H. Res. 11 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

January 5, 2017. 

Whereas the United States has long supported 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; 

Whereas since 1993, the United States has facilitated direct, 

bilateral negotiations between both parties toward achieving a two-state solution and ending all outstanding 

claims; 

Whereas it is the long-standing policy of the United States 

that a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only come through direct, bilateral negotiations 

between the two parties; 

Whereas it is the long-standing position of the United States 

to oppose and, if necessary, veto United Nations Security 

Council resolutions dictating additional binding parameters on the peace process; 

Whereas it is the long-standing position of the United States 

to oppose and, if necessary, veto one-sided or anti-Israel 

resolutions at the United Nations Security Council; 

Whereas the United States has stood in the minority internationally over successive Administrations in defending 
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Israel in international forums, including vetoing one-sided 

resolutions in 2011, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 

1997, and 1995 before the United Nations Security 

Council; 

Whereas the United States recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Israel 

regarding security assistance, consistent with longstanding support for Israel among successive Administrations and congresses and representing an important 

United States commitment toward Israel’s qualitative 

military edge; 

Whereas on November 29, 2016, the House of Representatives unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 

165, expressing the sense of Congress and reaffirming 

longstanding United States policy in support of a direct 

bilaterally negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian 

conflict and opposition to United Nations Security Council resolutions imposing a solution to the conflict; 

Whereas on December 23, 2016, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations disregarded 

House Concurrent Resolution 165 and departed from 

longstanding United States policy by abstaining and permitting United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 

to be adopted under Chapter VI of the United Nations 

Charter; 

Whereas the United States’ abstention on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 contradicts the Oslo Accords and its associated process that is predicated on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between the parties 

through direct negotiations; 
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Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 

claims that ‘‘the establishment by Israel of settlements in 

the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including 

East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a 

flagrant violation under international law and a major 

obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and 

a just, lasting and comprehensive peace’’; 

Whereas by referring to the ‘‘4 June 1967 lines’’ as the basis 

for negotiations, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 effectively states that the Jewish Quarter of 

the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, are ‘‘occupied territory’’ thereby equating these sites with outposts in the West Bank that the 

Israeli government has deemed illegal; 

Whereas passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 effectively lends legitimacy to efforts by the 

Palestinian Authority to impose its own solution through 

international organizations and through unjustified boycotts or divestment campaigns against Israel by calling 

‘‘upon all States, bearing in mind paragraph 1 of this 

resolution, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967’’, and will require the United 

States and Israel to take effective action to counteract 

the potential harmful impact of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 2334; 

Whereas UNSCR 2334 did not directly call upon Palestinian 

leadership to fulfill their obligations toward negotiations 

or mention that part of the eventual Palestinian state is 

currently controlled by Hamas, a designated terrorist organization; and 
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Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 

both sought to impose or unduly influence solutions to 

final status issues, and is biased against Israel: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That— 

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives 

that— 

(A) the passage of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 2334 undermined the longstanding position of the United States to oppose 

and veto United Nations Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to final status 

issues, or are one-sided and anti-Israel, reversing 

decades of bipartisan agreement; 

(B) the passage of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 2334 undermines the prospect of 

Israelis and Palestinians resuming productive, direct negotiations; 

(C) the passage of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 2334 contributes to the politically motivated acts of boycott, divestment from, 

and sanctions against Israel and represents a concerted effort to extract concessions from Israel outside of direct negotiations between the Israelis and 

Palestinians, which must be actively rejected; 
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(D) any future measures taken in international 

or outside organizations, including the United Nations Security Council or at the Paris conference on 

the Israeli-Palestinian conflict scheduled for January 15, 2017, to impose an agreement, or parameters for an agreement including the recognition of 

a Palestinian state, will set back the cause of peace, 

harm the security of Israel, run counter to the enduring bipartisan consensus on strengthening the 

United States-Israel relationship, and weaken support for such organizations; 

(E) a durable and sustainable peace agreement 

between Israel and the Palestinians will come only 

through direct bilateral negotiations between the 

parties resulting in a Jewish, democratic state living 

side-by-side next to a demilitarized Palestinian state 

in peace and security; 

(F) the United States should work to facilitate 

serious, direct negotiations between the parties 

without preconditions toward a sustainable peace 

agreement; and 

(G) the United States Government should oppose and veto future United Nations Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to final 

status issues, or are one-sided and anti-Israel; and 
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(2) the House of Representatives opposes United 

Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 and will work 

to strengthen the United States-Israel relationship, and 

calls for United Nations Security Council Resolution 

2334 to be repealed or fundamentally altered so that— 

(A) it is no longer one-sided and anti-Israel; 

and 

(B) it allows all final status issues toward a 

two-state solution to be resolved through direct bilateral negotiations between the parties. 

Attest: 

Clerk.