[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1734 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1734
Reaffirming Congressional opposition to the unilateral declaration of a
Palestinian state, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 29, 2010
Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr.
Weiner, Mr. Burton of Indiana, and Mr. Ackerman) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming Congressional opposition to the unilateral declaration of a
Palestinian state, and for other purposes.
Whereas a true and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be
achieved through direct negotiations between the parties;
Whereas the leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) have repeatedly refused to negotiate
directly with the Government of Israel, demanding unprecedented
preconditions from Israel in exchange for their return to direct
negotiations;
Whereas Palestinian leaders have repeatedly threatened to unilaterally declare a
Palestinian state and to seek recognition of a Palestinian state by the
United Nations and other international forums;
Whereas Palestinian leaders are reportedly holding high-level discussions on
pursuing recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations and
other international forums;
Whereas UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry on
October 26, 2010, expressed his support for recognition of a Palestinian
state by the United Nations;
Whereas, on March 11, 1999, the Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 5,
and on March 16, 1999, the House of Representatives adopted House
Concurrent Resolution 24, both of which resolved that ``any attempt to
establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will
invoke the strongest congressional opposition.'';
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated on October 20, 2010,
that ``There is no substitute for face-to-face discussion and,
ultimately, for an agreement that leads to a just and lasting peace.'';
Whereas Secretary Clinton stated on November 10, 2010, that ``Negotiations
between the parties is the only means by which all the outstanding
claims arising out of the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict can be
resolved. . . . So we do not support unilateral steps by either party
that could prejudge the outcome of such negotiations.'';
Whereas, on November 10, 2010, the Israeli Knesset adopted a resolution
``reject[ing] entirely the threats of some Palestinian leaders to
declare unilateral Palestinian statehood . . . [affirming] that all
points of dispute must be debated only within the framework of direct
negotiations . . . [and] call[ing] on the Palestinian leadership to
return to the negotiating table.'';
Whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, in a speech at Bar Ilan
University in Israel on June 14, 2009, stated that ``[A] fundamental
prerequisite for ending the conflict is a public, binding and
unequivocal Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation state of the
Jewish people. . . . Therefore, today we ask our friends in the
international community, led by the United States, for what is critical
to the security of Israel: Clear commitments that in a future peace
agreement, the territory controlled by the Palestinians will be
demilitarized. . . . If we receive this guarantee regarding
demilitarization and Israel's security needs, and if the Palestinians
recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be
ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a
demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state.'';
Whereas efforts to bypass negotiations and to unilaterally declare a Palestinian
state or to appeal to the United Nations or other international forums
for recognition of a Palestinian state would clearly and fundamentally
violate the underlying principles of the 1993 Oslo Accords and the
Middle East peace process, and represent another instance of the
Palestinian leadership's noncompliance with its commitments under
existing agreements; and
Whereas United States opposition to any unilateral Palestinian declaration of
statehood or related measures should be reaffirmed strongly and
unequivocally: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the House of Representatives that Congress--
(1) reaffirms its strong opposition to any attempt to
establish a Palestinian state outside the negotiating process;
(2) strongly and unequivocally opposes any attempt to seek
recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations or
other international forums;
(3) calls upon the Administration to continue its
opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian
state;
(4) calls upon the Administration to affirm that the United
States would deny any recognition, legitimacy, or support of
any kind to any unilaterally declared ``Palestinian state'' and
would urge other responsible nations to follow suit, and to
make clear that any such unilateral declaration would
constitute a grievous violation of the principles underlying
the Oslo Accords and the Middle East peace process;
(5) calls upon the Administration to affirm that the United
States will oppose any attempt to seek recognition of a
Palestinian state by the United Nations or other international
forums and will veto any resolution to that end by the United
Nations Security Council;
(6) calls upon the President and the Secretary of State to
lead a high-level diplomatic effort to encourage the European
Union and other responsible nations to strongly and
unequivocally oppose the unilateral declaration of a
Palestinian state or any attempt to seek recognition of a
Palestinian state by the United Nations or other international
forums; and
(7) supports the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the achievement of a true and lasting peace
through direct negotiations between the parties.
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