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We note that it is important to keep both the humanitarian concerns of the people of Gaza and the security of Israel in mind. We believe that ultimately, Hamas bears responsibility for the current situation, and the United States condemns in the strongest terms possible the ongoing rocket and mortar fire from Gaza into Israel. These attacks on innocent Israeli citizens must end. Just two months ago, over 40 countries, including many in this just completed session, convened in Annapolis to discuss our shared vision of two states — Israel and Palestine — existing side-by-side in peace and democracy. The United States remains committed to that vision. But this session did not further that vision. Supporters of a Palestinian state must avoid the kind of inflammatory rhetoric and actions that this session represents, which only stoke tensions and erode the chances for peace. This session also ignored Hamas’s responsibility for provoking this crisis by allowing the indiscriminate firing of rockets and mortars into Israeli towns. Since January 1, over 400 rockets and mortars have struck Israel; half that total came in the four-day period from January 15-January 18. Gaza’s current difficulties are a direct result of Hamas’s policies of terror and aggression. No government can be expected to tolerate such attacks. And the United States again condemns in the strongest terms the use of Gaza as a base from which to attack innocent Israeli civilians. The attacks must stop immediately. We also expect the Government of Israel, in its response to these attacks, to take all possible steps to minimize civilian casualties and the impact on innocent Gazans. No one wants innocent Gazans to suffer. Israel has said it will ensure the continued flow of humanitarian supplies to Gaza to meet the basic needs of the people there. We expect them to do so. The United States remains committed to an independent, viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state – where the Palestinian people can live in dignity. President Bush has said to the Palestinian people, “The United States will help you build the institutions of democracy and prosperity – and make your dream of a state come true.” The United States will continue to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable in Palestinian society are met by continuing our humanitarian assistance through the UN Relief and Works Agency and other international organizations. We look forward to Gaza’s being governed once again, as is the West Bank, under the legitimate and responsible leadership of the Palestinian Authority. Until that time, the international community should focus its efforts on supporting the Palestinian Authority’s legitimate and responsible leaders, President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, who have embraced the peaceful path towards a negotiated settlement with Israel. The aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples for peace and security will never be realized through violence. A better future for both peoples can be realized only by the path forward of peaceful negotiations. Annapolis and the Paris Donors Conference demonstrated the international community’s support for the peace process. Hamas is exploiting its control of Gaza to undermine this opportunity for both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and growing prosperity. The United States questions the value of bringing this issue before the Human Rights Council. The one-sided resolution before the Council today did not advance the cause of peace. The Human Rights Council has far too often been used simply as a platform from which to single out Israel, while too often ignoring other human rights situations. This unbalanced approach has squandered its credibility. With this resolution, its sixteen actions against Israel have disproportionately consumed the Council’s time and resources and undermined the credibility of what should be the United Nations’ premier human rights institution. Today’s actions do nothing to help the Palestinian people, in whose name the supporters of this session claim to act. It is important to sustain the momentum for the two-state vision generated in Annapolis and Paris. We remain committed to the creation of a Palestinian state that is a homeland for the Palestinian people, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people. A Palestinian state will realize the aspirations of the Palestinian people, contribute to the security of the people of Israel, and enhance stability in the Middle East. And, as President Bush said, "the establishment of the State of Palestine is long overdue. The Palestinian people deserve it." “The time has come for a Holy Land where the Palestinians and Israelis peoples live together in peace.” The United States reiterates its commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and security. Today’s action in this Council did not advance that process. We look forward to working with the international community with the shared responsibility to build toward a better future for the people of Palestine, Israel and the greater Middle East.
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