MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC JEWISH CAUCUS DISAVOWS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVERSAL OF U.S. POLICY ON SETTLEMENT EXPANSION, AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION
The Executive Board of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus responded to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s reversal of long-standing, bipartisan U.S. policy disincentivizing continued settlement expansion in the West Bank.
LANSING, Mich. — “As Jewish Michiganders, the State of Israel is deeply connected to who we are and what we stand for – representing as it does the pinnacle of Jewish national aspirations and liberal democratic values. We support with all our heart Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state in peace and security alongside its neighbors, and with equal rights for all its citizens.
“Due to that deeply-felt commitment, we believe a negotiated two-state solution is the only viable path towards an end to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the only model which provides a viable answer to both people’s national aspirations, and the only solution which ensures Israel’s continued existence as both a Jewish and democratic state. To this end, continued Israeli settlement expansion outside the major settlement blocs constitutes an impediment to achieving a two-state solution.
“In support of House Resolution 326, introduced by Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), which posits the United States House of Representatives’ support for a negotiated two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, and a rejection of American policies not in furtherance of this end, we reject the effects of today’s reversal by the Trump Administration of longstanding U.S. policy disincentivizing continued settlement expansion within the West Bank.
“We applaud the leadership of the six of Michigan’s seven Democratic members of Congress who have co-sponsored this critical resolution - Debbie Dingell, Dan Kildee, Brenda Lawrence, Andy Levin, Elissa Slotkin, and Haley Stevens - and look forward to working with each of them to pursue policies that strengthen the American-Israel alliance and further the path towards peace.”
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CONTACT: Noah Arbit, Chair
(248) 325-8560