Resolutions/Statements against unilaterally declared Palestine

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. 268
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) have introduced a resolution that calls on the Obama administration to build international opposition to any declaration of a Palestinian state that does not involve direct negotiations with Israel.The resolution, H.Res. 268, was introduced just days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party and its rival, the Islamic Hamas movement, signed a reconciliation agreement on May 5 that both parties hope can lead to a unity Palestinian government. That agreement led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn that a unity government is a “tremendous blow to peace” and say that the Palestinian Authority “must choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas.”The Cantor-Hoyer resolution reaffirms that the U.S. considers Hamas a terrorist organization that rejects peace with Israel, and that the U.S. continues to oppose any Palestinian state that includes Hamas until Hamas renounces violence against Israel. It also says the U.S. continues to insist on negotiations between Israel and Palestinians on a peaceful two-state solution.

But it goes further by calling on the Obama administration to say it will veto any resolution in the United Nations Security Council on Palestinian statehood that is not the result of talks with Israel.

It also “calls upon the administration to lead a diplomatic effort to oppose a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and to oppose recognition of a Palestinian state by other nations, within the United Nations and in other international forums prior to achievement of a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Further, the resolution calls on the administration to “consider suspending assistance to the Palestinian Authority pending a review of the unity agreement,” and warns that recognition of a Palestinian state without an agreement with Israel will “harm United States-Palestinian relations and will have serious implications for the United States assistance programs for the Palestinians and the Palestinians Authority.”

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/161361-cantor-hoyer-call-for-international-consensus-against-unilaterally-declared-palestine

THE SENATE
S.R. 185
(Scroll down for co-sponsors)
Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations,reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in a unity
government unless it is willing to accept peace with Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of
a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued
United States aid.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 16, 2011
Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. THUNE, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. RISCH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming
opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in a unity
government unless it is willing to accept peace with Israel
and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian
efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued United States aid.
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
2
•SRES 185 IS
Whereas the policy of the United States since 2002 has been to support a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict;

Whereas a true and lasting peace between the people of Israel and the Palestinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties;

Whereas Palestine Liberation Organization Chair Yassir
Arafat wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on
September 9, 1993, that ‘‘all outstanding issues relating
to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations’’;

Whereas the reconciliation agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas on May 4, 2011, was reached without Hamas
being required to renounce violence, accept Israel’s right
to exist, and accept prior agreements made by the Palestinians (the ‘‘Quartet conditions’’);

Whereas Hamas, an organization responsible for the death of more than 500 innocent civilians, including two dozen United States citizens, has been designated by the United States Government as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated terrorist organization;

Whereas Hamas kidnapped and has held captive Israeli sergeant Gilad Shalit in violation of international norms
since June 25, 2006;

Whereas Hamas continues to forcefully reject the possibility of negotiations or peace with Israel;
Whereas, by contrast, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin
Netanyahu has accepted a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict;

Whereas, on April 22, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, ‘‘We will not deal with nor in any way fund
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
3
•SRES 185 IS
a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless
and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized
Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the
Palestinian Authority.’’;

Whereas the United States, under two different Presidents,
has vetoed 11 United Nations Security Council resolutions
in the last 15 years related to the Palestinian-
Israeli conflict and its outstanding issues;
Whereas United States Permanent Representative to the
United Nations Susan Rice stated on February 18, 2011,
that it was ‘‘unwise’’ for the United Nations to attempt
to resolve key issues between the Israelis and Palestinians;

Whereas Palestinian leaders are pursuing a coordinated strategy
to seek recognition of a Palestinian state within the
United Nations, in other international forums, and from
foreign governments;

Whereas, on March 11, 1999, the Senate adopted Senate
Concurrent Resolution 5 (106th Congress), and on
March 16, 1999, the House of Representatives adopted
House Concurrent Resolution 24 (106th Congress), both
of which resolved that ‘‘any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will invoke the strongest congressional opposition’’;

Whereas current United States law precludes assistance to a Palestinian Authority that shares power with Hamas unless that Authority publicly accepts the right of Israel to
exist and adheres to all prior agreements and understandings with the Governments of the United States and Israel;
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
4
•SRES 185 IS
Whereas the United States Government provides more than $550,000,000 annually and more than $3,500,000,000 cumulatively in direct bilateral assistance to the Palestinians, who are among the world’s largest recipients of foreign aid per capita;

