[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 32 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 32

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Vatican should recognize 
the State of Israel and should establish diplomatic relations with that 
                                country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 1993

  Mr. Engel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Vatican should recognize 
the State of Israel and should establish diplomatic relations with that 
                                country.

Whereas 117 governments of every political form maintain full and formal 
        diplomatic relations with the State of Israel;
Whereas the Vatican and the State of Israel have maintained formal channels of 
        communication;
Whereas the Vatican and the State of Israel participate in ongoing consultations 
        and informal diplomatic exchanges;
Whereas the end of the Cold War facilitated the re-establishment of diplomatic 
        relations between Israel and the nations of Eastern Europe and between 
        Israel and the former Soviet Union;
Whereas the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council all now 
        maintain full diplomatic relations with Israel;
Whereas the ``Nostra Aetate'' calls for Catholic-Jewish dialogue and 
        understanding;
Whereas the National Conference on Catholic Bishops' statement, entitled ``The 
        Pursuit of Peace with Justice,'' supports the ``rights of Israel to 
        existence as a sovereign state with secure and recognized boundaries'';
Whereas the National Christian Leadership Conference has urged Pope John Paul II 
        to formally recognize the State of Israel;
Whereas the Vatican has demonstrated constructive support for the Egypt-Israel 
        peace treaty; and
Whereas the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Vatican and 
        the State of Israel would be a positive step toward peace and stability 
        in the Middle East and would promote increased harmony between 
        Christians and Jews throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the Vatican should grant 
official recognition to the State of Israel and should establish 
diplomatic relations with that country.
    Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit 
copies of this resolution to the President with a request that the 
President transmit those copies to the Vatican and to the Government of 
Israel.

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