Rep. Peter Roskam Wednesday demanded that the Obama administration distance itself from accusations by a top U.S. diplomat that Israel was failing to properly investigate crimes against Palestinians.
Dan Shapiro, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, made the allegations on Monday in a speech to the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
"Too many attacks on Palestinians lack a vigorous investigation or response by Israeli authorities, too much vigilantism goes unchecked, and at times there seem to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law: one for Israelis and another for Palestinians," Shapiro said,
the Times of Israel reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Times that Shapiro's remarks were "unacceptable and incorrect."
In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Roskam, an Illinois Republican, accused the Obama administration of trying to invoke a diplomatic row with Israel amid heightened tensions with the Palestinians.
"At their most basic level, the ambassadors' comments are inaccurate," Roskam, co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, told Kerry.
"Shapiro troublingly questions Israel’s 'long-term intentions' and openly cast doubt upon the seriousness of its desire to reach peace with the Palestinians," he said. "These remarks do not reflect reality, yet they serve to empower those who wish to delegitimize and marginalize the Jewish state.
"Now, more than ever, the United States must unequivocally stand with Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East," Roskam continued. "Repeated public displays of disunity only serve to weaken our relationship, inhibit peace efforts, and incite further hatred.
"Ambassador Shapiro’s troubling remarks are counterproductive and wrong," the representative added. "I encourage you to reject these misguided comments and reaffirm our unbreakable support for Israel."
Roskam also attacked Shapiro's remarks on Twitter:
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