[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11757-S11758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 321--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
                   ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hagel, Mr. 
Akaka, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Brown, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Burr, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mr. Casey, Mr. Craig, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Harkin, 
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. 
Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lott, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Reed, Ms. Snowe, 
Mr. Sununu, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Mr. 
Smith, Mr. Specter, Mrs. Murray, and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 321

       Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated 
     the State of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza since September 
     2000 is in the vital interests of the United States, Israel, 
     and the Palestinian people;
       Whereas the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict 
     strengthens extremists and opponents of peace throughout the 
     region;
       Whereas more than 7 years of violence, terror, and military 
     engagement have demonstrated that armed force alone will not 
     solve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute;
       Whereas the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want 
     to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict and 
     live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity, and security, 
     based on a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace;
       Whereas on May 24, 2006, addressing a Joint Session of the 
     United States Congress, Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert 
     reiterated the Government of Israel's position that ``In a 
     few years, [the Palestinians] could be living in a 
     Palestinian state, side by side in peace and security with 
     Israel, a Palestinian state which Israel and the 
     international community would help thrive'';
       Whereas, in his speech before the Palestinian Legislative 
     Council on February 18, 2006, Palestinian Authority President 
     Mahmoud Abbas said, ``We are confident that there is no 
     military solution to the conflict. Negotiations between us as 
     equal partners should put a long-due end to the cycle of 
     violence . . . Let us live in two neighboring states'';
       Whereas, in June 2002, the President of the United States 
     presented his vision of ``two states, living side by side in 
     peace and security'', and has since repeatedly reaffirmed 
     this position;
       Whereas events of the past 18 months, including the victory 
     of Hamas in Palestinian legislative elections, the continued 
     firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel, and the escalating 
     intra-Palestinian violence and chaos, culminating in the June 
     2007 brutal takeover of Gaza by Hamas, make the achievement 
     of President Bush's vision even more difficult;
       Whereas, on June 27, 2007, the Quartet (the United States, 
     Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations) appointed 
     former British Prime Minister Tony Blair special envoy to the 
     Middle East with a focus on mobilizing assistance to the 
     Palestinians and promoting economic development and 
     institutional governance;
       Whereas a robust and high-level American diplomatic 
     presence on the ground is critical to bringing Israelis and 
     Palestinians together to make the tough decisions necessary 
     to achieving a permanent resolution to the conflict;
       Whereas June 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the Six-
     Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states;
       Whereas all parties should use the occasion of this 
     anniversary to redouble their efforts to achieve peace; and
       Whereas achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace could have 
     significant positive impacts on security and stability in the 
     region: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms its commitment to a true and lasting solution 
     to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the 
     establishment of 2 states, the State of Israel and Palestine, 
     living side by side in peace and security, and with 
     recognized borders;
       (2) denounces the use of violence and terror and reaffirms 
     its unwavering commitment to Israel's security;

[[Page S11758]]

       (3) calls on President Bush to pursue a robust diplomatic 
     effort to engage the State of Israel and the Palestinian 
     Authority, begin negotiations, and make a 2-state settlement 
     a top priority;
       (4) urges President Bush to consider appointing as Special 
     Envoy for Middle East Peace an individual who has held 
     cabinet rank or someone equally qualified, with an extensive 
     knowledge of foreign affairs generally and the Middle East 
     region in particular;
       (5) calls on Hamas to recognize the State of Israel's right 
     to exist, to renounce and end all terror and incitement, and 
     to accept past agreements and obligations with the State of 
     Israel;
       (6) calls on moderate Arab states in the region to 
     intensify their diplomatic efforts toward a 2-state solution 
     and welcomes the Arab League Peace Initiative; and
       (7) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to embrace 
     efforts to achieve peace and refrain from taking any actions 
     that would prejudice the outcome of final status 
     negotiations.

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