[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1363-1371]
[From the U.S. 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 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

[[Page 1364]]

     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.
  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

[[Page 1365]]

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 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

[[Page 1366]]

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 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

[[Page 1367]]

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.

[[Page 1368]]

  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. 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 eight 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

[[Page 1369]]

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 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. 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.
  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 toward 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 separates those who truly seek peace from those who do not.
  I urge unanimous adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues in 
offering my congratulations to the Palestinian people on the recent 
election of Mahmoud Abbas as the second president of the Palestinian 
Authority.
  After 4 long years of terror and bloodshed, the hope for peace that 
has spread through

[[Page 1370]]

Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the last two-and-a-half 
months has been welcomed by Israelis and Palestinians. Not since the 
heady days following the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993, 
has there been this much optimism for better relations between Israel 
and the Palestinians.
  I have been encouraged by the deepening contacts between Israelis and 
Palestinians following the death of Yasser Arafat and I am hopeful that 
next week's summit in Egypt between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and 
President Abbas will lay the groundwork for cooperative planning as 
Israel prepares to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank later 
this year. Planning and coordination between Israeli and Palestinian 
security forces would improve the chance for a peaceful transition to 
Palestinian control in Gaza.
  I also hope that the election of President Abbas will finally mark a 
clear rejection of terrorism by the leadership of the Palestinian 
Authority. For too long, Yasser Arafat would say one thing to Israelis 
and Americans and another to his own people about the centrality of 
renouncing violence. President Abbas appears to understand that 
terrorism has brought only suffering to his people and that the only 
path to statehood for the Palestinian people is the path of 
negotiation.
  Although President Abbas won the presidency by a healthy margin in 
last month's election, he has no real base of political support with 
the PA, nor does he enjoy great popular support among the Palestinian 
electorate. Thus, he will need to build support by demonstrating to the 
Palestinians that he can negotiate effectively with Israel and by 
securing U.S. political and economic assistance.
  I know that the Israeli government understands the tenuousness of 
President Abbas's situation and has both sought to build confidence in 
him by easing up on security clampdowns in the territories and by 
showing restraint in not responding to a series of inflammatory 
statements by Abbas during the recent campaign.
  President Bush's request for $350 million in assistance to the 
Palestinians is an important signal that the United States also sees 
President Abbas as a serious partner in the search for peace between 
Israel and Palestinians. I share the President's vision of Israel and 
Palestine living side-by-side in peace and I am glad to see that he has 
backed up that vision with a substantial request for U.S. assistance.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 56, 
``commending the Palestinian people for holding recent elections.'' 
This resolution is a reflection of our support for the Palestinian 
people and their determination to build a viable Palestinian State 
based on freedom and empowered democratic institutions.
  I strongly support our President when he stated, ``The United States 
stands ready to help the Palestinian people realize their 
aspirations.'' The election of President Mahmoud Abbas is an 
encouraging step in that direction.
  The election of new Palestinian leadership and Labor's entry into the 
Israeli Government have changed the circumstances and expectations 
surrounding the Middle East peace process. The newly elected 
Palestinian leadership and Israel should take advantage of this 
opportunity and implement concrete steps to support the emergence of a 
viable, credible Palestinian state.
  The United States has a vital national security interest in a Middle 
East in which two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side by side 
in peace and security, based on the terms of United Nations Security 
Council Resolutions 242 and 338. A stable and peaceful Palestinian 
state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for.
  The Palestinian elections represent a vital part in that process. 
Over 800 international observers monitored the recent elections. Among 
them were 80 observers led by former President Jimmy Carter, who stated 
that,

       There is no doubt that the will of the Palestinians was 
     adequately expressed, that Abu Mazen has the support and 
     respect of his people, and that he is dedicated to the 
     peaceful pursuit of a peace agreement. . . .

  Palestinians from all walks of life participated in the Presidential 
elections, representing approximately 70 percent of eligible voters. 
Young and old, women and men, even those with serious physical 
disabilities, were determined to play their role in building a better 
future.
  The Palestinian Central Election Commission should also be commended 
for its commitment to ensure free and fair elections and 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. Every election is a learning experience, and I support the 
Palestinian Central Election Commission in its request to apply lessons 
learned from the recent presidential election to the parliamentary 
elections scheduled later this year.
  The Palestinian Presidential elections of January 9, 2005, and the 
upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled this July represent an 
historic opportunity for Palestinians to affirm their various political 
expressions and forge a government that can respond to their needs.
  It is clear the Palestinians want institutions that are transparent 
and accountable. The United States, Israel, and the rest of the 
international community should do all they can to eradicate the sources 
of extremism that undermine moderate Palestinian leadership. Such 
actions will foster democratic development among the Palestinians and 
enable their elected institutions to produce constructive results for 
its people.
  I am encouraged by Abbas' recent decision to ban the use of 
unregistered weapons by civilians. Such steps, matched by cooperation 
on the part of Israel, will assist President Abbas' determination to 
restore rule of law in the Occupied Territories.
  I congratulate President Abbas and look forward to his success in 
achieving the national aspirations of the Palestinian people and his 
role in bringing peace to the Holy Land.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution and its passage.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, free democratic elections in the Middle East 
are vital to our security and to the security of our democratic allies. 
Later today we will take up a resolution on the remarkable exercise in 
democracy in Iraq last Sunday. In fact January was a strong month for 
democracy in the region. On January 9, the Palestinian people went to 
the polls to select a new president. This election, in which Mahmoud 
Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority, occurred in 
the wake of an ongoing violent intifada against Israel; violence whose 
direct cause of was a vacuum of credible leadership willing to confront 
terrorists in the West Bank and Gaza.
  In December I traveled to Jerusalem and Ramallah to discuss 
preparations for the Palestinian presidential election. I found those 
Palestinian leaders I met to be eager to demonstrate to the world that 
their presidential election would be free and fair. And today we 
congratulate the Palestinian people for conducting a presidential 
election that has been widely regarded as both free and fair.
  During the voting, Israel's efforts to balance the security of its 
people with easing the ability of Palestinians to vote in the West Bank 
and Gaza were vital to the success of the Palestinian election and 
Israel should be commended for its efforts.
  The presidential election on January 9 represented a real opportunity 
for the Palestinian people to make a statement about their own future 
by rejecting violent and extremist leaders in favor of those who favor 
a moderate approach to lasting peace with Israel.
  Today we commend President Mahmoud Abbas for his victory in the 
Palestinian presidential election. For many years the Palestinians have 
been without a leader committed to good faith negotiations toward peace 
with Israel. It is my sincere hope that the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas 
may finally change that.
  The news today that the Israeli and Palestinian senior leaderships 
will hold a summit in Egypt is encouraging. We should all encourage 
this effort and hope that trust can be built among the region's 
leaders. However, as we have learned the hard way during this conflict, 
peace will not be achieved through words spoken at a table. A lasting 
peace will require patience, strong leadership, and above all a 
realistic approach to the underlying issues. Few of these qualities 
existed in the previous leader of the Palestinian Authority. It is not 
clear that they exist in Mahmoud Abbas, but we are hopeful.
  While Mahmoud Abbas once renounced the use of terrorism during his 
premiership in 2003, his message to Israel and to the international 
community during his election campaign was mixed. Now that he has taken 
office, results are to be expected in the form of a clear policy that 
terrorism and terrorist incitement in any form will not be tolerated 
within those territories under the control of the Palestinian 
Authority. I am hopeful, but only to the point of realistic 
expectation, that Mahmoud Abbas will take advantage of this opportunity 
and that a lasting peace will emerge.
  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.

[[Page 1371]]

  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.
  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.

                          ____________________