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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 329 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 329

   Expressing the sense of Congress that former Presidents and high-
   ranking political figures should refrain from freelance diplomacy 
 against the wishes of the current Government and stated United States 
                            foreign policy.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 16, 2008

 Mr. Shuster submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
   Expressing the sense of Congress that former Presidents and high-
   ranking political figures should refrain from freelance diplomacy 
 against the wishes of the current Government and stated United States 
                            foreign policy.

Whereas Hamas has been designated by the United States and Israel as a terrorist 
        group, and has been instrumental in organizing and executing acts of 
        terror against innocent Israeli civilians;
Whereas the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that since the 
        beginning of the most recent wave of attacks by Palestinian terrorist 
        groups against Israel, Hamas has executed over 52 suicide attacks that 
        killed 288 Israelis and wounded 1,646;
Whereas on March 6, 2008, eight students of the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in 
        Jerusalem were killed and 11 wounded when a terrorist gunman opened fire 
        in the school's library, where about 80 people were gathered;
Whereas Hamas released a statement approving of the Yeshiva attack, stating that 
        the group ``blesses the [Jerusalem] operation [and] it will not be the 
        last'';
Whereas on Sunday, April 13, 2008, former President Jimmy Carter arrived in 
        Israel for a nine day tour of the Middle East to investigate the current 
        climate for future Israeli-Palestinian peace talks;
Whereas President Carter traveled to the Middle East without portfolio, despite 
        being urged by the current Administration not to engage in freelance 
        peace talks;
Whereas President Carter met with members of Hamas, including exiled leader 
        Khalid Mashall, which contradicts stated United States policy on 
        terrorist groups;
Whereas unofficial visits by former Presidents and high-ranking political 
        figures in areas as unstable and important as the Middle East have the 
        inherent danger of miscommunicating United States policy, and create a 
        false impression of United States foreign policy to the region's 
        population; and
Whereas such actions could have a destabilizing effect on the region and the 
        security of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) expresses its solidarity with the State of Israel and 
        its democratic Government;
            (2) continues its commitment to Israel's sovereignty and 
        the security of its people;
            (3) disapproves of former President Jimmy Carter's 
        freelance diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, which 
        contradict the stated foreign policy position of the current 
        Administration;
            (4) calls on President Carter to cease all diplomatic 
        efforts with recognized terrorist groups;
            (5) condemns Hamas for its relentless support of terrorism 
        and the slaughter of innocent Israeli civilians; and
            (6) demands Hamas cease all terrorist and paramilitary 
        operations, throw away the failed policy of aggression against 
        Israel, and follow the path of diplomacy to bring peace to the 
        Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
                                 <all>
```