ICYMI: Senator Carper Leads 18 Colleagues in Letter to President Biden Urging Establishment of Framework for U.S. Recognition of Nonmilitarized Palestinian State

In Case You Missed It, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), led 18 of his Senate colleagues on Wednesday in sending a letter to President Biden, urging his administration to establish a framework for U.S. recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state. The letter highlights that such a framework is the first step for the U.S. to reinvigorate discussions around a two-state solution and drive enduring peace in the region.

Read more in The Hill, Politico, Agence France-Presse, The Washington Post, WGMD, The Jerusalem Post, and The Washington Examiner:

Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine
By: Alexander Bolton

A group of 19 Democratic senators led by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) have sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to establish a “bold, public framework” for establishing a two-state solution recognizing a “nonmilitarized Palestinian state” after the war in Gaza.

The senators argue that Biden needs to “reignite U.S. leadership on a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” […]

The senators also called on Biden to “lead and push the Israeli government” to limit violence against Palestinians by Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

They wrote that they “have been particularly disappointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to engage on a path to a Palestinian state” and urged the administration to press the Israeli government to end home demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their property in the West Bank.

They want an end to Israeli settlement planning and construction in the West Bank, a release of customs revenues to the Palestinian Authority and the reactivation of work permits for Palestinians to enter Israel from the West Bank.

“By providing a roadmap for U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state, the United States can set a path to finally realizing a two-state solution and reinvigorate conversations towards a comprehensive regional peace plan,” the senators wrote, asserting it would be in the best interest of both Palestinians and “our ally Israel.”

Schumer’s Israeli government critique keeps shaking the Hill
By: Ursula Perano and Anthony Adragna

[…] On Wednesday morning, a group of Senate Democrats penned a letter to President Joe Biden calling on his administration to establish a path for recognizing a non-militarized Palestinian state.

The letter, led by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), was signed by 19 Democrats in total. That number includes Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who are both up for re-election this year in vulnerable seats.

“Given the severity of the current crisis, this moment requires determined U.S. leadership that must move beyond facilitation,” the letter wrote, seeking U.S. engagement with a state that would “be governed by a revitalized and reformed Palestinian Authority.” […]

Senate Democrats Urge ‘Bold’ US Push On Palestinian State
By: Shaun Tandon

More than a third of the US Senate’s Democrats called on President Joe Biden’s administration Wednesday to take “bold” action toward establishing a Palestinian state, in the latest pushback against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. […]

Nineteen Democratic senators led by Tom Carper, a longtime ally of Biden from his home state of Delaware, in the letter said that the Middle East crisis had “reached an inflection point” that required US leadership beyond past “facilitation” of Israeli-Palestinian talks.

“As such, we request the Biden administration promptly establish a bold, public framework outlining the steps necessary” to establish a Palestinian state over both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the senators wrote.

The senators said an independent Palestinian state would be “non-militarized” — a terminology embraced by former president Bill Clinton in his peace push two decades ago — and would both recognize Israel and renounce Hamas, whose bloody October 7 attack in Israel triggered the massive military operation. […]

Republicans hug Netanyahu tighter as Democratic tensions with Israel war strategy boil
By: Liz Goodwin, Abigail Hauslohner, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Leigh Ann Caldwell

[…] On Wednesday, eighteen Senate Democrats — including swing state Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) — sent a letter to Biden, urging him to publicly set a “road map” for recognizing a Palestinian state. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who led the letter, said he believes the president supports the push “in his heart” and the letter was meant to show Biden that Democrats “have his back.”

“This crisis has reached an inflection point,” they wrote. “Your leadership is needed at this time now more than ever.” […]

Senator Carper Leads Colleagues in Calling for Establishment of Framework for U.S. Recognition of a Nonmilitarized Palestinian State
By: Joe Ciccanti

In light of the ongoing negotiations around a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, today, Senator Tom Carper is leading colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to establish a framework for U.S. Recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian State. The letter, also signed by Senator Chris Coons, highlights how the framework is the first step for the U.S. to drive enduring peace in the region. In the letter the Senators state that they believe it is critical at this moment for the United States to signal the willingness to lead a regional peace initiative that would eventually result in U.S. recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, as well as Israel’s full integration into the region. They add that the road to enduring peace in the region depends entirely on the two-state solution—the establishment of a Palestinian state, existing in concert with a regionally-integrated Israel. […]

19 Senate Democrats calls on Biden to make major step toward Palestinian state
By: Hannah Sarisohn

[…] In the letter, the senators highlighted three overarching parameters the US should establish.

“A set of governmental and institutional reforms to the Palestinian Authority, among them reforms to democracy and governance, including: Reforms to the education system; Reforms to the judicial and security systems; Reforms to the prisoner payments program; and Concerted efforts to combat corruption and incitement to violence.”

“A requirement for the reformed Palestinian Authority, as the governing body of the West Bank and Gaza, to reaffirm its recognition of the State of Israel.”

“A mandate within the reformed Palestinian Authority for government ministers and senior officials to commit to nonviolence, accept the principles of two states – an Israeli and a Palestinian state – and renounce Hamas and all terrorist activity.”

The senators expressed disappointment with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his refusal to engage on a path to a Palestinian state gives the Biden administration more reason to lead and push the Israeli government to take specific actions.

The letter called for Biden to take effective action against West Bank settler violence, end home demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their property, stop settlement planning and construction in the West Bank, release customs revenues to the PA and reactive permits for Palestinian workers from the West Bank to enter Israel.

The senators said they recognize none of these efforts are possible until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, all hostages are released, and “unfettered” humanitarian aid is allowed into the enclave. […]

Democrats push Biden to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state
By: Annabella Rosciglione

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and 18 other Senate Democrats wrote a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to establish the framework for the United States to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state. […]

The senators are asking for an agreement in which Palestinian leaders “accept the principles of two states — an Israeli and a Palestinian state — and renounce Hamas and all terrorist activity.” […]

###