[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3588-H3591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RELATING TO 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF REUNIFICATION OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 60) relating to the 30th 
anniversary of the reunification of the city of Jerusalem.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 60

       Whereas for 3,000 years Jerusalem has been the focal point 
     of Jewish religious devotion;
       Whereas Jerusalem today is also considered a holy city by 
     members of the Christian and Muslim faiths;
       Whereas there has been a continuous Jewish presence in 
     Jerusalem for three millennia and a Jewish majority in the 
     city since the 1840's;
       Whereas the once thriving Jewish majority of the historic 
     Old City of Jerusalem was driven out by force during the 1948 
     Arab-Israeli War;
       Whereas from 1948 to 1967 Jerusalem was a divided city and 
     Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of 
     all states were denied access to holy sites in the area 
     controlled by Jordan;
       Whereas in 1967 Jerusalem was reunited by Israel during the 
     conflict known as the Six Day War;
       Whereas since 1967 Jerusalem has been a united city, and 
     persons of all religious faiths have been guaranteed full 
     access to holy sites within the city;
       Whereas this year marks the 30th year that Jerusalem has 
     been administered as a unified city in which the rights of 
     all faiths have been respected and protected;
       Whereas in 1990 the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives overwhelmingly adopted Senate Concurrent 
     Resolution 106 and House Concurrent Resolution 290 declaring 
     that Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, ``must remain an 
     undivided city'' and calling on Israel and the Palestinians 
     to undertake negotiations to resolve their differences;
       Whereas Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel later cited 
     Senate Concurrent Resolution 106 as having ``helped our 
     neighbors reach the negotiating table'' to produce the 
     historic Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government 
     Arrangements, signed in Washington, D.C. on September 13, 
     1993; and
       Whereas the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-
     45), which became law on November 8, 1995, states as a matter 
     of United States policy that Jerusalem should remain the 
     undivided capital of Israel: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people 
     of Israel on the 30th anniversary of the reunification of 
     that historic city;
       (2) strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an 
     undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and 
     religious group are protected as they have been by Israel 
     during the past 30 years;
       (3) calls upon the President and the Secretary of State to 
     affirm publicly as a matter of United States policy that 
     Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of the State of 
     Israel; and
       (4) urges United States officials to refrain from any 
     actions that contradict this policy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. Gilman asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 60, legislation that I sponsored with our colleague from New 
York, Mr. Schumer, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 
reunification of Jerusalem.
  I want to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer] for his 
leadership on this issue and commend him for his steadfast commitment 
to Israel and Jerusalem. I also want to commend our ranking minority 
member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], for his support of 
this legislation.
  The legislation before us today reinforces the strong relationship 
between the American people and the nation of Israel. From Israel's 
independence in 1948 until the miraculous reunification of Jerusalem in 
1967's Six-Say War, Jerusalem was a divided city and Israeli citizens 
of all faiths, as well as Jewish citizens of all states, were denied 
access to holy sites in the area, which was controlled by Jordan. The 
once thriving Jewish majority of the historic Old City of Jerusalem was 
driven out by force in 1948, not to return again for 19 long years.
  Despite the more than 3,000 years of Jewish residency in Jerusalem, 
Jews were once again cast out from King David's capital by overwhelming 
force. Once Jerusalem was one city again, the Israeli Government took 
important steps to guarantee freedom of religious access, not only to 
the Jews who had been denied their holy sites all those years, but also 
for Christians and Muslims. With the reunification of the city under 
Israel's jurisdiction, persons of all religious faiths have been 
guaranteed full access to their holy sites in Jerusalem.
  Congress, in its role as the representative of the American people, 
has stated its support for Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 
numerous occasions. We believe that Jerusalem must remain an undivided 
city forever. Indeed, the landmark legislation which became law in 
1995, the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act, states these beliefs as a 
matter of U.S. policy.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 60 congratulates the 
residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on the 30th anniversary 
of the reunification of that historic city; reiterates the belief that 
Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every 
ethnic and religious group are going to be protected as they have been 
by Israel during the past 30 years. It also calls upon the President 
and the Secretary of State to affirm publicly as a matter of United 
States policy that Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of the 
State of Israel; and urges United States officials to refrain from any 
actions that contradict this policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues' strong support for this important 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not have any further requests for statements. I 
would like to thank the Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. 
Gingrich], for his special interest in this resolution, as well as the 
balance of the leadership on both sides of the aisle for their support 
of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on House Concurrent Resolution 60.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to note that the legislative business on suspensions 
will be concluded with the adoption of this resolution and that any 
Members having amendments with regard to the State Department 
authorization measure are urged to come to the floor at this time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am going to rise in opposition to House Concurrent Resolution 60 
relating to the 30th anniversary of the reunification of the city of 
Israel. I do so

