[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 23 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 23

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives and reaffirming 
long-standing United States policy in support of a negotiated two-state 
             solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 5, 2017

Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Connolly, Mr. 
  Welch, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Raskin, Mr. 
 Larson of Connecticut, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Eshoo, 
 Ms. Pingree, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Capuano, 
 Mr. Ellison, Mr. Kilmer, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Yarmuth, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
Huffman, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Adams, Ms. Tsongas, 
    Mr. Nadler, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Kind, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Brownley of 
California, Mr. Keating, Mr. Sires, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Frankel of Florida, 
   Ms. Fudge, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. DelBene, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Beyer, Mr. 
     Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Levin, Ms. Judy Chu of 
 California, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. 
  Castro of Texas, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Schneider, Ms. Bass, Mr. Lynch, Mr. 
 Perlmutter, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Cartwright, 
    Mrs. Torres, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Polis, Mr. Richmond, Ms. 
Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Suozzi, 
Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Ms. Sanchez, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. 
  Shea-Porter, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Costa, Mr. Takano, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Bera, Mr. Peters, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Espaillat, 
   Ms. Matsui, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Sherman, Mr. 
   McGovern, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Panetta, Ms. 
    Sinema, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Hanabusa, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. 
Delaney, Ms. Esty, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Bishop 
   of Georgia, Mr. Foster, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Himes, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. 
    Speier, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Wilson of Florida, and Mr. Scott of 
Virginia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives and reaffirming 
long-standing United States policy in support of a negotiated two-state 
             solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Whereas the special relationship between the United States and Israel is rooted 
        in shared national security interests and the shared values of democracy 
        and the rule of law;
Whereas the United States remains unwavering in its commitment to help Israel 
        address the myriad challenges our ally faces, including anti-Semitic and 
        anti-Israel terrorism, incitement of violence, delegitimization efforts, 
        regional instability, civil conflict in neighboring states, and the 
        threat of a nuclear-armed Iran;
Whereas the United States steadfastly opposes boycotts, divestment campaigns and 
        sanctions targeting the State of Israel;
Whereas the United States recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with 
        the Government of Israel regarding security assistance, consistent with 
        long-standing support for Israel among successive Administrations and 
        Congresses and representing an important United States commitment toward 
        Israel's qualitative military edge;
Whereas the United States has long supported a negotiated settlement leading to 
        a sustainable two-state solution that re-affirms Israel's right to exist 
        as a democratic, Jewish state and establishes a demilitarized democratic 
        Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security;
Whereas the failure to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 
        conflict poses a threat to Israel's ability to maintain its identity as 
        a Jewish and democratic state;
Whereas achievement of a two-state solution could pave the way for the 
        normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states in the region;
Whereas it is long-standing policy of the United States that a peaceful 
        resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only come through 
        direct, bilateral negotiations between the two parties;
Whereas it is longstanding practice of the United States to oppose and, if 
        necessary, veto United Nations Security Council resolutions or other 
        international efforts that seek to impose a solution to the conflict;
Whereas it is also the historical position of the United States to oppose and, 
        if necessary, veto one-sided or anti-Israel resolutions at the United 
        Nations Security Council;
Whereas United States Presidents from both parties have engaged in efforts to 
        help create better conditions for progress, including, but not limited 
        to, facilitating direct, bilateral negotiations, with the goal of 
        achieving a two-state solution and ending all outstanding claims;
Whereas the United States recently put forward a set of non-binding principles 
        based on commonly understood tenets of a final-status peace agreement, 
        ``not to prejudge or impose an outcome, but to provide a possible basis 
        for serious negotiations when the parties are ready'' to move toward a 
        two-state solution; and
Whereas the United States stands ready to help foster conditions to provide 
        space for the resumption of peace negotiations between the two parties: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the United States should continue to support a durable 
        and sustainable two-state solution to resolve the long-standing 
        conflict between Israelis and Palestinians;
            (2) a viable and sustainable two-state solution can only be 
        achieved through direct negotiations between Israelis and 
        Palestinians;
            (3) the United States should continue to oppose, and if 
        necessary, veto future United Nations Security Council 
        resolutions that seek to impose solutions to final status 
        issues, or are one-sided and anti-Israel; and
            (4) the United States should continue to work with Israelis 
        and Palestinians to create the conditions for successful final-
        status peace negotiations.
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