[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 314 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 314

  Declaring that it is the policy of the United States to support its 
ally Israel in seeking peace with its neighbors, particularly toward a 
 two-state solution that results in a free, nonmilitarized Palestinian 
 state living side-by-side in peace and security with the Jewish State 
               of Israel, the home of the Jewish people.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2011

  Mr. Pearce (for himself, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Wilson of South 
  Carolina, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Pence, Mr. Gohmert, and Mr. 
 Flores) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Declaring that it is the policy of the United States to support its 
ally Israel in seeking peace with its neighbors, particularly toward a 
 two-state solution that results in a free, nonmilitarized Palestinian 
 state living side-by-side in peace and security with the Jewish State 
               of Israel, the home of the Jewish people.

Whereas, on May 14, 1948, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, 
        recognized the State of Israel eleven minutes after David Ben-Gurion, 
        Prime Minister of the State of Israel, declared independence;
Whereas throughout its 63-year history, Israel has remained a steadfast ally of 
        the United States in a volatile region;
Whereas politicians and presidents in both parties consistently stood with 
        Israel, recognizing that its interests coincide with those of the United 
        States;
Whereas Israel is the only truly free, democratic nation in its region, and is 
        surrounded by hostile neighbors that publicly call for its destruction;
Whereas Israel continues to absorb rocket attacks, suicide attacks, and other 
        forms of terrorism on an almost constant basis;
Whereas, on May 19, 2011, Barack Obama, President of the United States, 
        inexplicably stated that Israel must withdraw to pre-1967 boundaries;
Whereas, on May 22, 2011, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of 
        Israel, told President Obama in the Oval Office that the pre-1967 
        borders are ``indefensible'', and further said, ``Those were not 
        boundaries of peace'';
Whereas, on May 24, 2011, Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited to address a 
        Joint Meeting of Congress for the second time in his career;
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu described peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan 
        as ``vital'', but ``not enough'', adding that he is ``committed to a 
        solution of two states for two peoples: a Palestinian state alongside a 
        Jewish state'', and that he is ``willing to make painful compromises to 
        achieve this historic peace'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu further noted that in a ``genuine peace'', 
        Israel will ``be required to give up parts of the ancestral Jewish 
        homeland'', where, he added, ``in Judea and Samaria, the Jewish people 
        are not foreign occupiers'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu also stated, ``but there is another truth: the 
        Palestinians share this small land with us'' and ``should enjoy a 
        prosperous economy where their creativity and initiative can flourish'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu further noted that ``our conflict has never 
        been about the establishment of a Palestinian state. It's always been 
        about the existence of the Jewish state'', noting that the Palestinians 
        have ``twice refused generous offers by Israeli prime ministers to 
        establish a Palestinian state on virtually all the territory won by 
        Israel in the Six-Day War'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu called upon the Palestinian President, Mahmoud 
        Abbas, to ``stand before his people and say, `I will accept a Jewish 
        state.''';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu continued, with such a partner, ``the Israeli 
        people will be prepared to make a far-reaching compromise'' that will 
        reflect the ``dramatic demographic changes that have occurred since 
        1967'', wherein ``the vast majority of the 650,000 Israelis who live 
        beyond the 1967 lines reside in neighborhoods and suburbs of Jerusalem 
        and Tel Aviv'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that the status of the settlements 
        will be decided only in negotiations, but added that Israel ``will be 
        generous on the size of a Palestinian state'' and that Israel recognizes 
        ``that a Palestinian state must be big enough to be viable, to be 
        independent, to be prosperous'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu further stated, ``Palestinians from around the 
        world should have a right to immigrate, if they so choose, to a 
        Palestinian state, and that this ``means that the Palestinian refugee 
        problem will be resolved outside the borders of Israel'';
Whereas on the status of Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that 
        ``throughout the millennial history of the Jewish capital, the only time 
        that Jews, Christians and Muslims could worship freely, could have 
        unfettered access to their holy sites, has been during Israel's 
        sovereignty over Jerusalem'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu said, ``Jerusalem must never again be divided. 
        Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel'';
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, ``If Israel simply walked out of the 
        territories, the flow of weapons into a future Palestinian state would 
        be unchecked. And missiles fired from it could reach virtually every 
        home in Israel in less than a minute'';
Whereas in concluding his remarks before the Joint Meeting of Congress, Prime 
        Minister Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the role of the United 
        States in the world, saying ``Providence entrusted the United States to 
        be the guardian of liberty. All people who cherish freedom owe a 
        profound debt of gratitude to your great nation.''; and
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu further stated, ``I speak on behalf of the 
        Jewish people and the Jewish state when I say to you, representatives of 
        America, thank you'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it 
        is the policy of the United States to support its ally Israel 
        in seeking peace with its neighbors, particularly toward a two-
        state solution that results in a free, nonmilitarized 
        Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security 
        with the Jewish State of Israel, the home of the Jewish people; 
        and
            (2) the House of Representatives--
                    (A) commends the Prime Minister of Israel for his 
                far-reaching efforts to achieve peace between Israel 
                and the Palestinians;
                    (B) calls on the Palestinian leadership to return 
                to the negotiating table with Israel; and
                    (C) urges the Administration to mount a global 
                effort to convince the Palestinians and allies of the 
                United States that Palestinian statehood will not be 
                achieved outside of negotiations at the United Nations, 
                and to use the United States veto if the issue comes 
                before the United Nations Security Council in 
                September.
                                 <all>