Welch highlighted need for continued U.S. leadership in the Middle East to secure lasting peace, ramp up delivery of desperately needed food aid 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks from the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) expressed great relief at the ceasefire in Gaza and called on President Trump to use the immense leverage of the United States to cement the path to lasting peace in the Middle East. Senator Welch urged President Trump to stand up firmly for American interests over the political ambitions of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the brutal bombing campaign and provide desperately needed food aid to starving children in Gaza. 

“After two years of relentless bombing, after two years of horror for the hostages and their families, the bombing has largely stopped, and the hostages are home. This is extraordinary. And I salute everyone involved in getting us to this day, including President Trump. But let’s be clear: there is more work to be done. The only way this ceasefire will succeed is if it is the beginning of a relentless, tireless process that aims to get us to the two-state solution: Two states for two peoples—a safe and democratic Jewish state of Israel alongside a sovereign state for the Palestinians that are indigenous to the land where they now live—as envisioned in the President’s 20-point plan, and has been U.S. policy for over 50 years,” said Senator Welch. 

“So the question before us is: will all who are involved—particularly the United States government, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the Palestinian authority, U.S. partners in the Gulf, and our European allies—will everyone do every single thing possible to make that success of a lasting peace through a two-state solution a likelihood?”   

Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s remarks: 

“The ceasefire acknowledges that there must be a force that has sufficient authority to quell Hamas’ violence. This is the peacekeeping force that was in the 20-point presidential plan. If we’re going to be successful, we have to redouble our efforts to stand that force up and make certain that all the signatories to that peace plan do their part to make certain that that can happen. President Trump’s leadership to help achieve a ceasefire—that leadership must be redoubled to achieve a durable peace and a lasting peace for the Israelis and the Palestinians.  

“To have this stop on the day the agreement was signed, without then redoubling efforts to face the difficult challenges that await resolution after the ceasefire, will result in failure. So, I call on the President, I urge all of us to do every single thing we can to stay focused on the implementation of the peace plan and not turn away as though this is yesterday’s problem. Because if we don’t do that, it will be tomorrow’s problem once again.” 

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Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

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