From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
‘I thought we voted for America first’: Trump Gaza plan has US lawmakers skeptical
Skeptical US lawmakers say they still favor the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians that has long been a foundation of US diplomacy. Some also reject the idea of spending US taxpayer dollars or sending in US troops to a region that has been devastated by more than a year of war.
“I thought we voted for America first,” Republican Senator Rand Paul says on X. “We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood.”
The pursuit for peace should be that of the Israelis and the Palestinians.
I thought we voted for America First.
We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood. https://t.co/hRM8UneLe1
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 5, 2025
Republicans hold narrow majorities in Congress over Democrats, who reject the idea outright. “That is ethnic cleansing by another name,” Senator Chris Van Hollen says on MSNBC.
Republican Senator Jerry Moran says the idea of a two-state solution cannot just be thrown out. “It’s not something that can be unilaterally decided,” he tells reporters.
Senator Lisa Murkowski says she will not speculate about any possible proposal to send US forces into a region “that has seen enough turmoil.”
“I don’t even want to speculate on that question, because I think that is quite frightening,” she says.
