[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 382 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 382

 Condemning the ongoing violence in the Middle East and urging Israel 
  and the Palestinian Authority to enter into an immediate cease fire 
                 agreement and return to negotiations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2002

 Mr. Hastings of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the ongoing violence in the Middle East and urging Israel 
  and the Palestinian Authority to enter into an immediate cease fire 
                 agreement and return to negotiations.

Whereas in the past year more than 400 Israelis and 1,200 Palestinians have lost 
        their lives to continuing violence in the Middle East;
Whereas since January 22, 2002, violence in Israel has escalated to levels not 
        seen in more than 15 years;
Whereas Israel has fallen victim to more than 35 suicide attacks, or more than 1 
        attack every other day since late January 2002, and most recently, 43 
        Israelis were killed and more than 100 were wounded when a suicide 
        bomber killed himself at a Passover celebration in Netanya, Israel;
Whereas Israel has already expressed its willingness to assist in the creation 
        of a peaceful Palestinian state and Palestinian suicide bombings are 
        counterproductive to the long term goal of the creation of such a state;
Whereas every week scores of Israeli and Palestinian families mourn the losses 
        of loved ones;
Whereas children in Israel and the Palestinian territories are being raised to 
        hate and not love, to live in war and not coexist;
Whereas as evidenced by the Madrid Conference, Oslo Accords, Wye River 
        Memorandum, Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, and the Camp David II 
        negotiations, a historical willingness for peace and coexistence exists 
        amongst Israelis and Palestinians;
Whereas stability in the Middle East is largely connected with the stability of 
        the peace process;
Whereas the need for United States leadership in the region is critical;
Whereas the international community has historically looked to the United States 
        for leadership with respect to the peace process in the Middle East;
Whereas precedent indicates that when the United States Administration is 
        actively and publicly engaged in the Middle East region, peace 
        agreements between Israel and its neighbors can occur;
Whereas Israel has the right to protect and defend its borders and citizens; and
Whereas the Palestinian people have a legitimate right to the creation of an 
        independent Palestinian state: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns any and all acts of violence in Israel and the 
        Palestinian territories;
            (2) expresses its heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the 
        families of those who have died as a result of ongoing violence 
        in Israel and the Palestinian territories;
            (3) urges Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat to do 
        everything in his power to assist in arresting and turning over 
        to the Israeli Government all known terrorists currently 
        residing in the Palestinian territories;
            (4) maintains its ongoing commitment to the Middle East 
        peace process;
            (5) urges both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to 
        enter into an immediate permanent cease fire agreement and 
        return to the negotiating table where differences and 
        disagreements can be settled in a peaceful manner;
            (6) expresses support for the Secretary of State on his 
        current mission to the Middle East to seek peace and a 
        community of coexistence; and
            (7) urges the President to follow the Secretary of State's 
        visit to the Middle East, when appropriate, with a mission of 
        peace for the purpose of bringing Israelis and Palestinians 
        together for continued peace negotiations.
            
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