Ellison Report: In New York Times, He Backs Palestinian Statehood

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN), Fridley's representative in Congress, advocated for Palestinian statehood in a column published in the New York Times Friday.

His opinion piece comes as Palestinians present a bid for statehood to the United Nations.

The Palestinian people are a distinct group that desires, and deserves, to have a homeland that is internationally recognized as a state. The international community has a formal process for recognizing states, and the Palestinian Authority is following that process. As it seeks to join the community of nations this month, world leaders should not forget King’s important lesson about doing what is right. The Palestinians’ use of multilateral diplomacy to achieve statehood represents a step toward achieving the two-state solution and achieving a more stable Middle East. It is an opportunity, not a threat. We should seize it now.

The Hill's Briefing Room blog noted that Ellison's position represents a break with President Obama's position, as Ellison himself expressed on the Bill Press Show.