Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colo.) discussed the current Arab-Israeli conflict and potential solutions to the problem Tuesday.
The event was sponsored by the Georgetown University College Democrats, Georgetown Israel Alliance, GU Pride and J Street U Georgetown. As a part of Israel Issues Week, the discussion was designed to increase awareness about the situation in the Middle East.
In his talk, Polis stressed the need for a peaceful two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. He proposed the restoration of Israel’s 1967 borders and a series of land swaps to formally establish boundaries between Israel and Palestine.
“The land is really one of the easy impediments,” Polis said.
According to the congressman, the more serious barriers are irresolvable claims to power within the region, because both Palestine and Israel feel entitled to the land.
Polis also discussed the need to continue providing American aid to Israel.
“This would be a very dangerous time to zero out foreign aid,” Polis said. “It’s the job of many of us Democrats in the room to hold the Republican’s feet to the fire on their sensibly pro-Israel policies when they talk about zeroing out foreign aid to Israel.”
He added that the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran, which would further disrupt the unstable forces in the area and threaten international security, is a primary concern for the United States and Israel.
The lecture was also an opportunity to raise awareness about Georgetown’s recently established chapter of J Street U, a national organization that seeks to increase understanding of Israeli issues and promote a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Jason Gerson (SFS ’14), chapter co-president, believes that support for this organization is particularly important for Georgetown.
“I think that particularly Georgetown has a very strong interest and investment in what happens in regions outside of our own, which include the Middle East,” he said. “[There is a general] consensus that concessions on both sides are needed and that a peaceful resolution in this conflict isimperative.”