[[Page H3589]]

reluctantly because I support the unity of the city of Jerusalem. I 
also value the many positive contributions Israel has made in and to 
Jerusalem over the last three decades.
  I believe that it is critical for the United States to refrain from 
any actions that undermine the unity of this city which is holy for 
Jews, Muslims, and Christians. I also believe that the United States 
should eventually move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, which Israel 
considers its capital.
  I regret that the Committee on International Relations was given no 
opportunity to consider this resolution before the House took it up 
under this suspension, where amendments are not possible. A single 
change to the language of the resolution would have gained my support 
and that of others who support the unity of Jerusalem, but also support 
forward progress in the Middle East peace process and oppose 
unnecessarily provocative actions to or by any of the parties to that 
process.
  It would be totally consistent with U.S. policy to say that Jerusalem 
must remain an undivided city. It would even be acceptable to describe 
Jerusalem as Israel's capital and then state, as did House Concurrent 
Resolution 290, which this resolution cites, that it should remain an 
undivided city.
  However, it is not consistent with United States policy articulated 
over several decades under several administrations of both parties to 
state, as this resolution does, that Jerusalem must remain the 
undivided capital of the State of Israel.
  Taking such action at this time also hurts U.S. policy more 
immediately and directly. It will make it more difficult to get an 
already stalled peace process back on track.
  I oppose the resolution at this time for three reasons. First, I do 
not think it is in the U.S. national interest to take any action that 
could hinder the peace process or the ability of the United States to 
continue to play an indispensable role in that process. We need to 
preserve our role as trusted intermediary, particularly now that we are 
moving toward permanent status negotiations in which Jerusalem will be 
a subject.
  The United States has a vital interest in seeing the peace process 
move forward. Such forward movement is not likely to occur if we do 
serious damage to the critical U.S. role. We cannot preserve this role 
if the Congress succeeds in its attempt to force a U.S. policy that 
prejudges an issue as contentious as the final status of Jerusalem, an 
issue which the Declaration of Principles, signed by both parties in 
1993, states will be determined by the parties to the conflict in their 
final status negotiations.
  Second, the issue of Jerusalem has been left for the final status 
negotiations because of the strong emotion it engenders, because of the 
controversy it promotes, and because of the need to build confidence 
among the parties in any proposed solution of the Jerusalem issue. That 
confidence does not exist among the parties today. This resolution is 
another unilateral action that can make it more difficult to prepare 
for the key final status talks.
  Finally, I think we need to view this suspension resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 60, together with the other provisions relating 
to the Middle East that are being discussed and will be voted upon when 
H.R. 1757, the State Department authorization bill, comes before the 
House for further consideration later today.
  In addition to this resolution on Jerusalem, that bill contains 
additional problematic language on Jerusalem. We also will vote today 
on amendments with respect to Syria, actions by the Palestinian 
Authority with which we disagree, and a possible amendment on reducing 
aid to Egypt. Each of these amendments has some merit. I agree with 
much of what they say, but their cumulative effect is to have the 
United States appear very one-sided on matters where our continued 
ability to be trusted by all parties is critical.
  So, Mr. Speaker, while I join my colleagues in saluting and 
celebrating a united Jerusalem, I cannot support this resolution at 
this time. I have, of course, no doubt about the strong support for the 
resolution. I just think it is appropriate for a few of us to speak out 
for a nearly 50-year-old American policy in the Middle East, a policy 
supported by 10 successive Presidents, that has served the Nation and 
the Middle East well.

