Rep. Bilirakis Applauds House Passage of Resolution On Middle East Peace

"I am proud to stand in bipartisan solidarity with my colleagues to send an unequivocal message to the Palestinian Authority: The U.S. Congress will continue to stand by Israel during this tumultuous time in the Middle East and oppose any unilateral declaration or recognition of a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The Palestinian Authority must negotiate directly with the State of Israel in order to seek true and lasting peace and security. Pursuing unilateral recognition by the United Nations on the part of the Palestinians is detrimental to the peace process. Any two-state solutions must be achieved by the Israelis and Palestinians and must be one that requires Hamas to renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist, and accept prior agreements made by the Palestinians."