[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 460 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 460


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2004

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Regarding the security of Israel and the principles of peace in the 
                              Middle East.

Whereas the United States is hopeful that a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-
        Palestinian conflict can be achieved;
Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the security of Israel and 
        its well-being as a Jewish state;
Whereas Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed an initiative intended 
        to enhance the security of Israel and further the cause of peace in the 
        Middle East;
Whereas President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Sharon have subsequently 
        engaged in a dialogue with respect to this initiative;
Whereas President Bush, as part of that dialogue, expressed the support of the 
        United States for Prime Minister Sharon's initiative in a letter dated 
        April 14, 2004;
Whereas in the April 14, 2004, letter the President stated that in light of new 
        realities on the ground in Israel, including already existing major 
        Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome 
        of final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will be 
        a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, but realistic 
        to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the 
        basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities;
Whereas the President acknowledged that any agreed, just, fair, and realistic 
        framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any 
        final status agreement will need to be found through the establishment 
        of a permanent alternative and the settling of Palestinian refugees 
        there rather than in Israel;
Whereas the principles expressed in President Bush's letter will enhance the 
        security of Israel and advance the cause of peace in the Middle East;
Whereas there will be no security for Israelis or Palestinians until Israel and 
        the Palestinians, and all countries in the region and throughout the 
        world, join together to fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist 
        organizations;
Whereas the United States remains committed to the security of Israel, including 
        secure, recognized, and defensible borders, and to preserving and 
        strengthening the capability of Israel to deter enemies and defend 
        itself against any threat;
Whereas Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism, including the 
        right to take actions against terrorist organizations that threaten the 
        citizens of Israel;
Whereas the President stated on June 24, 2002, his vision of two states, Israel 
        and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security and that vision 
        can only be fully realized when terrorism is defeated, so that a new 
        state may be created based on rule of law and respect for human rights; 
        and
Whereas President Bush announced on March 14, 2003, that in order to promote a 
        lasting peace, all Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the 
        emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that 
        they will live in peace with Israel: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) strongly endorses the principles articulated by 
        President Bush in his letter dated April 14, 2004, to Israeli 
        Prime Minister Ariel Sharon which will strengthen the security 
        and well-being of the State of Israel; and
            (2) supports continuing efforts with others in the 
        international community to build the capacity and will of 
        Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle 
        terrorist organizations, and prevent the areas from which 
        Israel has withdrawn from posing a threat to the security of 
        Israel.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.