                              {time}  1245

  I urge my colleagues not to make a difficult peace process even more 
difficult. I would urge a no vote on House Concurrent Resolution 60.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation with regard to the reunification of 
Jerusalem has been considered and adopted by the House in prior years, 
so its consideration should not be considered controversial. President 
Clinton has stated his support for an undivided Jerusalem. Since the 
onset of the peace process in 1992, Congress has gone on record on this 
issue on several occasions. Accordingly, this should not be seen as 
impairing the peace process. It has not stopped the negotiations from 
going forward, even when we adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation 
Act.
  Accordingly, I urge our colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Schumer], the original sponsor of this measure.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Gilman] for yielding me this time and for his leadership on this issue; 
I thank the ranking member, even though we disagree, for his 
consideration.
  Mr. Speaker, just 30 years ago, Jerusalem was a city divided, divided 
by barbed wire, divided by faith and divided by violence. In 1948, 
Jews, who have looked to Jerusalem for 3 millennia as their holy place, 
were systematically expelled from their holy city. The houses of 
worship were destroyed, the cemeteries were desecrated. Gravestones 
served as roads for construction in the city. The most holy of 
religious sites, the Western Wall, was used ignominiously as a garbage 
dump. Jews from around the world were unable to worship at their 
holiest of holy sites.
  At the time, the free world rightly declared this heinous act of war 
illegal but did nothing, absolutely nothing, to change it. Thirty years 
ago all that changed. Jerusalem was liberated. Jews from around the 
world could once again pray in Jerusalem. Today Jerusalem is a city 
reunited, united in geography, united in respect for faith and united 
in search for peace.
  Since 1967, Jerusalem has been the united sovereign capital of 
Israel, which no Israeli Government, Labor or Likud, would ever agree 
to divide. There are many issues that divide the Jewish community these 
days, both here in America and in Israel. This is not one of them. I 
say to my colleagues that Jewish citizens of America, Jewish citizens 
of Israel are virtually unanimous in the view that Jerusalem should 
remain the undivided capital.
  I remind Members that under the last 30 years, the holy sites of all 
three great religions have been open to those who wish to pay their 
respects and pray there, unlike the period of 1948 to 1967.
  In my judgment, the Palestinian Authority has no claim on Jerusalem, 
not only in fact and in history but because of what they did between 
1948 and 1967. They lost it. To make the Wailing Wall a garbage dump? 
That is absolutely disgraceful and an abomination.
  So over the years, recognizing that Congress has affirmed the policy 
that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of Israel through numerous 
resolutions and laws, but never has it been more important that the 
United States speak with one voice to make the policy clear, that 
Jerusalem is and will always be the undivided capital of Israel. We in 
the U.S. House of Representatives understand the significance of 
Jerusalem to the Jewish people. Today, like Jerusalem, we stand united 
in congratulating the people of Jerusalem on the 30th anniversary of 
their city's reunification, united in commending Israel for 
guaranteeing the right of people of all faiths, Jewish, Christian, 
Muslim, to pray at their holy sites, united that this holy city never 
be divided again.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer this resolution today to 
congratulate the people of Jerusalem on the 30th anniversary of their 
city's reunification, to say that it is my belief that the United 
States ought to stand foursquare behind that reunification and not do 
anything, anything at all, to undercut the

[[Page H3590]]

fact that we will stand by Israel in its goal to keep Jerusalem united 
and prevent it from being divided. I say to those who do not believe 
that, that the peace process in my judgment, if it is based on the view 
that it ultimately must have a divided Jerusalem, will ultimately fail, 
and we ought to affirm that now and forever and once and for all.
  Mr. Speaker, for 3,000 years, since the destruction of the second 
temple, the people of Jerusalem and world Jewry have said the 
following: ``Jerusalem, if I forget thee, let my right hand be 
severed.'' We will never forget Jerusalem, and we are here to celebrate 
its permanent reunification.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York 
[Mr. Schumer] for his leadership on this issue and for his very 
eloquent words in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Florida [Mr. Goss], the distinguished former chairman of our House 
Intelligence Committee.
  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I 
believe it is extremely appropriate that we tell the world that we are 
happy to celebrate this occasion and that we are still committed very 
much to overseeing our responsibilities toward peace in the area.
  I take the view that we are in the business here of underscoring our 
commitment to the peace process. I do not believe that one can raise 
the issue of Mideast geopolitics without somehow conveying the idea 
that there is controversy. But I think that the issue before us is 
without controversy. It is on the suspension calendar, and I think it 
is merely a question of acknowledging the leadership of those who have 
made this possible to come before us. I associate myself with the 
distinguished remarks of the gentleman from New York, who I think put 
them so eloquently. I would suggest that to fail to pass this today 
would send a very bad message. On the other hand it deserves our 
unanimous support. I congratulate the distinguished chairman for 
bringing this to our attention.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Lowey].
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
resolution congratulating the Israeli people on the 30th anniversary of 
the reunification of Jerusalem. Today we in this House reaffirm our 
commitment to Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel now and 
forever. It is especially fitting that we rise today to celebrate the 
Israeli capital as the people of the Middle East are struggling to 
bring peace to the region.
  In these difficult times it is critical that we show our support for 
a safe and secure Israel, with Jerusalem as its undivided capital. 
Jerusalem has been and must remain a center of ethnic and religious 
diversity where individual rights of worship are respected and 
protected. Torn apart by war for almost two decades, Jerusalem was 
united as the capital of the State of Israel 30 years ago and so it 
shall remain. I commend my colleagues for bringing this important 
resolution to the floor, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I simply wanted to point out that the Department of 
State opposes this resolution. It opposes it on constitutional foreign 
policy and operational grounds. Quoting from their memoranda,

       The intent of this legislation is to force the 
     administration to recognize Jerusalem as part of the 
     territory of the State of Israel and indeed as the capital of 
     the State of Israel. Our view of Jerusalem is guided by the 
     Declaration of Principles, Oslo I, in which the two sides 
     agreed that Jerusalem will be addressed in permanent status 
     negotiations.
       Our objection to this bill is based on our long-standing 
     policy toward Jerusalem and on the fact that this provision 
     raises serious constitutional issues because it purports to 
     limit the President's exclusive authority to conduct the 
     Nation's diplomatic relations and others.

