[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 253 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 253

    Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending the 
    violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and endorsing the 
           recommendations of the Mitchell Committee Report.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 25, 2001

   Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mrs. Capps, Mr. 
 Houghton, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Kind, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Horn, 
    Mr. Serrano, Mr. Issa, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. 
 Pallone, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Brown of Ohio, 
Mr. Conyers, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Farr of California, Mr. Kildee, 
 Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Obey, Mr. Leach, Mr. Sawyer, Ms. 
McKinney, Ms. McCarthy of Missouri, Mr. Bonior, Mr. Kucinich, and Mrs. 
  Tauscher) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending the 
    violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and endorsing the 
           recommendations of the Mitchell Committee Report.

Whereas it is in the interests of the United States, Israel, the Palestinian 
        Authority, other countries in the Middle East, and other countries of 
        the world that the violence that has consumed Israel, the West Bank, and 
        the Gaza Strip since September 28, 2000, cease immediately;
Whereas the Congress recognizes that fear, hatred, anger, frustration, and 
        mutual suspicion have risen amongst both Israelis and Palestinians as a 
        result of the ongoing violence;
Whereas the ongoing violence threatens to spill over into the region, 
        destabilizing neighboring countries and strengthening the appeal of 
        groups and countries that oppose peace and threaten United States 
        interests in the region;
Whereas the United States has vital strategic, military, and economic interests 
        in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East;
Whereas the leadership of the United States has been fundamental to all Middle 
        East peacemaking, and is now essential to ending the current violence, 
        restoring confidence, and resuming peaceful negotiations on outstanding 
        issues;
Whereas on October 17, 2000, at the conclusion of the Middle East Peace Summit 
        at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the United States, Israel, the Palestinian 
        Authority, Egypt, Jordan, the United Nations, and the European Union 
        agreed to form a fact-finding committee, chaired by former United States 
        Senator George Mitchell, to study the ongoing violence in Israel, the 
        West Bank, and the Gaza Strip;
Whereas the report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, known as ``the 
        Mitchell Committee Report'', submitted on April 30, 2001, was endorsed 
        by the United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United 
        Nations, and the European Union;
Whereas the Mitchell Committee Report includes recommendations that represent a 
        constructive approach to ending violence and implementing confidence-
        building measures that will enable the parties to return to 
        negotiations;
Whereas Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Chairman 
        Arafat reiterated their full support for the Mitchell Committee 
        recommendations and agreed to meet for further discussions; and
Whereas such direct discussions between the Israelis and the Palestinians 
        represent an encouraging sign toward ending the violence, rebuilding 
        confidence, and resuming negotiation, as called for in the Mitchell 
        Committee Report: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) joins with the President of the United States, Israel, 
        the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and the European 
        Union in endorsing the Mitchell Committee Report of April 30, 
        2001, and its recommendations;
            (2) urges the Government of Israel and the Palestinian 
        Authority to act swiftly and decisively to halt violence, 
        rebuild confidence, and resume peaceful negotiations on 
        outstanding issues;
            (3) calls on political leaders in Israel and the West Bank, 
        the Gaza Strip, and elsewhere in the region to act and speak 
        decisively against violence and incitement to violence; and
            (4) urges the President of the United States to continue 
        working with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to seek 
        ways to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee 
        Report.
                                 <all>