[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 346--EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
   INTERPRETIVE NOTICE REGARDING LABELING ISRAELI PRODUCTS AND GOODS 
    MANUFACTURED IN THE WEST BANK AND OTHER AREAS, AS SUCH ACTIONS 
            UNDERMINE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS

  Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Risch) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 346

       Whereas the United States supports a negotiated solution to 
     the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states, a 
     democratic, Jewish State of Israel and a viable, democratic 
     Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, security, 
     and mutual recognition;
       Whereas a true and lasting peace between Israel and the 
     Palestinians can only be established through direct 
     negotiations regarding outstanding issues between Israel and 
     the recognized leadership of the Palestinian people, the 
     Palestinian Authority;
       Whereas a true and lasting peace between Israel and the 
     Palestinians is in the national security interests of the 
     United States and necessary to ensure the safety and security 
     of Israel;
       Whereas the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions 
     (BDS) movement has called on the European Commission to go 
     beyond labeling guidelines and implement a ban on the import 
     of products of Israeli companies that operate in the West 
     Bank and other areas;
       Whereas politically motivated acts of boycott, divestment 
     from, and sanctions against Israel represent a concerted 
     effort to extract concessions from Israel outside of direct 
     negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and 
     undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution;
       Whereas the United States has long opposed efforts to 
     impose solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict outside 
     of direct negotiations between the two parties;
       Whereas the United States has historically been at the 
     forefront of combating economic pressure against Israel and 
     has enacted legislation to counter both the Arab League 
     Boycott of Israel and the BDS movement;
       Whereas one-sided actions, such as singling out Israeli 
     products, serves to encourage and prompt consumers to boycott 
     Israeli products and goods manufactured in the West Bank and 
     other areas;
       Whereas section 102(b) of the Bipartisan Congressional 
     Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (title I of 
     Public Law 114-26; 19 U.S.C. 4201(b)) states that the United 
     States should discourage potential trading partners from 
     adopting policies to limit trade or investment relations with 
     Israel when negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and 
     Investment Partnership with European countries;
       Whereas the United States and the European Union have 
     historically worked in coordination to bring an end to the 
     Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and
       Whereas multiple Untied States legislatures have enacted 
     measures to confront politically motivated acts of boycott, 
     divestment from, and sanctions against Israel, including 
     Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, and New York: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses opposition to the European Commission 
     interpretive notice regarding labeling Israeli products and 
     goods manufactured in the West Bank and other areas, as such 
     actions undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated Israeli-
     Palestinian peace process;
       (2) opposes politically motivated acts of boycott, 
     divestment from, and sanctions against Israel or Israeli-
     controlled territory;
       (3) calls upon the European Commission, the Council of the 
     European Union, and the European Parliament to oppose any 
     boycott, divestment, or sanctions initiatives aimed at 
     singling out Israel, to refrain from actions 
     counterproductive to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian 
     conflict, and to work on bringing the parties back to the 
     negotiating table;
       (4) encourages European Union member states to exert 
     prudence in the implementation of the European Union labeling 
     guidelines regarding Israeli products and goods manufactured 
     in the West Bank and other areas;
       (5) urges the President to increase the use of the voice, 
     vote, and influence of the United States in international 
     organizations and other appropriate international forums to 
     actively oppose politically motivated acts of boycott, 
     divestment from, and sanctions against Israel;
       (6) supports efforts by United States State legislatures to 
     enact measures that oppose politically motivated acts of 
     boycott, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel; and
       (7) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated solution 
     to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states, 
     a democratic, Jewish State of Israel and a viable, democratic 
     Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, security, 
     and mutual recognition.

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