Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) Statement Regarding the Violence in Gaza

"The cycle of violence we’re seeing in the Middle East is heart-wrenching. While no one disputes Israel’s right to protect its people, escalating violence only feeds the death and despair of the region. A ceasefire is in the best interest of the United States and both parties involved and must be the immediate goal of the global community.

"This latest spasm of violence in Gaza is an unmistakable signal that the policy of disengagement adopted by the Bush administration is an utter failure. The U.S. government must re-engage in the Middle East peace process, providing the active and constructive diplomacy necessary for both short- and long-term peace.

"It has become clear that political will alone cannot create the peace that so many Palestinians and Israelis hope for. As with so many other conflicts around the world, this enduring struggle is rooted in a culture of poverty and misery. We must shatter that history of anguish if these two states are to live side by side." (January 6, 2009)