[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H292-H299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FOR HOLDING FREE AND FAIR PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 56) commending the Palestinian people for
conducting a free and fair presidential election on January 9, 2005,
and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 56
Whereas on January 9, 2005, the Palestinian people elected
Mahmoud Abbas as the second President of the Palestinian
Authority;
Whereas this election has been hailed as free and fair and
is an important and noteworthy step in advancing democracy in
the Arab world;
Whereas Israel should be commended for facilitating the
Palestinian election proceedings;
Whereas the United States is hopeful that a peaceful
resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be
achieved;
Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the
security of Israel and its well-being as a Jewish state; and
Whereas on June 24, 2002, President George W. Bush
expressed his vision of two states living side by side in
peace and security and that vision can only be fully realized
when terrorism is defeated, so that a new state
[[Page H293]]
may be created based on the rule of law and respect for human
rights: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Palestinian people for conducting a free
and fair presidential election on January 9, 2005;
(2) congratulates the new Palestinian President, Mahmoud
Abbas;
(3) urges the new Palestinian leadership to continue to
advance democratic ideals by reforming the Palestinian
political structure, advancing human rights, and ending
corruption;
(4) strongly condemns terrorism and urges President Mahmoud
Abbas, who has previously disavowed terrorism, to immediately
take steps to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist
infrastructure, confiscate unauthorized weapons, arrest and
bring terrorists to justice, consolidate and control the many
Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to
violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational
institutions, mosques, and other institutions;
(5) urges Arab states to take active steps to encourage and
assist the Palestinian Authority in bringing an end to
terrorism and an end to anti-Israel incitement in their own
media; and
(6) encourages all interested parties to take advantage of
this historic opportunity to remove obstacles to achieving a
lasting peace in the Middle East.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Today I rise in support of House Resolution 56, introduced by the
House leadership, commending the Palestinian people for holding recent
elections. This resolution is a reflection of our support for President
Bush when he stated, ``The United States stands ready to help the
Palestinian people realize their aspirations.''
The onus is on the Palestinian leadership to demonstrate that they
are committed to moving peace forward by bringing an end to Palestinian
terrorism. The election of Abu Mazen is a hopeful first step. Eight
hundred international observers monitored the recent Palestinian
presidential elections and agreed that the will of the Palestinians was
adequately expressed. Palestinians from all walks of life participated
in the elections, representing approximately 70 percent of eligible
voters.
The Palestinian Central Election Commission has been recognized for
facilitating a process whereby Palestinians could vote in a positive
voting atmosphere. Commission representatives trained more than 16,000
electoral officials to staff the 2,800 polling sites throughout the
West Bank and Gaza and conducted their operations in a professional
way.
The Palestinian presidential election of January 9 of this year and
the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for this July represent
an opportunity for Palestinians to affirm their desire to end the
violence and to forge a government that can respond to their needs.
We are guardedly optimistic about Abu Mazen's recent decision to ban
the use of unregistered weapons by civilians.
We wish the new Palestinian leadership success in achieving a lasting
peace and a prosperous future for both the Israeli and the Palestinian
people and in building transparent institutions accountable to the
Palestinian people.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the leadership for bringing this resolution to
the floor today, and I ask my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 56, and I want to commend
the bipartisan leadership for introducing this important resolution. I
also want to commend the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen)
for her leadership on this issue.
I fully endorse the message of this resolution. The Palestinian
people deserve our commendation for conducting a free and fair election
and for electing as their leader a man who has spoken out against the
use of violence.
{time} 1030
I salute Mahmoud Abbas for opposing the intifada. Far too few
Palestinians have had the courage to do so.
The change of Palestinian leadership has had a salutary effect on
peace prospects. I am encouraged by recent steps taken by both Israel
and the Palestinians, steps that have reduced the level of violence. I
share the optimism of many that, for the first time in years, we now
may have an opportunity to make real progress toward peace.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is desirable that this body welcome and
contribute to the improved atmosphere between the parties. This
resolution is an entirely appropriate way to do so. But what I would
not want this body to do is to contribute to unrealistically high
expectations. In that regard, I would like to make two points which
bear on the subject of the resolution before us.
First of all, I respect the good intentions of the new president of
the Palestinian Authority. I first met with Mr. Abbas in Ramala on the
eve of his becoming Prime Minister some 2 years ago, and he emphasized
to me his commitment to peace. But good intentions and commitment will
not be enough to assure his success as a leader. In fact, they are
barely enough to get him off the starting block.
To succeed, Mahmoud Abbas will have to show backbone that,
unfortunately, he has not revealed in his previous high-level
positions. As the resolution correctly suggests, he will have to take
immediate and significant steps to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist
infrastructure. He needs to confiscate unauthorized weapons. He needs
to arrest and bring to justice the terrorists who have engaged in so
much violent activity. He needs to consolidate and take charge of all
Palestinian security organizations, and he needs to end anti-Israeli
and anti-Semitic incitement in the Palestinian media, schools, mosques,
and all other institutions.
