[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 460 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 460
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 24, 2004
Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Regarding the security of Israel and the principles of peace in the
Middle East.
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;
Whereas Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed an initiative intended
to enhance the security of Israel and further the cause of peace in the
Middle East;
Whereas President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Sharon have subsequently
engaged in a dialogue with respect to this initiative;
Whereas President Bush, as part of that dialogue, expressed the support of the
United States for Prime Minister Sharon's initiative in a letter dated
April 14, 2004;
Whereas in the April 14, 2004, letter the President stated that in light of new
realities on the ground in Israel, including already existing major
Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome
of final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will be
a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, but realistic
to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the
basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities;
Whereas the President acknowledged that any agreed, just, fair, and realistic
framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any
final status agreement will need to be found through the establishment
of a permanent alternative and the settling of Palestinian refugees
there rather than in Israel;
Whereas the principles expressed in President Bush's letter will enhance the
security of Israel and advance the cause of peace in the Middle East;
Whereas there will be no security for Israelis or Palestinians until Israel and
the Palestinians, and all countries in the region and throughout the
world, join together to fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist
organizations;
Whereas the United States remains committed to the security of Israel, including
secure, recognized, and defensible borders, and to preserving and
strengthening the capability of Israel to deter enemies and defend
itself against any threat;
Whereas Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism, including the
right to take actions against terrorist organizations that threaten the
citizens of Israel;
Whereas the President stated on June 24, 2002, his vision of two states, Israel
and Palestine, 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 rule of law and respect for human rights;
and
Whereas President Bush announced on March 14, 2003, that in order to promote a
lasting peace, all Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the
emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that
they will live in peace with Israel: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) strongly endorses the principles articulated by
President Bush in his letter dated April 14, 2004, to Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon which will strengthen the security
and well-being of the State of Israel; and
(2) supports continuing efforts with others in the
international community to build the capacity and will of
Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle
terrorist organizations, and prevent the areas from which
Israel has withdrawn from posing a threat to the security of
Israel.
Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2004.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.