Whereas aid to the Palestinians is predicated on a good faith commitment from the Palestinians to the peace process;

Whereas abandonment by Palestinian leaders of the Quartet conditions and inclusion of Hamas in a government could jeopardize the positive steps the Palestinian Authority has taken in building institutions and improving security in the West Bank in recent years; and

Whereas efforts to form a unity government without accepting the Quartet conditions, to bypass negotiations and unilaterally declare a Palestinian state, or to appeal to the United Nations or other international forums or to
foreign governments for recognition of a Palestinian state
would violate the underlying principles of the Oslo Accords, the Road Map, and other relevant Middle East
peace process efforts: Now, therefore, be it
1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated
3 solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting
4 in two states, a democratic, Jewish state of Israel
5 and a viable, democratic Palestinian state, living
6 side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recogni7
tion;
8 (2) states its firm belief that any Palestinian
9 unity government must publicly and formally for-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
5
•SRES 185 IS
1 swear terrorism, accept Israel’s right to exist, and
2 reaffirm previous agreements made with the Govern3
ment of Israel;
4 (3) reiterates its strong opposition to any at5
tempt to establish or seek recognition of a Pales6
tinian state outside of an agreement negotiated be7
tween leaders in Israel and the Palestinians;
8 (4) urges Palestinian leaders—
9 (A) to ensure that any Palestinian govern10
ment will seek peace with Israel;
11 (B) to cease all efforts at circumventing
12 the negotiation process, including through a
13 unilateral declaration of statehood or quests for
14 recognition of a Palestinian state from other
15 nations or the United Nations;
16 (C) to resume direct negotiations with the
17 Government of Israel immediately and without
18 preconditions; and
19 (D) to take appropriate measures to
20 counter incitement to violence and fulfill all
21 prior Palestinian commitments, including dis22
mantling the terrorist infrastructure embodied
23 in Hamas;
24 (5) supports the opposition of the President to
25 a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
6
•SRES 185 IS
1 the veto by the United States on February 18, 2011,
2 of the most recent United Nations Security Council
3 resolution regarding a key issue of the Israeli-Pales4
tinian process;
5 (6) calls upon the President to announce that
6 the United States will veto any resolution on Pales7
tinian statehood that comes before the United Na8
tions Security Council which is not a result of agree9
ments reached between the Government of Israel
10 and the Palestinians;
11 (7) calls upon the President to lead a diplo12
matic effort to oppose a unilateral declaration of a
13 Palestinian state and to oppose recognition of a Pal14
estinian state by other nations, within the United
15 Nations, and in other international forums prior to
16 achievement of a final agreement between the Gov17
ernment of Israel and the Palestinians;
18 (8) will consider restrictions on aid to the Pal19
estinian Authority should it persist in efforts to cir20
cumvent direct negotiations by turning to the United
21 Nations or other international bodies;
22 (9) supports the position taken by Secretary of
23 State Hillary Clinton on April 22, 2009, that the
24 United States ‘‘will not deal with or in any way fund
25 a Palestinian government that includes Hamas un-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
7
•SRES 185 IS
1 less and until Hamas has renounced violence, recog2
nized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obliga3
tions of the Palestinian Authority’’;
4 (10) urges the President to consider suspending
5 assistance to the Palestinian Authority pending a re6
view of the unity agreement between Fatah and
7 Hamas; and
8 (11) reaffirms the requirement under United
9 States law precluding assistance to a Palestinian
10 Authority that shares power with Hamas unless that
11 Authority and all its ministers publicly accept the
12 right of Israel to exist and all prior agreements and
13 understandings with the Governments of the United
14 States and Israel.
Æ
VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:44 May 17, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR185.IS SR185 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS

Co-sponsors (June 9, 2011)
Kelly Ayotte NH R
John Boozman AR R
Sherrod Brown OH D
Richard Burr NC R
Benjamin Cardin MD D
Bob Casey PA D
Thomas Coburn OK R
Susan Collins ME R
John Cornyn TX R
Al Franken MN D
Jim Inhofe OK R
Mark Kirk IL R
Amy Klobuchar MN D
Jon Kyl AZ R
Claire McCaskill MO D
Bob Menéndez NJ D
Jerry Moran KS R
Ben Nelson NE D
James Risch ID R
Pat Roberts KS R
Olympia Snowe ME R
John Thune SD R
Ron Wyden OR D