U.N. Recognition of ‘Virtual Palestinian State’ Undermines True Peace

The November 29 vote by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state undermines true peace and is appalling given the recent terrorist attacks on Israel coming from Palestinian-held land.

Today’s U.N. vote to recognize a virtual Palestinian state undermines true peace with Israel, when only through direct negotiations with Israel can the Palestinians achieve a fully-recognized state with agreed-upon borders.

It’s especially appalling that this unilateral, backdoor attempt at statehood comes just days after hundreds of rockets launched from Gaza towards Israeli cities – terrorist attacks that the Palestinian Authority failed to stop before bringing its people to the brink of war.

We must stand up to reject violence and terrorism and support only a mutual agreement to statehood through direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians themselves. I strongly oppose today’s vote and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Carolyn McCarthy is the representative of New York’s Fourth Congressional District. She was first elected in 1996.