McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh: Bring Accountability to the Middle East

“The United States must hold the Palestinians accountable for their actions.”

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-08) renewed his call for Washington to bring accountability to the Middle East and make U.S. aid to the Palestinians and Egypt contingent on peace and reform.

Repeated barrages of rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip have so far killed three Israeli civilians and wounded several others, including children.

“I applaud Secretary Clinton for reiterating the United State’s support for Israel’s right to self defense,” said Walsh.

“But this is hardly enough. More than 220 rockets have been fired at Israeli civilians from militants in Gaza. The United States must hold the Palestinians accountable for these unprovoked, heinous acts. It must also hold Egypt, Qatar, and Iran accountable for their support of Palestinian militants and the terrorist group Hamas.”

Walsh has authored several pieces of legislation aimed at bringing accountability to the Middle East peace process. The Palestinian Accountability Act, H.R. 2457, would make any aid to the Palestinian Authority contingent upon much-needed reforms, including an end to corruption and the vilification of Israel. In July, Walsh led a letter with 35 other Members of Congress to House Leadership urging them to withhold aid to the new Egyptian government until it reaffirms its treaties with Israel.

“I am disappointed that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has used this unprovoked attack on Israel to reveal both his sympathy for the terrorist group, Hamas, and his opposition to Middle East peace. Why are we providing Egypt with $2 billion in foreign aid every year to vilify our allies and oppose American interests? It’s time to hold Egypt accountable as well. I urge the President to withhold foreign aid to Egypt until it publicly reaffirms its treaties with Israel.”

This press release arrived from Congressman Joe Walsh this morning before the Obama Administration announced that UNESCO would stop getting its $60 million annual subsidy from United States taxpayers.

Rep. Walsh Condemns UNESCO Vote for Palestinian Statehood

“It’s time to cut off all U.S. funding to both the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority.”

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joe Walsh condemned the U.N. agency, UNESCO, after it officially voted to recognize Palestinian statehood.  The measure passed by a vote of 107 to 14 with 52 abstentions.

Walsh’s Palestinian Accountability Act (H.R. 2457 would withhold funding from the United Nations if the international body or any of its entities, including UNESCO, vote to unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood.

Walsh stated: “The United Nations has once again proved that it cares little about fostering any lasting peace in the Middle East. Israel has returned time and again to the negotiation table and abided by its international agreements, while the Palestinian Authority has ignored its obligations under the Oslo Accords and the Roadmap to Peace, refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and has joined forces with the terrorist group Hamas. The fact that the United Nations is rewarding the Palestinian Authority for its deceitful behavior proves that the international body is only interested in vilifying and attacking our ally Israel.

“It’s time to cut off all U.S. funding to both the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority continues to use U.S. aid to further its campaign of hatred and terrorism against our ally, Israel. The United Nations has lost all accountability and has allowed thugs and tyrants to hijack its agenda and repeatedly attack and isolate Israel, the one country in the region actually committed to peace.

“I call on President Obama to join me in standing by our ally, Israel, and showing that there will be consequences to any actions by the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority to undermine the peace process.”

Congressman Walsh has introduced two other bills in defense of Israel during the 112th Congress. H.R. 1501 will withhold funding from the United Nations until it retracts the Goldstone Report, a 2009 report that accused Israel of war crimes. H.Res. 394 supports Israel’s right to annex Judea and Samaria in the event that the Palestinians continue to push for unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations.

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh Condemns UNESCO Move toward Palestinian Statehood

“The time has come to cut off funding to the United Nations.”

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joe Walsh issued a strong warning to the U.N. Body UNESCO after it took a step closer toward recognizing a Palestinian state.

The UNESCO board decided today to let its 193 member countries vote on unilaterally recognizing Palestinian statehood later this month.

Walsh’s Palestinian Accountability Act (H.R. 2457) would withhold funding from the United Nations if the international body or any of its entities, including UNESCO, vote to unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood.

“Once again the United Nations has proved that it is less interested in fostering peace in the Middle East than condemning and vilifying the region’s most accountable democracy, Israel.

“The Palestinian Authority has repeatedly violated its peace agreements with Israel, refused to recognize its right to exist, and has now joined forces with the terrorist group Hamas.”Yet, the United Nations continues to vilify and condemn Israel, the one country in the region actually committed to peace.

“The time has come to cut off funding to the United Nations.

“It is no longer in the business of promoting peace, democracy, and human rights around the world. Instead, it has allowed Islamist and totalitarian regimes to hijack its agenda and further their single-minded campaign to destroy Israel.

“I call on President Obama to exercise leadership and join me in warning the United Nations that there will be ramifications to any actions, like UNESCO’s, to reward the Palestinians for refusing to return to the negotiating table.”

Congressman Walsh has introduced two other bills in defense of Israel during the 112th Congress.

• H.R. 1501 will withhold funding from the United Nations until it retracts the Goldstone Report, a 2009 report that accused Israel of war crimes.
• H.Res. 394 supports Israel’s right to annex Judea and Samaria in the event that the Palestinians continue to push for unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations.