January 28, 2020

Castro Statement on Trump’s Middle East Plan

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement after the announcement of President Trump’s Middle East plan:

“President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan is not inclusive of all parties involved, and dead on arrival. This is the inevitable result of the President’s approach to the conflict not as a serious diplomatic effort, but as a real estate deal to be negotiated by a developer who happens to be his son-in-law. Instead of serving as an honest broker between the two parties, this Administration has spent three years alienating not only the Palestinians, but also Israelis and Americans who are committed to lasting peace through a two-state solution.

“This plan, developed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, is a unilateral imposition on the Palestinian people that is not sustainable. Security and prosperity for the Israeli and Palestinian people is in the interests of the United States and as Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, I will advocate for our nation’s leadership on these issues. As we pursue a genuine and just peace in the Middle East, we need respectful, inclusive diplomacy, not phony publicity stunts.

“Without a change in policy and approach, ordinary Israelis and Palestinians will continue to bear the costs of this Administration’s tone-deaf diplomacy. Rather than today’s display of political bullying, the United States must resume our role as a leader among nations, prioritize the values we hold dear, and demonstrate moral leadership in the Middle East.”

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