to the conflict that has long plagued this region."

You can view Senator Bingaman's floor statement here.