Mr. Abbas is an intelligent man, and he surely knows that, in the
long run, there is no such thing as a cease-fire with terrorists. He
will control and defeat the terrorists, or he will be controlled and
defeated by them. I am hopeful that he will be up to the task. I think
he knows that, as the leader, he does not have the option of giving in
to frustration and just walking away, as he did during the Camp David
negotiations in 2000 and during his brief stint as Arafat's Prime
Minister.
Although the incidence of violence has declined in recent weeks, the
infrastructure of terrorism has, in many ways, grown stronger and more
sophisticated. Kassam rockets that threaten Israeli civilians inside
and near the Gaza Strip are becoming more accurate and gaining greater
distance. In my travels to the region, I have discovered that Iran and
Hezbollah are increasingly engaged with Palestinian terrorists.
Mr. Speaker, I think we must also keep in mind that there is no moral
equivalence in the use of violence in this struggle. The Israelis have
no interest in violence for the sake of violence but, unfortunately,
some Palestinians do. If the current lull in violence breaks down, I am
certain it will be because Abu Mazen could not control Palestinian
terrorism.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, we need to be realistic about the current
state of the peace process and Israeli-Palestinian relations. The
Israeli government which, since Prime Minister Sharon's recent
coalition agreement with Labor Party leader Shimon Peres, now includes
Israel's two largest parties, is preparing to take an historic action.
In fact, it is the boldest, most creative act in the peace process
since the outbreak of the intifada in September, 2000. The government
of Israel is preparing to redeploy its forces from the Gaza Strip and
to dismantle all of its Gaza settlements. This unprecedented action
will pave the way for the Palestinians to govern their own contiguous
territory and to demonstrate their ability to establish a free and
orderly society.
[[Page H294]]
Mr. Speaker, I fully identify myself with the hope and belief
expressed in this resolution that a lasting peace in the Middle East is
achievable and that we now have an opportunity to take steps in that
direction. But we must be realistic about the time frame. Israel's
decision to redeploy from Gaza is politically courageous, but it is
also politically dangerous and difficult. The overwhelming majority of
Israelis support it, and I fully expect it to be accomplished by the
latter half of this year, as scheduled. But it will not be easy.
Then, once Israel does redeploy, the onus will be on the Palestinians
to prove that they have what it takes to run the equivalent of a state.
If and when they do so, I am certain both sides will move with dispatch
toward a final settlement. But that agreement is certainly not going to
be achieved in the next few months or even in the next year. It would
be unfair to the parties to place on them such a burden of expectation.
For now, let us be content that both sides are taking significant steps
to create a beginning, and let us remember that it is only a beginning.
With those thoughts as context, Mr. Speaker, I would like once again
to congratulate the Palestinians on their ably-conducted election. I
support H. Res. 56, and I call on all of my colleagues to do likewise.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), a member of
our Committee on International Relations and an original sponsor of
this legislation.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for
yielding me this time and, more importantly, for her extraordinary and
consistent leadership as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle
East and Central Asia.
I also want to commend the leadership in the Congress of the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) and the gentleman from Maryland
(Mr. Hoyer) for bringing this measure forward. As ever, I was deeply
moved by the courage and candor of the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) who preceded me and who continues to be the lone star for those
of us in this Congress and in this country who cherish the dream that
is Israel. It is a privilege to follow him in this discussion today.
I rise in strong support, Mr. Speaker, of H. Res. 56. Like millions
of Bible-believing Christians, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and
that refers specifically to all of the people of this torn region.
So, with the election of the second President of the Palestinian
Authority, it is altogether fitting that this Congress commend the
Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election
on 9 January, 2005, and, in so doing, congratulating the new
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, for his achievement and his
leadership as H. Res. 56 does.
It is also altogether fitting, though, that in the same breath as
this Congress, on behalf of the people of the United States, speaks a
word of encouragement to the people of the Palestinian Authority and
its new leader, we must also be willing to speak truth. And in this
bipartisan measure, the American people, through this body, do just
that, Mr. Speaker. In this resolution, the House of Representatives
also will strongly condemn terrorism and urge President Mahmoud Abbas,
who has happily previously disavowed terrorism, to immediately take
steps to dismantle Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, to confiscate
unauthorized weapons, arrest and bring terrorists to justice,
consolidate and control the many Palestinian security organizations,
and end the incitement of violence and hatred in the Palestinian media,
educational institutions, mosques, and other institutions.
It may seem somewhat impolitic in what some may have expected from
this Congress to have been a greeting card of congratulations to the
new President of the Palestinian Authority to bring these matters up,
but as this Congress in the very near future, I suspect, Mr. Speaker,
will begin to talk about asking the American people to expand our
participation in this region of the world, to expand our partnership
with the Palestinian Authority, it is altogether fitting that we begin
that discussion by expressing the expectations of the American people
that the new leadership of the Palestinian Authority be about the rule
of law and be about confronting terrorism within their own jurisdiction
in the ways enumerated in H. Res. 56.
