Hoyer Leads Democratic Delegation to Israel, Says Palestinian Authority’s Unilateral Moves Delay Solution

In a pledge of bipartisan support, a delegation of 26 members of the Democratic party, lead by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, reportedly held a working meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

During the press conference that followed, Hoyer said the Palestinian Authority’s bid to obtain unilateral recognition for statehood at the UN General Assembly in September, calling the action “a detour” that would “delay a solution [and] not enhance it.”

Israel National News reports that Hoyer said, "the message we received from Mr. Netanyahu was that he is prepared today or tomorrow to go to the negotiating table without any preconditions.”

However, "the message," Hoyer vows to bring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, is that "consistent with the understandings between the parties historically, that the only way to see progress is through bilateral negotiations between the two of them.”

Hoyer added that two additional delegations from the Republican party, lead by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, will also visit Israel next week with the same intended purpose. The significance, according to Hoyer, is that the addition of Eric Cantor will bring a "bipartisan message of supportfor Israel and for its security and safety.”

Watch Hoyer address the press conference in Jerusalem: