WASHINGTON β U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
βThe United States can and must hold two truths at once: we can stand firmly with Israelβs security while also speaking out against actions that jeopardize peace and stability in the region. Israel has an unequivocal right to defend itself, but it does not have the right to unilaterally displace Palestinians in the West Bank and torpedo any chance of ever achieving a two-state solution. The United States should ensure that Israel has the tools it needs to protect its people and deter its adversaries while opposing transfers of equipment that are used to demolish homes, expand settlements, and further entrench a reality that weakens the already fragile prospects for a durable peace. We can remain steadfast in our support for Israelβs security and still be clear-eyed that actions by the Netanyahu government in the West Bank that displace families and escalatory military actions in southern Lebanon are not in Israelβs long-term interest, nor our own.β
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