There can be no more important message that we send at such a time as
this, a season of opportunity, as the gentlewoman from Florida
(Chairman Ros-Lehtinen) described, a season of hope that we describe
for the new leadership of the Palestinian Authority what attaches to
that hope for the people of the United States who long for the peace
and stability and democratic institutions of the people of Israel and
the Palestinian people so richly deserve.
Mr. Speaker, the Old Testament promises, ``Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy comes in the morning.'' For too many nights, Israeli and
Palestinian families have wept for their loved ones who have fallen
prey to the mindless violence that has sprung from terrorists within
the Palestinian Authority. This resolution today is about expressing
the profound hope of the American people that a morning of joy has
come. With the election of President Mahmoud Abbas, the election of a
new leader for the Palestinian people, we are come upon that new day of
hope, and we will rise today as a Congress in bipartisan fashion to
express that hope, with congratulations, but also with the truth, that
there must be results and leadership that lead to peace and justice in
the region for all of the people.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I am so pleased that he
singled out the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) who, as all of
us know, recently led a delegation to Auschwitz where we commemorated
the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos) is a Holocaust survivor who lost family members
in this horrible tragedy, and we thank him for his leadership in the
House throughout the years.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank both of my colleagues for
their extremely generous and kind remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), my good friend who has been fighting for
peace in that region ever since she came to this body and before.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Ranking Member for
yielding me this time.
There are many accolades that we might share regarding the gentleman
from California (Mr. Lantos) and, I might say, his wife and family, but
I thank him for the steady hand and the steady interest and the
persistence which has brought us to where we are today.
{time} 1045
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and my colleagues for
putting before this body H. Res. 56 to applaud what I consider to be
the next opportunity, the next life-changing experience for those
people who have worked, died, and prayed for peace in the Mid East.
I do want to acknowledge the election of Mahmoud Abbas and to say
that I too had an opportunity to meet him in the West Bank just about 2
years ago with a number of my colleagues. His dream, I believe, has now
come to reality where he is able to lead the region toward full peace.
He can declare opposition in the war on terrorism and the terrorist
acts that have been going on. And the Israeli people can embrace their
dreams, as I heard from so many of them, desiring to live side by side
in peace with the Palestinian people.
Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge my friends and constituents in
Houston, strong Palestinians who have come to me with both prayer and
petition to ask for intervention and efforts on behalf of Palestinians
in the Mid East. They too need to be applauded, as do my friends in the
Jewish community who have recognized the importance of the survival of
Israel and the standing
[[Page H295]]
alongside of each of those two extremely productive and contributing
nations.
I had about 2 years ago the opportunity to co-chair the Partners For
Peace. We met in Oslo, Norway. We met with women from Israel and the
PLO. And I was gratified even in the emotional charge of that session,
women crying and outpouring of their hearts talking about the loss of
their children, the violence, and sometimes the anger. We came away
from there with one single challenge, to make sure that our voices
would continue to be raised for peace in the Mid East.
This election as now allowed gives the opportunity to see the light
at the end of the tunnel, to see the sun rising and not setting.
I also recognize that it will be upon us, the United States, to be
able to take a sledge hammer to those crumbling refugee camps. It is
now time for us to rebuild Palestine, to be able to have it look as we
would want people to be able to live and to be educated and to worship.
So I hope the world family will join with humanitarian aid to this new
fledgling nation so we can build schools and we can build hospitals and
that we can build institutions that will last, so we can build housing,
that they will not have to live amidst the rubble.
This resolution on behalf of this Congress is a wonderful first step
to acknowledge what has happened and also to bring about the free
peaceful existence between Palestine and Israel. I hope that we will be
part of the solution and not part of the problem. God bless all of
those who have worked so hard for peace.
I rise as a strong supporter of H. Res. 56 which commends the
Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election
on January 9, 2005. The elections held in the Palestinian Territories
are a historic occasion upon which we can build the specter of a
comprehensive Middle East peace plan. I want to congratulate Mahmoud
Abbas on his election victory in becoming the President of the
Palestinian Authority. I also want to thank him for his public service
at this vital and momentous time in the history of the Palestinian
people.
The two state solution represents the only possible peace plan that
can be acceptable and viable for the nation of Israel and the
Palestinian people. The Palestinian elections of January 9, 2005
represent the first step in the process towards a comprehensive peace
agreement. With this new leadership the Palestinian people will be able
to find stability and build their national infrastructure. However,
President Abbas's first task will be to take steps to dismantle the
Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, confiscate unauthorized weapons,
arrest and bring terrorists to justice, consolidate and control the
many Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to
violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational institutions,
mosques, and other institutions as this resolution calls for.
