The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America today applauded the passage of H. Con. Res. 426 in the U.S. House of Representatives. This resolution condemns Palestinian leadership for encouraging the horrendous violence that we have witnessed in Israel in recent weeks and demands that the Palestinian leadership cease all violence. The resolution also calls on the Palestinians to respect all holy sites in accordance with the agreements that they signed and to stop and prevent all forms of public incitement. The resolution also urges the U.S. administration to use its veto power at the United Nations to ensure that the Security Council does not again pass biased resolutions against Israel regarding violence orchestrated by the Palestinian Authority in the areas it controls.

Betty Ehrenberg, Director of International and Communal Affairs, said “We applaud the House leadership that was instrumental in the passage of this very important resolution, including Reps. Ben Gilman (R-NY), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Dick Armey (R-TX), Dick Gephardt (D-MO), Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Tom Reynolds (R-NY). These recent weeks have witnessed the orchestration and perpetration of a campaign of violence by the Palestinian Authority, including the cynical use of the placement of children in harm’s way, in order to advance their political agenda. This is a complete negation of any efforts at peacemaking through legitimate negotiations. In spite of Israel’s willingness to take risks for peace, the Palestinians have proved again and again that they are not negotiating in good faith as they continuously fail to live up to the agreements that they signed.

“Congress has appropriately called upon the Palestinian Authority to cease and desist from all violence and incitements to hatred and threats. It has also condemned the deplorable desecration of Joseph’s Tomb, destroyed by the Palestinian Authority in total betrayal of its promise to maintain order at all holy sites in areas under its control.

“We praise the Congress for urging the administration to veto any UN Security Council resolutions that condemn Israel unjustifiably as she tries to defend herself against violent attacks. This is especially important in light of the biased and one-sided resolutions recently passed by the United Nations, one in New York and one in Geneva, unfairly blaming Israel for the “excessive use of force” against Palestinian attacks as well as denouncing Israel for “war crimes”–an outrageous and totally unjustified vilification of Israel.

“We call upon governments all over the world to take note of this significant resolution passed by the US House of Representatives which is truly supportive of the goal to establish genuine and lasting peace. It is an important response to the counterproductive resolutions of the United Nations which only serve to defeat any possible chance for peace in the Middle East.”