[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 321 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 321

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the Israeli-Palestinian 
                             peace process.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 2007

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Akaka, 
Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Brown, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, 
   Mr. Casey, Mr. Craig, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Harkin, Mrs. 
Hutchison, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Leahy, 
 Mr. Levin, Mr. Lott, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Reed, Ms. Snowe, Mr. 
Sununu, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Smith, 
  Mr. Specter, Mrs. Murray, and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the Israeli-Palestinian 
                             peace process.

Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated the State of Israel, 
        the West Bank, and Gaza since September 2000 is in the vital interests 
        of the United States, Israel, and the Palestinian people;
Whereas the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict strengthens extremists and 
        opponents of peace throughout the region;
Whereas more than 7 years of violence, terror, and military engagement have 
        demonstrated that armed force alone will not solve the Israeli-
        Palestinian dispute;
Whereas the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want to put an end to 
        decades of confrontation and conflict and live in peaceful coexistence, 
        mutual dignity, and security, based on a just, lasting, and 
        comprehensive peace;
Whereas on May 24, 2006, addressing a Joint Session of the United States 
        Congress, Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert reiterated the Government 
        of Israel's position that ``In a few years, [the Palestinians] could be 
        living in a Palestinian state, side by side in peace and security with 
        Israel, a Palestinian state which Israel and the international community 
        would help thrive'';
Whereas, in his speech before the Palestinian Legislative Council on February 
        18, 2006, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said, ``We are 
        confident that there is no military solution to the conflict. 
        Negotiations between us as equal partners should put a long-due end to 
        the cycle of violence . . . Let us live in two neighboring states'';
Whereas, in June 2002, the President of the United States presented his vision 
        of ``two states, living side by side in peace and security'', and has 
        since repeatedly reaffirmed this position;
Whereas events of the past 18 months, including the victory of Hamas in 
        Palestinian legislative elections, the continued firing of rockets from 
        Gaza into Israel, and the escalating intra-Palestinian violence and 
        chaos, culminating in the June 2007 brutal takeover of Gaza by Hamas, 
        make the achievement of President Bush's vision even more difficult;
Whereas, on June 27, 2007, the Quartet (the United States, Russia, the European 
        Union, and the United Nations) appointed former British Prime Minister 
        Tony Blair special envoy to the Middle East with a focus on mobilizing 
        assistance to the Palestinians and promoting economic development and 
        institutional governance;
Whereas a robust and high-level American diplomatic presence on the ground is 
        critical to bringing Israelis and Palestinians together to make the 
        tough decisions necessary to achieving a permanent resolution to the 
        conflict;
Whereas June 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the Six-Day War between Israel 
        and a coalition of Arab states;
Whereas all parties should use the occasion of this anniversary to redouble 
        their efforts to achieve peace; and
Whereas achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace could have significant positive 
        impacts on security and stability in the region: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms its commitment to a true and lasting solution 
        to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the establishment 
        of 2 states, the State of Israel and Palestine, living side by 
        side in peace and security, and with recognized borders;
            (2) denounces the use of violence and terror and reaffirms 
        its unwavering commitment to Israel's security;
            (3) calls on President Bush to pursue a robust diplomatic 
        effort to engage the State of Israel and the Palestinian 
        Authority, begin negotiations, and make a 2-state settlement a 
        top priority;
            (4) urges President Bush to consider appointing as Special 
        Envoy for Middle East Peace an individual who has held cabinet 
        rank or someone equally qualified, with an extensive knowledge 
        of foreign affairs generally and the Middle East region in 
        particular;
            (5) calls on Hamas to recognize the State of Israel's right 
        to exist, to renounce and end all terror and incitement, and to 
        accept past agreements and obligations with the State of 
        Israel;
            (6) calls on moderate Arab states in the region to 
        intensify their diplomatic efforts toward a 2-state solution 
        and welcomes the Arab League Peace Initiative; and
            (7) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to embrace 
        efforts to achieve peace and refrain from taking any actions 
        that would prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations.
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