Certainly, this task will not be easy and its resolution will not come
quickly, but we as a nation must support the Palestinian people as they
stand determined and ready to build a free and peaceful nation.
If history in the Middle East has taught us anything, we know that
the United States must be an active and honest broker between the
Palestinians and the Israelis in moving towards a comprehensive peace
agreement. I urge the Bush Administration to not relinquish this
opportunity to achieve a lasting peace that can forever change the face
of the Middle East. The War in Iraq has lowered our diplomatic and
public standing around the world, but we have especially done poorly in
the Middle East. People in the region do not trust our nation, nor do
they trust our intentions. They may watch our television, listen to our
music and eat our food, but they still have no love for our nation
because of our actions in the Middle East that are being viewed as
aggressive. Bringing the Israelis and the Palestinians together
represents the best opportunity to show the people of the Middle East
and the world that we can heal the rifts that divide us, instead of
inflaming them. Militant Islamic organizations throughout the world
continue to use the plight of the Palestinian people as one of their
main recruiting tools to incite hatred and distrust of the United
States. We have the ability to strike a blow at these terrorist
organizations if this Administration can seize the opportunity.
This resolution also encourages all interested parties to take
advantage of this historic opportunity to remove obstacles to achieving
a lasting peace in the Middle East. On this front, I am pleased to
report that Egypt has offered to host an Israeli-Palestinian summit
next week, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has accepted the
invitation. I want to thank the nation of Egypt for taking this
important step towards achieving a comprehensive peace agreement. Egypt
has served as a key regional ally which has long taken active steps
towards achieving peace in the Middle East. This summit will give the
Israelis and the Palestinians the chance to meet face to face and
negotiate terms to bring relative peace and stability to their people.
Once these key objectives are met then a comprehensive agreement is
possible. Already, since the election of President Abbas, armed groups
in the Palestinian Territories have openly talked about halting attacks
on the Israeli people.
No doubt there will be setbacks on the both sides as we have already
witnessed too often, but now unlike in the past we must show extra
resolve to achieve a lasting peace. Again, I urge the Bush
Administration to take an active role in bringing the Israeli and
Palestinian people together and not losing this opportunity. As we have
seen in the past, these opportunities are fleeting, but their potential
for a lasting peace is too great to take for granted. We must take all
necessary steps to achieve peace now not only for the Israeli and
Palestinian children who will inherit the Middle East, but for our own
children as well who will inherit the world that we have shaped.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California, (Mrs. Capps).
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend for yielding
me this time.
Mr. Speaker, January 9 was an important and historic day. For many
Palestinians it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. They went to the polls
and elected a new president in a contested, free, and fair election.
The Palestinian election was a milestone not only for the Palestinian
people but for the safety of Israel and for our own national security
as well.
I was privileged to witness this remarkable event with my own eyes.
From 5:30 in the morning until nearly midnight I traveled in and around
Bethlehem in my capacity as an election observer for the mission co-
sponsored by the National Democratic Institute and the Carter Center.
Let me first take a moment and commend President Carter, Governor
Christie Todd Whitman, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, and
NDI President Ken Wollack for leading our delegation and the 80
participants from 16 different nations who did a remarkable job. With a
few exceptions, what I observed in Bethlehem held true across the West
Bank and Gaza. The balloting process was exceptionally well organized,
in part because nearly 14,000 public school teachers were deployed as
election officials.
The Israeli Government did a good job facilitating freedom of
movement in the territories. There was little violence. In fact, an
almost reverential quiet enveloped the polling places. It was truly
moving to see Palestinian people, young and old, embracing this
democratic exercise with such purpose and resolve.
Mr. Speaker, Israelis and Americans should welcome the choice of the
Palestinian people. Abu Mazen is a proven leader with a long track
record of negotiating for peace. He is off to a decent start. Abu Mazen
cannot prevent terrorism overnight, neither can we; but he has already
sent a strong and successful message to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to
halt the attacks. His security forces have deployed in Gaza. He has
unequivocally condemned terrorism.
Prime Minister Sharon's response to the new President has been
commendable. Israeli and Palestinian security officials and top
negotiators have been meeting. Sharon has praised Abu Mazen's efforts
and will meet with him shortly. Despite fierce opposition from the
settler movement, Sharon is sticking firmly to his plan to withdraw
from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Fragile as it may be, a new flame
of hope and optimism has been kindled in the Mid East.
That is why I am pleased that the House bipartisan leadership has
brought a resolution to the floor today. The bill commends the
Palestinians for conducting the elections, congratulates Abu Mazen on
his victory, and encourages both sides to take steps toward peace.
Mr. Speaker, last night a similar resolution was passed in the other
body that I had hoped the House could adopt as well. The language of
the Senate resolution is more comprehensive and
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balanced and lays out a bolder diplomatic vision to achieve Israeli-
Palestinian peace. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that both Houses of
Congress are on record commending the Palestinian people and their new
President. Let us all commit ourselves to seizing this historic
opportunity and hastening the day when Israelis and Palestinians will
live side by side in peace.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the chief deputy whip.
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my congratulations to the
Palestinian people who recently elected Mahmoud Abbas as the new
President of the Palestinian Authority.
Mr. Abbas has been given a historic opportunity to alter the
direction of the Palestinian leadership from one of terror under Yasser
Arafat to one of peace. It is critical that Mr. Abbas capitalize on
this opportunity to deal with Israel which has long been searching for
a partner in peace and not revert to the terrorist ways of his
predecessor.
Accomplishing this goal will not be easy. Mr. Abbas must actively
work to dismantle the terrorist organizations that plagued the hopes of
the Palestinian people, using all means of force if necessary. He must
recognize and acknowledge that no progress towards peace can be made
until the terrorist organizations that operate freely amongst the
Palestinian population stop the killing of innocent men, women, and
children on the streets of Israel.
Mr. Abbas must end incitement against Israel. Only by ending the
multi-generational hate can the Palestinian Authority begin the painful
path towards peace. The task that stands before Mr. Abbas may seem
daunting, but these are crucial steps towards improving the life of the
Palestinian people. We cannot afford to return to Palestinian
leadership that one day disavows terror and the next day stands
shoulder to shoulder with the terrorist organizations that carry out
murder. This double standard is unacceptable.
Again, I congratulate Mr. Abbas and encourage him to tackle these
problems head on and avail himself of this historic opportunity to work
with the Israeli Government to improve the lives of the Palestinian
people.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Cardin), my good friend and distinguished colleague.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) for bringing forward this resolution. I particularly want to
acknowledge the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and his
extraordinary leadership on human rights issues in this body and thank
him for his continued commitment in the Middle East. I also want to
thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) and the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for sponsoring this resolution.
I had the opportunity to travel with our distinguished whips in
December to Israel and the West Bank and talk to the leaders in that
region. We all have reason to be optimistic with the election of Mr.
Abbas. We urge him to continue not only to speak out against violence
but to take action to control the terrorists in that region.
I also want to congratulate Mr. Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel,
for his disengagement, commitment in withdrawing from the Gaza and
parts of the West Bank. He is showing real leadership and commitment in
that area.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution speaks to the commitment of this country
to continue to be an active leader for peace in the Middle East. We
know it is important not only for that region but for U.S. interests as
well, and I congratulate all that are responsible for bringing this
resolution forward today.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos) has 4\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is significant that within the recent past, three
areas in the Middle East have succeeded in holding free and open
elections, some of them under the most difficult and dangerous
circumstances. We applaud the people of Afghanistan, who not long ago
suffered under the horrific yoke of the Taliban, for organizing and
conducting free and open elections. And I particularly want to
recognize the fact that this took place with the full participation of
the women of Afghanistan.
We in this resolution are commending the Palestinian people, who have
lived under an undemocratic regime for too long, for organizing and
conducting fair and open elections. And, of course, this past weekend
we were all thrilled as we were watching our television screens seeing
the courage of the Iraqi people under the most brutal and bloody
threats go to the polls and exercise their right to select their own
leaders. These are very encouraging signs. And it is highly appropriate
for the United States to take the lead in underscoring the obvious,
that just as in every other part of the globe we have led, assisted,
and cleared the coming of free and open elections, at long last we are
doing so in the Middle East and adjacent territories.
So, Mr. Speaker, I believe our resolution is more than appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has
1\1/2\ minutes.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) is
recognized for 3\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to join my colleagues and friend,
the majority whip, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), who I
presume has already spoken, in urging Members on both sides of the
aisle in supporting this important bipartisan resolution that we have
offered.
Over the last half century, the Members of this body have seldom had
occasion to commend those on the Palestinian side whose cause, in my
opinion, was hijacked by a leadership that preached death and
destruction rather than reconciliation and peace. But today we would be
remiss if we did not do so.
Three weeks ago on January 9 an estimated 70 percent of the 1.1
million registered Palestinian voters turned out to cast their ballots
in an election that was declared fair by most international observers.
{time} 1100
This strong turnout, in my judgment, not only reflects the universal
appeal of democracy but also the human heart's yearning for freedom and
self-determination.
This resolution commends the Palestinian people for conducting a free
and fair election and congratulates the new Palestinian President,
Mahmoud Abbas, who has previously disavowed terrorist activity and
recently earned the praise of Israel for deploying more Palestinian
security forces in Gaza to try to halt rocket and mortar attacks on
Israeli citizens.
Among other provisions, this resolution urges the new Palestinian
leadership to advance democratic ideals by reforming its political
structure, advancing human rights and ending corruption.
It strongly condemns terrorism and urges President Abbas to
immediately take steps to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist
infrastructure, to bring terrorists to justice, and to end the
incitement of hatred in the Palestinian media, schools, mosques, and
other institutions.
