Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael today will join Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and John Cornyn (R-TX), to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate in solidarity with Israel. The resolution condemns Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israel, and reaffirms support for Israel’s commitment to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount.
Since the beginning of October, conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has drastically escalated, with terror attacks wounding, and killing, innocent Israeli civilians. Two Americans have been killed in these gruesome attacks.
“These attacks against innocent Israeli civilians are senseless and abhorrent. They must be condemned and the terror must stop,” Bennet said. “Republicans and Democrats are supporting this resolution to send a strong, clear message that we continue to stand with Israel and will continue to bolster its security. The Palestinian Authority should be held accountable for its role in incitement, and this swell of violence must end.”
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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