Whereas, on January 9, 2009, the House of Representatives
passed, by an overwhelming margin, a resolution that reaffirmed “its strong
support for United States Government efforts to promote a just resolution of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a serious and sustained peace process
that leads to the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living
in peace alongside a secure State of Israel.”;
Whereas, on January 22, 2009, President Barack Obama and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the appointment of former Senator
George Mitchell as the United States Government’s Special Envoy for Middle East
Peace;
Whereas President Obama, upon announcing Senator
Mitchell’s appointment, stated that “It will be the policy of my administration
to actively and aggressively seek a lasting peace between Israel and the
Palestinians, as well as Israel and its Arab neighbors” that “… recognizes
(Israel’s) rightful place in the community of nations.”;
Whereas President Obama, upon announcing this appointment,
stated that Senator Mitchell … will be fully empowered at the
negotiating table, and he will sustain our focus on the goal of
peace.
;
Whereas President Obama stated that he “… was deeply
concerned by the loss of Palestinian and Israeli life in recent days and by the
substantial suffering and humanitarian needs in Gaza. Our hearts go out to
Palestinian civilians who are in need of immediate food, clean water, and basic
medical care, and who've faced suffocating poverty for far too long.”;
Whereas Secretary of State Clinton stated that Special
Envoy Mitchell “will lead our efforts to reinvigorate the process for achieving
peace between Israel and its neighbors. He will help us to develop an
integrated strategy that defends the security of Israel, works to bring an end
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will result in two states, living side
by side in peace and security, and to achieve further agreements to promote
peace and security between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Senator Mitchell will
also work to support the objectives that the President and I believe are
critical and pressing in Gaza, to develop a program for humanitarian aid and
eventual reconstruction, working with the Palestinian Authority and Israel on
behalf of those objectives.”;
Whereas Senator Mitchell stated, upon his appointment,
that “peace and stability in the Middle East are in our national
interest.”;
Whereas Senator Mitchell also stated that Conflicts
are created, conducted and sustained by human beings; they can be ended by
human beings
and that “This effort must be determined, persevering and
patient. It must be backed up by political capital, economic resources, and
focused attention at the highest levels of our government. And it must be
firmly rooted in a shared vision of a peaceful future by the people who live in
the region. At the direction of the President and the Secretary of State, and
in pursuit of the President's policies, I pledge my full effort in the search
for peace and stability in the Middle East.”;
Whereas Senator Mitchell brings significant credibility to
this effort as an experienced diplomat and negotiator, having been credited
with brokering Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord that led to a
resolution of the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland and the termination of an
800-year old sectarian and national conflict; and
Whereas Senator Mitchell possesses appropriate expertise
on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, having authored a well-received report on
the causes of the second intifada in April 2001: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)congratulates Senator George Mitchell on
his appointment as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace;
(2)commits to
supporting President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and Special Envoy Mitchell in
their vigorous pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian
and Israeli-Arab conflicts 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;
(3)reaffirms that
peace between Israel and the Palestinians and Israel and the Arab world are
essential national security interests of the United States; and
(4)expresses its
appreciation to those engaged in support of Middle East peacemaking and the
recent cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel, and
calls on the international community to aggressively pursue efforts that
facilitate a just and lasting resolution of these conflicts.