President Barack Obama nominated me to serve as one of two Congressional Delegates to the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which convened this month. I was pleased to be part of the bipartisan delegation this past week to conduct meetings on a range of important issues, from maternal and child health to energy security.  As a longtime supporter of active engagement and responsible reform at the U.N., critical work on a range of issues was conducted throughout this session.

In addition to all the work being conducted on issues important to our country, the dominant issue at the General Assembly was the Palestinians’ ill-conceived shortcut for membership as a state at the U.N.  I, like many others, support a two-state solution that is achieved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Ultimately, two nations living peacefully side-by-side each other will be decided by the two parties.

Any unilateral attempt by the Palestinians to seek recognition through the United Nations is an end-run around the peace process, and will not result in a Palestinian state.  Rather, it has the potential to further erode the prospects for peace.  Moreover, it does nothing for the Palestinian people, and will not change the reality of the situation on the ground.  Seeking recognition at the U.N. will not result in an improved economy, better infrastructure, or enhanced prospects for future prosperity of the Palestinian people. 

In August, I traveled to Israel and the West Bank where I met with leaders on both sides, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas. While there, my colleagues and I delivered the message to President Abbas that Prime Minister Netanyahu was ready, willing, and able to go back to direct peace talks – a message he reiterated in his speech before last week’s U.N. General Assembly. 

The United States, the Europeans, the Arab League, the United Nations, and others play a pivotal role in the Middle East peace process.  Each has a unique purpose in working with the Israelis and the Palestinians as part of the process. However, none will ultimately forge a peace or force borders.  No action taken by or through any country or entity will create a real Palestinian state with defined borders. 

In my meetings at the U.N., I conveyed the sense of purpose and unity that exists in the U.S Congress around this issue. A real bipartisan effort has taken place that has expressed the will of Congress that supports a two-state solution and opposes the Palestinian leadership’s unilateral efforts, which are not in the best interests of Israel, the United States, or the Palestinian people.

Local Commentary

Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., represents the 3rd District of Missouri and was recently named as a Congressional Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.