Rep. Panetta Co-Leads Letter to Biden Administration Urging Continued Negotiations for Peace in the Middle East
Santa Cruz, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) co-led a letter with Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) to President Joe Biden urging the continuation of negotiations needed to bring about a temporary truce. The Members also detail concrete diplomatic steps needed to restore hope for a safe, secure, and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians. Reps. Panetta and Schneider were joined by 27 Members of Congress.
The Biden Administration has signaled cautious optimism on the status of negotiations to free hostages and pause the fighting in Gaza. President Biden said that an agreement could be reached as early as next week ahead of the start of Ramadan. The Members reiterated their calls for the release of all hostages, sustained entry of substantial humanitarian relief into Gaza, the establishment of a provisional recovery administration, the diminishment of terror groups, and the recognition of Palestinian aspirations for self-determination and freedom in the West Bank and Gaza.
“A temporary pause in fighting will not only help release the hostages and give desperately needed relief to the millions of civilians displaced by this war, it can also open a path to permanently ending the conflict,” the Members wrote. “To achieve this outcome, the United States must work with Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians, and our allies to create a provisional recovery administration to secure Gaza until a permanent government can be established. The people of Gaza and Israel, and across the region, deserve hope for a chance to create a renewed, reimagined future for themselves and their children.”
The Members closed, “We resolutely believe that peace is possible—that a Jewish democratic state of Israel can live with in safety and security alongside a viable, democratic Palestinian state. As was true with previous agreements, the path to peace requires an agreement directly negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, supported and reinforced with U.S. leadership. We are fully committed to work with your Administration, Israel, and the Palestinians to move toward that dream.”
Rep. Panetta was one of the first Members of Congress on the ground in the Middle East following the October 7th Hamas terror attack. Since the beginning of the conflict, Rep. Panetta has traveled as part of two bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegations to meet with Israeli and Arab leaders to press for the release of hostages and continued negotiations toward peace.
The Members of Congress signing the letter include; Reps. Grace Meng (NY-06), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), David Trone (MD-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), Dina Titus (NV-01), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Darren Soto (FL-09), Bill Keating (MA-09), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Angie Craig (MN-02). Jim Costa (CA-21), Brittany Petersen (CO-07), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Ed Case (HI-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13).
The full letter can be found here and below.
Dear President Biden:
We are encouraged by news of progress in negotiations to free hostages and pause the fighting in Gaza, and welcome your cautious optimism that a temporary ceasefire agreement may soon be achieved. We applaud your Administration’s work with Israel, Egypt, Qatar and others to advance progress in these talks and restore hope for a safe, secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
We continue to insist that Hamas release all hostages and all bodies of murdered Israelis. We also continue to call on Israel to work with Egypt, the United States and others to facilitate the sustained entry of substantial humanitarian relief into Gaza.
A temporary pause in fighting will not only help release the hostages and give desperately needed relief to the millions of civilians displaced by this war, it can also open a path to permanently ending the conflict. Pausing the fighting and enabling sufficient delivery of food, water, medicine and other essential supplies will create a space for people to eventually return to their home communities, turning attention to recovery in the region. Ultimately, the terror infrastructure Hamas built, and the devastation wrought by the war Hamas started with its barbaric attack on October 7th, must be replaced with vibrant neighborhoods, quality schools, modern hospitals, and thriving industries providing quality jobs.
To achieve this outcome, the United States must work with Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians and our allies to create a provisional recovery administration to secure Gaza until a permanent government can be established. The people of Gaza and Israel, and across the region, deserve hope for a chance to create a renewed, reimagined future for themselves and their children.
Though success is far from easy or certain, hope for a better future will open the door to broader movement towards a permanent peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is critical to acknowledge that neither Palestinians nor Israelis will know such peace as long as Hamas, PIJ and other terrorist groups can reign with terror in Gaza or threaten Israel and its people. Nor can peace be achieved without Israel recognizing the legitimacy of Palestinian aspirations for self-determination and freedom in the West Bank and Gaza.
We resolutely believe that peace is possible—that a Jewish democratic state of Israel can live with in safety and security alongside a viable, democratic Palestinian state. As was true with previous agreements (i.e, Egypt, Jordan and the Abraham Accords), the path to peace requires an agreement directly negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, supported and reinforced with U.S. leadership. We are fully committed to work with your Administration, Israel and the Palestinians to move toward that dream.
Sincerely,
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