Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) issued the following statement on her meetings this week in Israel and the West Bank with Israel’s Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres, as well as the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit and other representatives of the Palestinian Authority.

“The only solution to the conflict is a two state solution in which Israel and an independent, contiguous and viable Palestinian state are living side by side in peace and security. Both sides must take significant steps to build the necessary confidence to reach a final agreement, from an Israeli freeze on settlement activity to further efforts by the Palestinians to improve security, combat violent extremism and build the institutions of a future Palestinian state.

“Yet, my meetings left me with the impression that there is an understanding on both sides of the steps needed to get back to serious negotiations and a willingness to move forward with a peace process that has been stagnant for too long. Although both sides believe there is a long road ahead to resolving the core issues of the conflict, there is a sense that the process is moving in a positive direction.”

“We know that the difficult process of pursuing Middle East peace requires persistent engagement by the United States, a lesson learned all too well as the conflict was allowed to fester during years of neglect by the Bush Administration. Under President Obama’s leadership, including the appointment of George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace just two days after his inauguration, there is a renewed commitment by the United States to actively pursue peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I am hopeful that a potential meeting later this month between President Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will come to fruition and serve as a launching point for meaningful negotiations.”

The meetings were held to discuss the current situation on the ground, prevailing public opinions on both sides of the conflict, and the prospects for resuming peace negotiations. Congresswoman DeLauro participated in these meetings as a member of Congress on a private visit, not at government expense. She took this opportunity to inform her work on these issues that will come before the Congress.