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Butterfield visits Mideast amid Israeli-Palestinian violence



Palestinians search through the rubble of a building in which Khaled Mansour, a top Islamic Jihad militant, was killed following an Israeli airstrike Sunday in Rafah, southern Gaza strip. Mansour was the second Islamic Jihad leader to be slain amid an escalating cross-border conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups. Yousef Masoud | AP photo

If Israelis and Palestinians are still on the road to peace, U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield says it’s time to step on the gas. 

Butterfield, D-Wilson, called on leaders in the Middle East to resume stalled negotiations and work quickly toward a lasting peace accord the week after visiting Israel, Gaza and the West Bank as part of a congressional delegation.



Rep. G.K. Butterfield

“Israeli-Palestinian peace has been elusive for decades,” Butterfield said in a Monday statement released by his office in Washington. “The human toll of the conflict has been enormous. There must be an expedited peaceful solution to the conflict.”

A cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants took effect Sunday afternoon following three days of intense fighting. Israeli airstrikes on Friday and Saturday targeted two leaders of the Islamic Jihad terror group. The second strike killed Khaled Mansour, a commander who led Islamic Jihad in southern Gaza, according to the Associated Press. Egypt brokered the Sunday truce.

RELATED STORY: Cease-fire between Palestinians, Israel takes effect in Gaza  

“Our visit to Israel was timely,” Butterfield said. “The day following our visit, violence once again erupted and continues to escalate. In response to the violence, America stands with Israel as it defends its citizens from the terror attacks being perpetrated by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. I urge all parties to deescalate the growing violence and save innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives.”

Butterfield said members of Congress met with Prime Minister Yair Lapid, President Isaac Herzog and an Israeli Defense Forces leader “to bolster our commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship,” noting the delegation also met with Tom Nides, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

American lawmakers also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh “to learn about the political environment and humanitarian (issues) facing the Palestinian community,” Butterfield said. 

The Wilson congressman who serves as senior deputy whip to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn will retire at the conclusion of his ninth full term, having represented North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2004.

Butterfield hopes the visit from members of House leadership will help revive peace negotiations between Israel and leaders in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank and Gaza. 

“This trip for me was a stark reminder that the United States needs to remain present and engaged with Israelis and Palestinians to find a solution that will finally bring lasting peace to the region,” he said. 

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