  The point simply is that this resolution does not state American 
policy in the Middle East as it has been for many, many years, 
supported by 10 Presidents. Members should be aware of the fact that 
when they vote for this, for all kinds of good reasons, they are 
nonetheless departing from the U.S. position on the Middle East peace 
process that has served this Nation and served the Middle East, I 
think, very well for many years.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of 
House Concurrent Resolution 60, and I urge its adoption by the House of 
Representatives.
  Two years ago, I joined many others in the Capitol rotunda to 
commemorate the 3,000th anniversary of the founding of the city of 
Jerusalem. It is in the spirit of that powerful ceremony, and in the 
spirit of Jerusalem itself, that I rise today in support of this 
resolution.
  There is no question that Jerusalem is among the most important sites 
of modern civilization--a triumph of faith and freedom not just for the 
Jewish people, but for all people. And although people have fought over 
Jerusalem for thousands of years, today it stands as a city of peace, 
in which different races and religious faiths live together.
  That is why Jerusalem should remain an undivided city, and be 
recognized as the capital of Israel. After all, Jerusalem embodies the 
very notions of liberty, justice, and freedom from persecution upon 
which Israel was founded. And it is only fitting that the holiest city 
in the world be celebrated as the center of the Jewish people, who have 
strived for so long simply to be able to express their faith freely and 
openly. That's why I supported and Congress passed legislation in 1995 
to move the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
  Today's resolution reiterates the message we delivered in 1995 and 
which the Congress has expressed in prior years. We must be clear, 
however, that it is not enough simply to celebrate the past 3,000 years 
of Jerusalem's existence, or its past 30 years as an undivided city. We 
must seek to keep Israel and Jerusalem strong for the next 3,000 years. 
That's part of what the Middle East peace process is all about--and 
what the United States' unwavering support for Israel is all about.
  In closing, I congratulate the residents of Jerusalem and the people 
of Israel on the 30th anniversary of that city's reunification, and I 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for House Concurrent Resolution 60, congratulating the people of Israel 
on the 30th anniversary of the reunification of the city of Jerusalem.
  It has been 30 years since Israel in the course of the 6-day war 
reunified the city of Jerusalem and opened its holy sites to people of 
all faiths. It has also been the policy of the United States ever since 
the historic reunification of this most holy city that it should never 
again be divided.
  As a nation, one of our most fundamental principles is the principle 
of freedom of religion. With this vote, we in Congress reaffirm our 
belief that an undivided Jerusalem is integral to maintaining the 
rights of every ethnic and religious group in the city of Jerusalem, 
and we recognize and commend the people of Israel for protecting this 
right over the past 30 years.
  I would also like to again urge the President and the Secretary of 
State to affirm publicly what we in Congress have consistently voiced 
for many years, that Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel. I also call on 
the President to move forward at this time with the selection of a site 
for the new American Embassy in Jerusalem.
  Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 60. I am pleased to support this resolution which 
congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on 
the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, calls upon the 
President and the Secretary of State to publicly affirm--as a matter of 
U.S. policy--that Jerusalem must remain the undivided Capital of 
Israel, and urges U.S. officials to refrain from any actions that 
contradict this policy.
  For three thousand years, Jerusalem has been the religious, 
spiritual, and cultural center of the Jewish people. It is also 
important to note that Jerusalem has sites that are also important to 
other religious faiths. Furthermore, during the period 1949-1967, the 
eastern part of Jerusalem was under Jordanian control and people of all 
faiths were denied access to their holy sites. However, since Jerusalem 
was reunited in 1967, it has been a city open to people of all 
religions.
  In addition to House Concurrent Resolution 60, the House is also 
considering another important piece of legislation, the Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act (H.R. 1757), affecting U.S. policy toward 
Jerusalem. Both of these bills reaffirm positions taken by Congress in 
1995, when it overwhelmingly passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act. While 
that legislation become law on November 8, 1995, President Clinton, 
unfortunately, did not sign it. The Jerusalem Embassy Act declares that 
official U.S. policy should recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of the 
State of Israel. The bill also supports Jerusalem remaining an 
undivided city where the rights of every ethnic and religious group are 
protected. Finally, it requires that

[[Page H3591]]

the United States move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by May 
31, 1999. We are also committed to seeing this happen and have included 
provisions to do so in H.R. 1757.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for both House Concurrent Resolution 60, 
as well as H.R. 1757, which reaffirm our belief that Jerusalem should 
remain Israel's undivided capital.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Calvert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 60.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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