Pelosi Statement on Meetings with Palestinian Officials and Civic Society Leaders, USAID Launch Event
Jerusalem – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after bilateral meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, and Minister of Health of the Palestinian Authority Dr. Mai Al-Kaila, as well as roundtables with Palestinian civil society leaders and students; a discussion on flashpoints and geopolitical realities in Jerusalem; and the launch of USAID Small and Medium Enterprise Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) to help Palestinian businesses recover and grow after the pandemic:
"Today, our Congressional delegation held bilateral meetings with senior Palestinian officials to strengthen our important relationship with the Palestinian people. With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mahammad Shtayyeht, our Congressional delegation emphasized our unyielding commitment to advancing the safety and security for all living in the region. We also reaffirmed our commitment to pursuing an enduring two-state solution that supports security and economic growth in the region. The conversation with President Abbas included a wide-ranging array of questions and exchange of ideas about the present and prospects for peace and opportunity in the region.
"This ended a day that began in East Jerusalem with Danny Seidmann for a discussion on key flashpoints to watch that could spark discord and protests in East Jerusalem. We salute his rich insight and passion for equal opportunity and peace for all the residents of Jerusalem.
"As part of that visit to East Jerusalem, our Congressional delegation met with civic leaders. These Palestinian leaders and our delegation expressed a shared belief in and hope for a just, durable two-state solution. We also discussed the importance of representational government, economic and infrastructure development, and equitable access to water, transportation and commerce.
"We later traveled to Ramallah to launch the new USAID SMART project funded by Congress. Investments in Palestinian businesses through SMART will help small and medium sized business owners and the local economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Barbara Lee, and alumnus of USAID, Rep. Andy Kim, helped present the launch of these investments. As the Biden Administration highlighted: ‘U.S. foreign assistance for the Palestinian people serves important U.S. interests and values. It provides critical relief to those in great need, fosters economic development, and supports Israeli-Palestinian understanding, security coordination and stability.'
"Also in Ramallah, in a roundtable discussion with Palestinian students, it was a blessing to see firsthand the aspirations, optimism, and dynamism of the youth who represent the future of the Palestinian people. Our delegation heard their desires for opportunity, safety, gender equality, education and peace, as well as their eagerness for democratic elections in which they can fully participate.
"During a meeting with Minister of Health of the Palestinian Authority Dr. Mai Al-Kaila and the senior staff of the Health Ministry, our delegation discussed the Palestinian health system and the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. On behalf of the Congress, our Congressional delegation accepted the Minister's gratitude for US support to increasing global access to vaccines through the COVAX initiative and additional U.S. global health assistance administered by the Biden Administration. Our delegation also saluted Dr. Al-Kaila for her pioneering leadership as the first woman to serve as Health Minister of West Bank and Gaza.
"From meeting with the president and his leadership team, prime minister, small business entrepreneurs, young student leaders, ministry of health team, our meetings were marked by candor and friendship and our commitment to a two-state solution."