It restates our Nation's strong commitment to and support, unwavering
support, for the State of Israel.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me say that the election of President Abbas
is an important opportunity and could prove to be an historical turning
point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel has made repeated overtures over its history in an effort to
speak peace, and, today, it continues to move forward with its
withdrawal plan in the Gaza strip. Tragically, over the past 5 decades
its efforts were consistently rebuffed by the Arafat-led Palestinian
leadership.
Without question, there are great challenges ahead, but the election
of President Abbas hopefully marks a new day, a day in which the
Palestinian leadership becomes a serious, committed partner, a partner
for peace in the Middle East.
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I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution. I thank the
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), a giant in the area of human
rights and supporting democratic efforts throughout the world, for his
leadership, and I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen)
for her unending efforts, in concert with the rest of us, to ensure
that this Nation stands by Israel but stands with those in the
Palestinian population who reach out for peace and partnership and a
better tomorrow for all of the people of that troubled area of the
world, and I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the additional time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the Chair of
the Committee on Rules, our good friend.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution
and congratulate my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen), and others who are involved, the gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos), my friend.
We want to extend, of course, congratulations to the Palestinian
people. It is fascinating to see that this election is all part of sort
of a regional, and really beyond the region's, success as it moves
towards political pluralism, and we obviously have seen last Sunday the
election in Iraq. We just weeks ago saw, the day after Christmas, the
election take place in Ukraine, and we now have this free election with
a new leader who offers great hope for the prospect of peace.
I also want to extend congratulations to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,
who I believe has shown strong leadership and a willingness to try and
bring about a resolution to this age-old challenge of bringing peace to
the region.
I also want to congratulate President Bush, who has encouraged this
process all along. Without getting so deeply involved in a way that he
could potentially be seen as tampering with the process, he has been a
driving force at encouraging us to get to exactly where we are.
So this resolution is a very important one, letting the world know
that there is going to be strong, bipartisan support, Democrats and
Republicans alike, in the Congress for the encouragement of this peace
process, and we all hope and pray that this now lays the groundwork for
a potential resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me the time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I have no further requests for time, but I would like to take this
opportunity to highlight and commend the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
Blunt), our majority whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the
minority whip, and all of our leadership for their efforts on this
resolution.
Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives voted to
commend the Palestinians for holding free elections on January 9, 2005.
We should congratulate the countless Palestinians who participated
nonviolently in the historic event.
However, we must also hold the newly elected President and the entire
Palestinian Authority accountable for publicly rebuking and bringing an
end to terror and incitement. Until violence has ended, the U.S. should
withhold its funding. U.S. taxpayers should know that their money is
being spent fighting terror, not supporting it.
During the last 4 years, the Palestinian Authority failed to halt
more than 22,000 attacks that killed over 1,030 Israelis. Yet, at the
same time the United States gave more than $612 million in aid to the
West Bank and Gaza. That's more U.S. aid to the Palestinians than in
the previous 25 years combined.
Sadly, the recent elections have not produced a true disarming of the
terrorists. In the 1 week following Abbas' election, terror attacks
left 8 Israelis dead and prompted Israel's Prime Minister to express
his outrage at the new Palestinian leadership for ``not lifting a
finger'' to stop violent attacks. Just yesterday, the Jewish residents
of Gush Katif were terrorized by mortar fire and a 50 kilogram
explosive device was uncovered by the Israeli army at a border crossing
in the Gaza Strip.
For many, the continuing violence is no surprise given Abbas'
election campaign, in which he not only referred to Israel as ``the
Zionist enemy,'' but said he would protect Palestinian terror groups
that use rockets and other means to attack innocent Israelis.
Yesterday, Israeli intelligence chief Aharon Ze'evi confirmed that
``the preparations for terror acts continue'' among senior Hezbollah
and Hamas leaders. And last week, Hamas won 77 council seats in a
landslide victory in Gaza municipal elections. The terror group now
controls 7 out of the 10 councils in which elections were held. In the
wake of the elections, Israeli minister Natan Sharansky has unveiled a
report documenting Palestinian incitement ``of virulent hatred of Jews
and Israel that mandates the killing of Jews as a religious
obligation.''
These recent events deserve condemnation. While the election of a
Palestinian Prime Minister may be a rare experience, the historic event
worth celebrating will be a true end to Palestinian terror. Since
Arafat was appointed chairman of the PLO in February 1969, more than 36
years of Palestinian terror have plagued Israelis and Palestinians
alike. Violence has been the one constant, and the United States should
wait until Palestinian terror ends before commending or funding an
apparatus of terror.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my
strong support of House Resolution 56.
January 9, 2005 marked a historic day for the Palestinian people.
This resolution commends the Palestinian people for holding free and
open elections and congratulates Mahmoud Abbas for being elected
President of the Palestinian Authority. This resolution also commends
Israel for its role in facilitating the election proceedings.
These elections mark a historic accomplishment for the people of
Palestine and a great opportunity for the Israel-Palestine peace
process to move forward.
