Whereas within the framework of the Oslo Accords, the Road
Map, and other relevant Middle East peace agreements signed by the Government
of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, it is agreed that all future
agreements are to be bilateral, negotiated between and agreed to by both Israel
and the Palestinian Authority;
Whereas Section 31 of the 1995 “Interim Agreement”, also
signed by the Palestinian Authority, states that “No party alone may take steps
which will change the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip until the end of
negotiations on the final status”;
Whereas throughout this year the Palestinian Authority has
acted in violation of these aforementioned agreements by unilaterally seeking a
United Nations declaration of recognition for a Palestinian State without the
consent or cooperation of Israel;
Whereas the Palestinian Authority has further breached its
responsibility under these agreements, specifically its responsibility to
renounce terrorism and end any incitement to violence against Israel, by
signing a unity agreement with Hamas;
Whereas this unity agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas on
May 4, 2011, was reached without Hamas being required to renounce violence,
accept Israel’s right to exist, and accept prior agreements made by the
Palestinian Authority (the “Quartet Conditions”);
Whereas Hamas, an organization responsible for the death
of more than 500 innocent civilians, including 24 United States citizens, has
been designated by the United States Government as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization and a specially designated terrorist organization;
Whereas Hamas continues to forcefully reject the
possibility of peace with Israel;
Whereas the Hamas Charter states that it “strives to raise
the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine”;
Whereas current United States law prohibits assistance to
a Palestinian Authority which shares power with Hamas, unless Hamas publicly
accepts Israel’s right to exist, renounces all terrorism and incitement to
violence against Israel, and adheres to all prior agreements and understandings
with the United States and Israel;
Whereas despite billions in foreign aid from the United
States, the Palestinian Authority has failed to create accountable leadership
or viable government in the West Bank or Gaza Strip;
Whereas the Palestinian Authority’s financial stability
and continued existence is dependent on income from foreign aid;
Whereas commitments of foreign assistance to the
Palestinian Authority from Arab nations have proven unreliable and, as a direct
result, have weakened the stability of the Palestinian Government;
Whereas the potential for a failed Palestinian state in
Judea and Samaria remains a clear and present danger to the people of
Israel;
Whereas the Palestinian Authority therefore does not meet
the criteria for a viable and functioning government with all the authority and
responsibilities thereof;
Whereas the Jewish people have had a presence in Judea and
Samaria for thousands of years;
Whereas Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has
stated that if there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its
capital, the Palestinian Authority will not permit the presence of one Israeli
within its limits;
Whereas Jews living outside the green line in Judea and
Samaria have the same right to life and liberty as Jews and Arabs living inside
the green line; and
Whereas in the absence of a peaceful agreement between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority it is the responsibility of the Israeli
Government to do everything in its power to ensure the security of its
citizens, including those residing in Judea and Samaria: Now, therefore, be
it
That the House of Representatives firmly
supports Israel’s right to annex Judea and Samaria in the event that the
Palestinian Authority continues to press for unilateral recognition of
Palestinian statehood at the United Nations.