IV 

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; 


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•HCON 329 IH 

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 IsraeliPalestinian 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 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) expresses its solidarity with the State of 

4 Israel and its democratic Government; 


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•HCON 329 IH 

1 (2) continues its commitment to Israel’s sov2 ereignty and the security of its people; 

3 (3) disapproves of former President Jimmy 

4 Carter’s freelance diplomatic efforts in the Middle 

5 East, which contradict the stated foreign policy posi6 tion of the current Administration; 

7 (4) calls on President Carter to cease all diplo8 matic efforts with recognized terrorist groups; 

9 (5) condemns Hamas for its relentless support 

10 of terrorism and the slaughter of innocent Israeli ci11 vilians; and 

12 (6) demands Hamas cease all terrorist and 

13 paramilitary operations, throw away the failed policy 

14 of aggression against Israel, and follow the path of 

15 diplomacy to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian 

16 conflict. 

Æ 


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