Expressing Concern over Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitic Incitement within the Palestinian Authority

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, securing a lasting peace between Israel and
Palestine requires a commitment to humanizing the experiences of both
peoples. Divisive rhetoric dehumanizes people and undermines the
prospect of long-term peace. This resolution is divisive.

Incitement by either party, including Palestinian Authority leaders,
is a serious issue and deserves to be condemned. But when we denounce
the Palestinians and leave no mention of divisive rhetoric by the
Israeli government, we do a disservice to Palestinians and Israelis.
Just two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
``Hitler didn't want to exterminate the Jews at the time, he wanted to
expel the Jews.'' He laid the blame for the Shoa at the feet of a
Palestinian Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. Al-Husseini
was a virulent anti-Semite. But Prime Minister Netanyahu's blaming the
idea of the Holocaust on a Palestinian, and by implication
Palestinians, deserves to be condemned by this body just as Palestinian
incitement does.

I oppose this resolution, not because the Palestinians are not
inciting, and not because I believe this incitement should not be
condemned. I oppose this resolution because any resolution that attacks
one side while ignoring the other can only further tension and
violence.

If Congress wants to be considered a legitimate arbiter of peace
between Israel and Palestine we must pursue a balanced approach that
calls for an end to incitement on both sides and both leaders to live
up to their obligations under the Oslo Accords.

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