[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 185 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 185
Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of
Hamas in a unity government unless it is willing to accept peace with
Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to
gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates
absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have
implications for continued United States aid.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 16, 2011
Mr. Cardin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Thune, Mr. Menendez, Mr.
Casey, and Mr. Risch) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of
Hamas in a unity government unless it is willing to accept peace with
Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to
gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates
absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have
implications for continued United States aid.
Whereas the policy of the United States since 2002 has been to support a two-
state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict;
Whereas a true and lasting peace between the people of Israel and the
Palestinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations between
the parties;
Whereas Palestine Liberation Organization Chair Yassir Arafat wrote to Israeli
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on September 9, 1993, that ``all
outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through
negotiations'';
Whereas the reconciliation 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
Palestinians (the ``Quartet conditions'');
Whereas Hamas, an organization responsible for the death of more than 500
innocent civilians, including two dozen United States citizens, has been
designated by the United States Government as a foreign terrorist
organization and a specially designated terrorist organization;
Whereas Hamas kidnapped and has held captive Israeli sergeant Gilad Shalit in
violation of international norms since June 25, 2006;
Whereas Hamas continues to forcefully reject the possibility of negotiations or
peace with Israel;
Whereas, by contrast, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted a
two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
Whereas, on April 22, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, ``We will
not deal with nor in any way fund a Palestinian government that includes
Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel
and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian
Authority.'';
Whereas the United States, under two different Presidents, has vetoed 11 United
Nations Security Council resolutions in the last 15 years related to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its outstanding issues;
Whereas United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice
stated on February 18, 2011, that it was ``unwise'' for the United
Nations to attempt to resolve key issues between the Israelis and
Palestinians;
Whereas Palestinian leaders are pursuing a coordinated strategy to seek
recognition of a Palestinian state within the United Nations, in other
international forums, and from foreign governments;
Whereas, on March 11, 1999, the Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 5
(106th Congress), and on March 16, 1999, the House of Representatives
adopted House Concurrent Resolution 24 (106th Congress), both of which
resolved that ``any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside
the negotiating process will invoke the strongest congressional
opposition'';
Whereas current United States law precludes assistance to a Palestinian
Authority that shares power with Hamas unless that Authority publicly
accepts the right of Israel to exist and adheres to all prior agreements
and understandings with the Governments of the United States and Israel;
Whereas the United States Government provides more than $550,000,000 annually
and more than $3,500,000,000 cumulatively in direct bilateral assistance
to the Palestinians, who are among the world's largest recipients of
foreign aid per capita;
Whereas aid to the Palestinians is predicated on a good faith commitment from
the Palestinians to the peace process;
Whereas abandonment by Palestinian leaders of the Quartet conditions and
inclusion of Hamas in a government could jeopardize the positive steps
the Palestinian Authority has taken in building institutions and
improving security in the West Bank in recent years; and
Whereas efforts to form a unity government without accepting the Quartet
conditions, to bypass negotiations and unilaterally declare a
Palestinian state, or to appeal to the United Nations or other
international forums or to foreign governments for recognition of a
Palestinian state would violate the underlying principles of the Oslo
Accords, the Road Map, and other relevant Middle East peace process
efforts: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states, a
democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a viable, democratic
Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, security, and
mutual recognition;
(2) states its firm belief that any Palestinian unity
government must publicly and formally forswear terrorism,
accept Israel's right to exist, and reaffirm previous
agreements made with the Government of Israel;
(3) reiterates its strong opposition to any attempt to
establish or seek recognition of a Palestinian state outside of
an agreement negotiated between leaders in Israel and the
Palestinians;
(4) urges Palestinian leaders--
(A) to ensure that any Palestinian government will
seek peace with Israel;
(B) to cease all efforts at circumventing the
negotiation process, including through a unilateral
declaration of statehood or quests for recognition of a
Palestinian state from other nations or the United
Nations;
(C) to resume direct negotiations with the
Government of Israel immediately and without
preconditions; and
(D) to take appropriate measures to counter
incitement to violence and fulfill all prior
Palestinian commitments, including dismantling the
terrorist infrastructure embodied in Hamas;
(5) supports the opposition of the President to a
unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and the veto by
the United States on February 18, 2011, of the most recent
United Nations Security Council resolution regarding a key
issue of the Israeli-Palestinian process;
(6) calls upon the President to announce that the United
States will veto any resolution on Palestinian statehood that
comes before the United Nations Security Council which is not a
result of agreements reached between the Government of Israel
and the Palestinians;
(7) calls upon the President to lead a diplomatic effort to
oppose a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and to
oppose recognition of a Palestinian state by other nations,
within the United Nations, and in other international forums
prior to achievement of a final agreement between the
Government of Israel and the Palestinians;
(8) will consider restrictions on aid to the Palestinian
Authority should it persist in efforts to circumvent direct
negotiations by turning to the United Nations or other
international bodies;
(9) supports the position taken by Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on April 22, 2009, that the United States
``will not deal with or in any way fund a Palestinian
government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has
renounced violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the
previous obligations of the Palestinian Authority'';
(10) urges the President to consider suspending assistance
to the Palestinian Authority pending a review of the unity
agreement between Fatah and Hamas; and
(11) reaffirms the requirement under United States law
precluding assistance to a Palestinian Authority that shares
power with Hamas unless that Authority and all its ministers
publicly accept the right of Israel to exist and all prior
agreements and understandings with the Governments of the
United States and Israel.
<all>