III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 203 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding efforts by the United States 

to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state 

solution. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 30, 2013 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. KAINE, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding efforts by 

the United States to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution. 

Whereas the special relationship between the United States 

and Israel is rooted in shared interests and shared values 

of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; 

Whereas the United States has worked for decades to 

strengthen Israel’s security through assistance and cooperation on defense and intelligence matters in order to 

enhance the safety of Americans and Israelis; 

Whereas the United States remains unwavering in its commitment to help Israel address the myriad challenges our 

ally faces, including threats from anti-Israel terrorist orVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:34 Jul 31, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR203.IS SR203

jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 203 IS 

ganizations, regional instability, horrifying violence in 

neighboring states, and the prospect of a nuclear-armed 

Iran; 

Whereas, the United States continues to seek a permanent, 

two-state solution to resolve the conflict between Israel 

and Palestine as a fundamental component of our Nation’s commitment to the security of Israel; 

Whereas, for 20 years, Presidents of the United States from 

both political parties and Israeli Prime Ministers have 

supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 

conflict; 

Whereas ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is vital to the 

interests of all parties and to peace and stability in the 

Middle East; 

Whereas a peace agreement that establishes a Palestinian 

state, coexisting side-by-side with Israel in peace and security, is necessary to ensure that Israel remains a Jewish, democratic state; 

Whereas, recognizing the urgency of the situation, Secretary 

John Kerry made 6 trips to the Middle East in his first 

6 months as Secretary of State in an effort to resume negotiations toward a two-state solution; 

Whereas, on July 29, 2013, representatives of Israel and Palestine engaged in face-to-face talks in order to move toward a resumption of formal negotiations on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict’s final status issues: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) a two-state solution is the only outcome to 

3 the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which can— 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 203 IS 

1 (A) ensure the State of Israel’s survival as 

2 a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish 

3 people; and 

4 (B) fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the 

5 Palestinian people for a state of their own; 

6 (2) achievement of a two-state solution that 

7 would enhance stability and security in the Middle 

8 East is a fundamental United States security inter9 est; 

10 (3) while only Israel and Palestine can make 

11 the difficult choices necessary to end their conflict, 

12 the United States remains indispensable to any via13 ble effort to achieve that goal; 

14 (4) Secretary of State John Kerry is to be com15 mended for his tireless efforts to urgently advance a 

16 negotiated two-state solution; and 

17 (5) the Senate pledges its support for a sus18 tained United States diplomatic initiative to help 

19 Israel and Palestine conclude an agreement to end 

20 their conflict. 

Æ 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS