[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S11992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 126--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD REASSERT THE TRADITIONAL OPPOSITION OF THE UNITED 
      STATES TO THE UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE

  Mr. D'AMATO (for himself and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 126

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       Whereas the United States has never endorsed the creation 
     of an independent Palestinian state;
       Whereas the United States has traditionally opposed the 
     unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state because of 
     concerns that such a state could pose a threat to Israel and 
     would likely have a destabilizing effect on the entire Middle 
     East;
       Whereas the United States stated its position, after Israel 
     and the Palestinians signed the Oslo Accords, that all 
     questions of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood are 
     matters which must be mutually agreed upon by the parties;
       Whereas, the Administration's recent statements on a 
     unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state have been 
     contradictory and confusing;
       Whereas a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood 
     would be a grievous violation of the Oslo Accords;
       Whereas despite the Oslo Accords, Chairman Arafat, his 
     cabinet, and the Palestinian National Council, have 
     threatened to unilaterally proclaim the establishment of a 
     Palestinian state in May, 1999;
       Whereas the Palestinian cabinet, on September 24, 1998 
     stated that ``at the end of the interim period, it (the 
     Palestinian government) shall declare the establishment of a 
     Palestinian state on all Palestinian land occupied since 
     1967, with Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the 
     Palestinian state'';
       Whereas Chairman Arafat in speaking to the United Nations 
     on September 28, 1998, called on world leaders to support an 
     independent Palestinian state;
       Whereas Chairman Arafat stated on July 15, 1998, that 
     ``[t]here is a transition period of 5 years and after 5 years 
     we have the right to declare an independent Palestinian 
     state.'';
       Whereas Palestinian National Council Speaker Salim al-
     Za'nun stated on June 15, 1998, that: ``If following our 
     declaration of a state, Israel renews its occupation of East 
     Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian 
     people will struggle and resist the occupier with all means 
     possible, including armed struggle'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representative 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) Israel, and Israel alone, can determine its security 
     needs; and
       (2) The final political status of the Palestinian entity 
     can only be determined through bilateral negotiations and 
     agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and
       (3) Any such unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state 
     would be a grievous violation of the Oslo Accords, would 
     seriously impede any possibility of advancing the peace 
     process, and would have severe negative consequences for 
     Palestinian relations with the United States; and
       (4) The President should now publicly and unequivocally 
     state that the United States will actively oppose such a 
     unilateral declaration and will not extend recognition to any 
     unilaterally declared Palestinian state.
                                  ____

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, today, along with my colleague from 
Oregon, Senator Ron Wyden, I submit a Concurrent Resolution opposing 
the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State. The House version of 
this resolution is being introduced by Rep. Jim Saxton, my colleague 
from New Jersey.
  Mr. President, Yasir Arafat seeks to abandon the Oslo process and 
unilaterally declare a Palestinian state at the conclusion of the 
transition period of five years, in May 1999. He has even gone as far 
as calling upon world leaders to support an independent Palestinian 
state. This is wholly unacceptable.
  I have in the past questioned Arafat's motives and his sincerity and 
I do so again. This act on his part will be a clear abrogation of the 
Peace Process and a slap in the face to Israel which has adhered to the 
process, despite continual non-compliance by the Palestinians. But 
then, we should not be surprised. This is the same group that harbors 
and praises those who kill innocent men, women and children in bus 
bombings that kill Israelis and Americans alike.
  Five years ago, the world was provided with a glimmer of hope that 
the leopard had changed its spots, but that hope was never realized. 
Not only did the leopard not change his spots, he has grown bigger and 
bolder. The Palestinian Authority, which Arafat now heads, has been 
legitimized and now carries out its aggressive policies, not under the 
cover of darkness like the PLO used to do, but in broad daylight for 
all to see. In no way can the United States lend further credence to 
this terrorist force.
  The purpose of this resolution is to send the message that the United 
States cannot and should not extend recognition to a unilaterally 
declared Palestinian state. Moreover, the President should publicly and 
unequivocally state that the United States will actively oppose such a 
declaration. If Israel were to take a unilateral action in defiance of 
Oslo, the Palestinians would express outrage over the violations. The 
Palestinians view themselves as different however. Such a move by the 
Palestinians cannot be allowed. The final political status of the 
Palestinians can only be determined through bilateral negotiation and 
agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, not by a 
unilateral act in defiance of the very agreement the Palestinians 
signed with Israel.
  Mr. President, my colleagues and I are serious. The Administration 
must understand that such a move by the Palestinians is an insult to 
all those who were patient in light of all of the Palestinian 
violations of the peace. Moreover, the Administration in legitimizing 
these acts, would be humiliating Israel which is the only true 
democracy in the Middle East and our close ally. The Administration's 
confusion on the issue in recent months has not helped matters and the 
extension of diplomatic recognition would severely harm the U.S. 
ability to act as an impartial mediator between the two parties. Simply 
put, U.S. recognition of a Palestinian declaration of statehood would 
be the acceptance and acquiescence of the Palestinians' violation of 
its commitments under Oslo. We would be rewarding them for their 
flagrant violations of the Peace Process. This would be an error of 
historical proportion. I can only hope we do not make this mistake.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and 
urge its speedy passage.

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