Bishop Pates Reaffirms Need For Two-State Israeli-Palestinian Solution Ahead Of Clinton Visit

WASHINGTON—As Secretary of StateHillary Clinton prepares to visit Israel next week, Bishop Richard E. Pates ofDes Moines, Iowa, called on Secretary Clinton to "reinforce strongly" theopposition of the United States to an Israeli commission that recommendslegalizing all settlement outposts in the West Bank. In his July 13 letter,Bishop Pates said such a move would "undermine a two-state solution to theconflict, a secure and recognized Israel living in peace alongside a viable andindependent Palestinian state."

Bishop Pates, who chairs theCommittee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops (USCCB), echoed Pope Benedict XVI who, earlier this year, expressedhope for "a lasting peace which guarantees the right of the two peoples todwell in security in sovereign states and within secure and internationallyrecognized borders."

Full text of the letter is availableonline: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/middle-east/israel-palestine/upload/pates-letter-to-clinton-on-mepeace-2012-13-12.pdf

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Keywords: Israel, Palestone, West Bank, settlements, LevyCommission, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Bishop Richard E. Pates, InternationalJustice and Peace, U.S. bishops, USCCB, Catholic Church, peace, security,violence, tension, Pope Benedict XVI

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