The only way this can happen is for Mr. Abbas to act immediately to
end terrorism by stopping the flow of money, equipment, and recruits to
Palestinian militant groups.
Mr. Abbas has taken steps since his election to stop these groups,
but these efforts must be continued and expanded to end the terrorism
that has killed and injured thousands of Israelis and Palestinian
people.
Mr. Abbas's election provides an excellent opportunity for the
Palestinian Authority to reign in these terrorist groups and for the
Palestinian people to move beyond this violence and work with Israel to
create a lasting peace.
Mr. Speaker, I have traveled to Israel several times and know that
the Israeli Government and the Israeli people are ready and willing to
work with the Palestinians but have not had a reliable partner to
negotiate with in the past.
Mr. Abbas has the opportunity to put the Palestinian Authority's past
failures behind him and demonstrate to Israel and the United States
that he is dedicated to the peace process by stopping terrorism and
fulfilling Palestinian commitments under the roadmap.
Again, I strongly support this resolution and would like to
congratulate Mr. Abbas on his January 9th election, and I am hopeful he
will take this timely opportunity to work with Israel toward a peaceful
resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution
offered by the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Blunt and the gentleman
from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer. On January 9, the world witnessed the
peaceful expression of Palestinian national aspirations. By holding the
freest and fairest elections in the Arab world, it is clear that the
Palestinian people, like any people, want to choose their own destiny.
I hope, we all hope, that the election of Mahmoud Abbas as President
of the Palestinian Authority opens a new chapter in the pursuit of
Middle East peace. But as history has taught us, hope in the Middle
East can be fleeting, and so our hope is accompanied by trepidation. We
hope that this election will mark the beginning of a new relationship
between Israelis and Palestinians, that this change in Palestinian
leadership will enable the Palestinian Authority to take the courageous
steps required to achieve peace that we have long argued were
necessary. We hope that the change in Palestinian government will be
recognized by Israel as an opportunity to achieve for themselves the
secure Jewish, democratic state that has been their goal since
independence. We hope that our own government sees the opportunity to
again pick up the mantle of peacemaker, and support both parties in the
struggle to achieve the vision of two states, living side by side, in
peace, articulated by the President in his speech 2\1/2\ years ago.
But there is much work to be done. President Abbas faces many
challenges but first, foremost and absolutely, he has to stop terror
and the potential for its resumption. Without this step all the other
necessary reforms will be for naught. To achieve this President Abbas
must reform Palestinian security services; end incitement against
Israel; and deliver a government free of corruption and capable of
producing the economic growth and prosperity the Palestinian people are
entitled to expect. The United States can, and should, help here. I am
pleased that the supplemental that we will consider in the coming weeks
will have additional assistance for the Palestinian people. Now is the
time for U.S. leadership in support of Abu Mazen's efforts to fight
terror, reform his security services, and eliminate corruption. In the
coming weeks and months we
[[Page H298]]
will have time to judge his efforts, but bearing in mind the potential
for failure, now is the time to act in pursuit of peace.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not say a word commending
Israel for facilitating the recent elections. Prime Minister Sharon
assured me, when I was in Jerusalem last November that he would do
everything possible to ensure that Palestinians could vote, and he did.
That is the kind of leader he is, and he deserves our support and our
trust.
Mr. Speaker, it is not yet a new day and we have not yet ``turned the
corner.'' But I am certain we will be condemned by future generations
if we do not do all we can to seize this moment and the opportunity it
represents. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution but more
importantly to remember that in the coming months we will be asked to
take additional risks for peace. We should take them.
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, which
commends the Palestinian people for holding free and fair elections on
January 9. I know we all hope it will be the end of the violence that
has devastated so many families, and the beginning of the resumption of
peaceful negotiations.
The State of Israel and many, many Palestinians want this. They want
peace--to safeguard their children, to encourage economic growth, to
move towards the future with optimism and a sense of purpose. The
United States shares this hope, and must continue to actively support
these efforts. I commend President Bush for his involvement, and I hope
he will remain steadfast.
But we are not naive. We have been at such hopeful moments before. As
President Bush said last summer, there are a number of concrete actions
the Palestinians must take before they can be viewed as legitimate
partners in the path to peace.
Free elections are one step. But now newly elected Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas must do more. He must disarm
Palestinian terrorist groups--not just call on them to cease attacks on
Israelis. Abbas must do the hard work of dismantling the terrorist
organizations. He must control and consolidate the security forces that
often collaborated with terror groups. He must push for true political
and economic reform, and stop the rampant corruption. And finally, he
must truly engage Arab leaders in supporting true peace in the region.
If he does all these things, if Abbas can demonstrate by his action
that he is a serious, earnest partner in the pursuit of peace, then
there is truly cause for hope.
