[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3912-H3913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING ROBUST RELATIONS WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL BILATERALLY AND IN
MULTILATERAL FORA UPON SEVENTY YEARS OF STATEHOOD
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 835) supporting robust
relations with the State of Israel bilaterally and in multilateral fora
upon seventy years of statehood, and for other purposes, and ask for
its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 835
Whereas May 14, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of the
establishment of the State of Israel;
Whereas May 11, 2018, marks the 69th anniversary of
Israel's membership in the United Nations;
Whereas on May 14, 1948, the United States officially
recognized Israel as a state;
Whereas Israel offers invaluable contributions to the
international community, including to the fields of start-up
economies, entrepreneurship, cyber security, military
weaponry, counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, airport
security, agriculture, water management, arid-zone farming,
medical advances, natural gas, and other technologies;
Whereas in 2000, with the support of the United States
Government, Israel was accepted into the Western European and
Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations headquarters in New
York, and its membership became permanent in 2004;
Whereas in 2013 Israel also became a member of WEOG at the
United Nations bodies in Geneva;
Whereas WEOG membership made possible the election for
2016-17 of Israel's Ambassador as the chair of the Sixth
(Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, and in 2017,
Israel's election to the Executive Board of the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women (UN Women);
Whereas in May 2017, Israel was elected as one of the Vice-
Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly;
Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel maximizes
security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region,
increases regional stability and builds confidence with
respect to peace negotiations;
Whereas Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 158
nations and retains 79 resident embassies, 22 consulates
general, and 6 special missions globally;
Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the
United States, members of the European Union, members of the
European Free Trade Association, Canada, Turkey, the Czech
Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Mexico,
Romania, Bulgaria, and Jordan;
Whereas in 1989, the United States Government designated
Israel as a major non-NATO ally;
Whereas in 2014, the United States Government designated
Israel as a ``major strategic partner'';
Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-
year memoranda of understanding, in which the United States
committed to provide $26,700,000,000 between fiscal year 1999
and fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000,000 between fiscal year
2009 and fiscal year 2018, and $38,000,000,000 between fiscal
year 2019 and fiscal year 2028;
Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance
with such memoranda of understanding, reflecting the two
countries' shared priorities in the region and the strength
of United States support for maintaining Israel's qualitative
military edge; and
Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the
community of nations benefits both Israel and the United
States, and allies who share common values and promote
democratic stability throughout the world: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) celebrates the 70th anniversary of the establishment of
the State of Israel;
(2) encourages equitable treatment of Israel in
international fora;
(3) urges United Nations member states to support Israel's
candidacy for the United Nations Security Council;
(4) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the state of
Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all United
States allies and from governments across the globe; and
(5) reiterates its support for a negotiated settlement
leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the
democratic, Jewish
[[Page H3913]]
state of Israel and a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian
state living side-by-side in peace and security.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce of California
Mr. ROYCE of California. I have an amendment to the text at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) encourages equitable treatment of Israel in
international fora;
(2) urges United Nations member states to support Israel's
future candidacy for the United Nations Security Council;
(3) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the state of
Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all United
States allies and from governments across the globe; and
(4) reiterates its support for a negotiated settlement
leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the
democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized,
democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and
security.
Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Royce of California
Mr. ROYCE of California. I have an amendment to the preamble at the
desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas May 14, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of the
establishment of the State of Israel;
Whereas May 11, 2018, marks the 69th anniversary of
Israel's membership in the United Nations;
Whereas on May 14, 1948, the United States officially
recognized Israel as a state;
Whereas Israel offers invaluable contributions to the
international community, including to the fields of start-up
economies, entrepreneurship, cyber security, military
weaponry, counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, airport
security, agriculture, water management, arid-zone farming,
medical advances, natural gas, and other technologies;
Whereas in 2000, with the support of the United States
Government, Israel was accepted into the Western European and
Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations headquarters in New
York, and its membership became permanent in 2004;
Whereas in 2013 Israel also became a member of WEOG at the
United Nations bodies in Geneva;
Whereas WEOG membership made possible the election for
2016-17 of Israel's Ambassador as the chair of the Sixth
(Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, and in 2017,
Israel's election to the Executive Board of the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women (UN Women);
Whereas in May 2017, Israel was elected as one of the Vice-
Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly;
Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel maximizes
security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region,
increases regional stability and builds confidence with
respect to peace negotiations;
Whereas Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 158
nations and retains 79 resident embassies, 22 consulates
general, and 6 special missions globally;
Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the
United States, members of the European Union, members of the
European Free Trade Association, Canada, Turkey, the Czech
Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Mexico,
Romania, Bulgaria, and Jordan;
Whereas Israel has been designated by the United States
Government as a major non-NATO ally;
Whereas in 2014, the United States Government designated
Israel as a ``major strategic partner'';
Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-
year memoranda of understanding, in which the United States
committed to provide $26,700,000,000 between fiscal year 1999
and fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000,000 between fiscal year
2009 and fiscal year 2018, and $38,000,000,000 between fiscal
year 2019 and fiscal year 2028;
Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance
with such memoranda of understanding, reflecting the two
countries' shared priorities in the region and the strength
of United States support for maintaining Israel's qualitative
military edge; and
Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the
community of nations benefits both Israel and the United
States, and allies who share common values and promote
democratic stability throughout the world: Now, therefore, be
it
Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________