The newly appointed chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said on Tuesday that he is hoping for the revival of the multilateral approach for the world under US President-Elect Joe Biden. He further emphasised his hope for resuming the aid for Palestinians. 

Gregory Meeks also showed interest in Venezuelan unrest and promised to address the human rights issues which were being suppressed under President Donald Trump, reported AFP. 

The new Foreign Affairs head also talked about the expansion of humanitarian aid, which was cut-off under Trump. 

“I’m a firm believer in the two-state solution, providing both parties with self-determination because that’s the only way I believe that we can ensure a Jewish state of Israel that is viable and a peaceful Palestinian state, where they end up becoming interdependent in trade and other mechanisms,” Meeks told AFP. 

“So we may need to restart the US assistance to Palestinian people, demonstrating that the United States is ready to lead again,” he said.

Gregory Meeks hinted that did not intend to leverage a $38 billion defense package set by former President Barack Obama and pressure Israel to accept a Palestinian state. 

“I’m not for altering any of those dollars,” Meeks said. “There may be other dollars not included therein that we can possibly look at.”

Meeks further demonstrated support from Congress towards Joe Biden’s plan to defrost the diplomatic channel with Iran after Trump retracted the US from the nuclear accord and burdened the middle eastern state with a multitude of sanctions, reported AFP. 

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“If you look at what President Trump has done in his maximum pressure campaign, the big question you ask yourself is has it made America safer. The answer is a big capital no,” Meeks said.

Meeks, who is the first African American to head the committee, defeated Joaquin Castro, who promised to amplify the voices of Palestinians while Israel’s Democratic Party shifts towards the right. 

Meeks said that Trump brought out a highly hypocritical behavior while intervening in Venezuela to topple Nicolas Maduro, a leftist leader, reported AFP. 

“Clearly, this administration is not on the right track. In fact, I think many individuals in Venezuela are laughing because, to me, what Trump is doing with this election is very similar to what Maduro has tried to do in Venezuela,” Meeks said.

In 2013, Meeks represented the US at the funeral of Hugo Chavez, who preceded Maduro. 

Meeks emphasised the need for the US to regain its multilateral approach and act in a collective manner with International Organisations and regional players. 

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“We can’t come in and say this is who your president is. That’s not our role; that’s the role of the Venezuelan people,” Meeks said.

Meeks hinted that Biden should consider reversing Trump’s recognition of Juan Guaido as the interim president after the elections in 2018 were perceived as fraudulent and mixed up with the economic crisis which forced 5.4 million people to leave Venezuela. 

He acknowledged election irregularities under Maduro and said that any solution needs to focus on repairing institutions, including bringing the opposition into the election commission.

However, he also acknowledged the shortcomings of Maduro and said that a solution-based approach shall be taken to repair the institutions of the country. 

“There’s a role for everybody to play, and if we can get on the same page and start talking and putting the same pressure on the Bolsonaros of the world, I believe we can have a major impact.”