Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) discussed the peace process between Israel and Palestine in a speech last night in Copley Formal Lounge.
Lowey, a 10-term representative from the Empire State’s 18th District, who chairs the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, said the state of affairs in the Middle East is fragile but that a small window is open for a peace process to start.
“As we speak, the Gaza Strip has fallen under the control of a terrorist organization,” she said, referring to Hamas, “But the West Bank has fallen under control of a moderate government,” she said, stressing the current opportunity to make progress toward peace.
Lowey said that former President Bill Clinton (SFS ’68) and his administration came close to achieving real peace in the region, but that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was unwilling to finalize a peace agreement.
Georgetown plays an important role in the current conflict by serving as a training ground for the next generation of diplomats, Lowey said.
“It is so essential for us to train young people in language and diplomatic skills,” she said. “I think it is such a disaster that we don’t have more people, not just in the Middle East, but around the world, trained in language.”
Lowey said the key to resolving the dispute is economic development.
“The U.S. has to press every other country to get involved,” she said.
Lowey named Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as key players in bringing about economic development in the region.
“The Saudis have so much money with the price of oil. They should use that money to invest in housing, to make a difference in the lives of people,” she said.
After her speech, Lowey answered questions on topics including the war in Iraq and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent speech at Columbia University.
On the prospect of war with Syria or Iran, Lowey said that it was time to resolve conflict diplomatically, also stressing the necessity for tighter sanctions on Iran.
Lowey said she is optimistic about the prospects of peace in the iddle East and around the world.
“We can be proud to be Americans. We are doing good things,” she said.
The event was co-sponsored by the Program for Jewish Civilization, the Office of Federal Relations, the Jewish Student Association, the Georgetown University Israel Alliance and the Georgetown University College Democrats.
