[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 222 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 222

 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the inherent right of self-
                                defense.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2001

Mr. Saxton (for himself, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Platts, and Mr. Smith of New 
   Jersey) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the inherent right of self-
                                defense.

Whereas it is a recognized right of all sovereign nations to act in their self-
        defense;
Whereas Article 51 of the United Nations Charter guarantees the inherent right 
        of all nations to act in their self-defense;
Whereas Israel is an ally of the United States with strong cultural, scientific, 
        educational, and religious ties to the United States;
Whereas Israel is presently facing an enormous upsurge of terrorist attacks 
        aimed at disrupting normal life and instilling terror in the Israeli 
        population, including the June 2001 disco bombing in Tel Aviv where 20 
        were killed and over 90 wounded as well as the August 9, 2001, 
        restaurant bombing where 19 were killed and over 100 wounded;
Whereas according to the Mitchell Report's recommendations, Yassir Arafat, 
        Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, was urged to rearrest terrorists 
        that were released from prison, cease incitement, and take steps to 
        prevent further terrorist activities;
Whereas Yassir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority have refused to arrest known 
        terrorist leaders whose identity and whereabouts are known or have been 
        provided by Israel;
Whereas because of the serious demonstrated threat of terrorism, Israel has been 
        forced to act preemptively against known terrorist leaders;
Whereas by preemptively preventing planned terrorist attacks on its population, 
        Israel is seeking to limit civilian casualties and diminish the need for 
        wider military operations more likely to result in even greater numbers 
        of casualties; and
Whereas the internationally accepted inherent right of self-defense and the 
        limited right of anticipatory self-defense permit Israel to carry out 
        preemptive, limited military actions to suppress the ability of 
        terrorists or other armed actors to carry out planned attacks against 
        its people or sovereign territory: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) reaffirms the inherent right of self-defense against 
        armed attack, as embodied in Article 51 of the United Nations 
        Charter, for all nations, including Israel;
            (2) recognizes that preemptive measures used to prevent 
        terrorist attacks on civilian populations are a recognized and 
        legitimate use of state power in conformance with the inherent 
        right of self-defense of all nations including Israel; and
            (3) supports Israel in its legitimate exercise of 
        internationally recognized rights of self-defense.
                                 <all>