Speech #1100148567

I rise in support of H. Res. 185. I commend this body for recognizing the rights of Jewish refugees displaced from Arab countries. I agree that a resolution that addresses the legitimate rights of all refugees is inherent to establishing enduring peace in the Middle East. The resolution draws its strength by including all refugees in the Middle East. including Jews. Christians. minority communities. Iraqis. and Palestinians. A lasting peace in the Middle East must abate feelings of hostility throughout all refugee populations. As the resolution suggests. this includes recognition of Jewish. Palestinian. and Christian refugee populations but must also encompass all Middle East refugee populations "numbering in the hundreds of thousands and comprised of peoples from many ethnic. religious. and national backgrounds." As such. I urge this body to continue to be mindful of and work toward peaceful. enduring solutions for all refugee populations in the Middle East. Currently the two largest refugee populations in the world are Iraqi and Palestinian refugees. The United Nations has estimated that there are approximately 2.000.000 Iraqi refugees currently displaced from their homes (and another 2.200.000 internally displaced). These Iraqi refugees endure deprivation of food. shelter. and medical care. The United States must be mindful of the role of our foreign policy in the creation of this refugee population and our continuing role in addressing this humanitarian crisis. United Nationsrecognized Palestinian refugees currently constitute an approximate 3.700.000person population. According to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency. UNRWA. of these refugees. approximately 1.300.000 Palestinian refugees continue to live in 58 recognized refugee camps in Jordan. Lebanon. Syria. the West Bank. and the Gaza Strip. Moreover. ongoing Israeli policies like settlement expansion. which contravene the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as the basis of PalestinianIsraeli peace agreements. create new refugee populations today. I support H. Res. 185 for recognizing the displacement. human rights. suffering and loss of all refugees. I encourage this body to do so in a way that brings us closer to establishing a just and longlasting ArabIsraeli peace. To make this dream a reality we must truly rise to become the "honest broker" of peace in the Middle East.