We have waited decades for a peace that will safeguard Israel's
security, and will bring about regional stability and prosperity. For
those who truly seek peace, who understand that there is no choice but
peace to secure the future of the Middle East, the latest developments
are encouraging.
The future of the Middle East--and the ultimate security and safety
of Israel--is at stake. The United States will maintain its commitment
to bringing the parties back to the negotiating table, but the ultimate
choice of peace is theirs to make. Chairman Abbas must not squander the
opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to his people. He must show
his willingness to make the tough choices, and take the risky path,
that separate those who truly seek peace from those who do not.
I urge unanimous adoption of this resolution. .
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, there is a very troubling development taking
shape in the security policy of the European Union concerning arms
sales to China. Briefly stated, the major European countries have
already resumed arms sales to China and now propose to terminate
altogether the long-standing embargo on arms sales that they imposed in
1989 following the Tiananmen Square massacre.
This is all part of a new ``strategic partnership'' which the
European Union proclaimed at its summit meeting with China last
December. Also reflected in the communique for that meeting is European
support for China's membership in the Missile Technology Control
Regime. The contrast with the policy of the United States Government
could not be greater. Just a few days later, the Department of State
once again imposed sanctions on several most prominent entities in
China's military industrial complex for illicit sales to Iran.
Recent public comments by European authorities seek to downplay the
significance of their new policy. They maintain that their arms sales
to China will not result in quantitative or qualitative increases. But,
this provides little assurance since the major EU member states have
already doubled their arms sales in the one year period between 2002
and 2003 to $500 million. Indeed, there are no rose-colored glasses
available that can soften the impact of this dangerous course of
action.
The development of democracy in China would be the first casualty.
Like the United States, the European Union imposed an arms embargo on
China in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square massacre. While China's
economic policies since then have provided the Chinese people with
greater choices about consumer goods, the Communist Party remains
firmly in power and permits few choices about what can be said publicly
in exercise of personal liberty. A termination of the EU arms embargo
would provide the Chinese leadership with an impressive propaganda coup
and demoralize the pro-democracy movement.
Even more disturbing, European security policy in this area appears
to be on a collision course with our country's extensive security
interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Our security posture has been the
decisive factor in ensuring regional stability and prosperity since the
end of World War II. Our military planners and commanders are already
confronting a sustained Chinese military buildup, which includes
China's deployment of some 500 short range ballistic missiles across
the Taiwan Strait and intercontinental missiles that can reach American
shores.
The statement we make in this Resolution is twofold: First, that
European policy should support the development of democracy in China,
not a military buildup, by maintaining the embargo and terminating
current sales. Second, that European armament cooperation with China is
fundamentally inconsistent not only with our security interests in
Asia, but also with transatlantic armament cooperation, which we will
be duty bound to examine in a new context given the increased risks of
diversion of sensitive U.S. military technology that naturally arise
from EU-Chinese arms cooperation.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 56 and
join my colleagues in congratulating President Mahmoud Abbas on his
election and commending the Palestinian people on their effort to
restore democracy and accountability to the Palestinian Authority.
Unfortunately, the Palestinian people suffered greatly under the
leadership of their previous President, Yasser Arafat. The Arafat
regime was plagued by severe corruption, duplicity, a lack of respect
for freedom and human rights, and worst of all a senseless campaign of
terrorism that imperiled Palestinian efforts to build a state and make
peace with Israel.
With the election of President Abbas, I hope the Palestinian people
have embarked on a new path in a much more promising direction. Already
President Abbas has made statements condemning terrorism and deployed
Palestinian patrols into the areas of Gaza that have been mounting
mortar attacks against Israeli communities. He has also begun to tamp
down on anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement in the official
Palestinian media and lay the groundwork to reduce tensions.
The path ahead is difficult. President Abbas's success will depend on
his willingness and ability to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure
of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other groups. His consolidation of power
in Gaza will be essential for the Palestinian people to constructively
take advantage of opportunity created by Israel's disengagement plan.
But he must follow a path charted with hope rather than hate, and
democracy instead of demagoguery.
The Roadmap for Peace set forth a vision of two states living side by
side in peace and security that was indefinitely delayed because of
Arafat's intransigence. Let us all hope that these elections and
President Abbas's leadership will finally be a first step back in the
right direction.
Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 56,
``Commending the Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair
presidential election on January 9, 2005.''
I find a quote from Harry Emerson Fosdick appropriate for talking
about the historic presidential elections in Palestine: ``Democracy is
based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in
ordinary people.'' Ordinary Palestinians took extraordinary steps on
January 9th and voted for a presidential candidate; this was only the
second time in their history that Palestinians have had the opportunity
to exercise the right to vote. All Palestinians must seize the
opportunity to dedicate themselves to the advancement of peace and
prosperity.
This historic window of opportunity begs for the dedication and
commitment of all parties who desire peace in the Middle East. I urge
the new Secretary of State to be a fair and balanced broker in any
future dialogue and to work tirelessly for a permanent peace.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 56.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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