[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 393 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 393
Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of United States policy
for a Middle East peace process.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 24, 2004
Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Levin, Mr. Nelson, of Florida,
Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Mukulski, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Corzine, Mr.
Lautenberg, and Mr. Voinovich) submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of United States policy
for a Middle East peace process.
Whereas the Road Map, endorsed by the United States, Israel, the Palestinian
Authority, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations, remains a
realistic and widely recognized plan for making progress toward peace;
Whereas, on April 14, 2004, President Bush welcomed the plan of Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon to remove certain military installations and all
settlements from Gaza, and certain military installations and
settlements from the West Bank;
Whereas under the Road Map, Palestinians must undertake an immediate cessation
of armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere,
all Palestinian institutions, organizations, and individuals must end
incitement against Israel, the Palestinian leadership must act
decisively against terror (including sustained, targeted, and effective
operations to stop terrorism and dismantle terrorist capabilities and
infrastructure), and Palestinians must undertake a comprehensive and
fundamental political reform that includes a strong parliamentary
democracy and an empowered prime minister;
Whereas Prime Minister Sharon noted Israel's responsibilities under the Road Map
include limitations on the growth of settlements, removal of
unauthorized outposts, and steps to increase, to the extent permitted by
security needs, freedom of movement for Palestinians not engaged in
terrorism;
Whereas there likely will be no security for Israelis or Palestinians until they
and all states join together to fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist
organizations;
Whereas the United States remains committed to Israel's security, and well-being
as a Jewish State, including secure, recognized, and defensible borders,
and to preserving and strengthening Israel's capability to deter enemies
and defend itself against any threat;
Whereas Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism, including to
take actions against terrorist organizations that threaten Israel's
citizens;
Whereas, after Israel withdraws from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, existing
arrangements regarding control of airspace, territorial waters, and land
passages relating to the West Bank and Gaza are planned to continue;
Whereas, as part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and
recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the
parties in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions
242 and 338;
Whereas, in light of realities on the ground, including already existing major
Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome
of final status negotiations 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 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has stated: ``the barrier being
erected by Israel is a security rather than political barrier, is
temporary rather than permanent, and should therefore not prejudice any
final status issues including final borders, and its route should take
into account, consistent with security needs, its impact on Palestinian
communities'';
Whereas an 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 Palestinian state, and
the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than in Israel;
Whereas the United States supports the establishment of a Palestinian state that
is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent, so that the
Palestinian people can build their own future;
Whereas the United States will join with others in the international community
to assist in fostering the development of Palestinian democratic
political institutions and new leadership committed to those
institutions, the reconstruction of civic institutions, the growth of a
free and prosperous economy, and the building of capable security
institutions dedicated to maintaining law and order and dismantling
terrorist organizations; and
Whereas in order to promote a lasting peace, all 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, That the Senate--
(1) endorses the above-mentioned principles and practices
of United States policy in the Middle East, and ongoing actions
to make progress toward realizing the vision of two states
living side by side in peace and security, as a real
contribution toward peace, and as important steps under the
Road Map;
(2) reaffirms its commitment to a vision of two states,
Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
as the key to peace; and
(3) supports efforts to continue working 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.
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