IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 253

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending the violence

in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and endorsing the recommendations

of the Mitchell Committee Report.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 25, 2001

Mr. DINGELL (for himself, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HOUGHTON, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KIND, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. HORN,

Mr. SERRANO, Mr. ISSA, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr.

PALLONE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. BROWN

of Ohio, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. FARR of California,

Mr. KILDEE, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. OBEY, Mr. LEACH,

Mr. SAWYER, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. BONIOR,

Mr. KUCINICH, and Mrs. TAUSCHER) submitted the following concurrent

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending

the violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and

endorsing the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee Report.

Whereas it is in the interests of the United States, Israel, the

Palestinian Authority, other countries in the Middle East,

and other countries of the world that the violence that

has consumed Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip

since September 28, 2000, cease immediately;
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Whereas the Congress recognizes that fear, hatred, anger,

frustration, and mutual suspicion have risen amongst

both Israelis and Palestinians as a result of the ongoing

violence;

Whereas the ongoing violence threatens to spill over into the

region, destabilizing neighboring countries and strengthening the appeal of groups and countries that oppose

peace and threaten United States interests in the region;

Whereas the United States has vital strategic, military, and

economic interests in maintaining peace and stability in

the Middle East;

Whereas the leadership of the United States has been fundamental to all Middle East peacemaking, and is now essential to ending the current violence, restoring confidence, and resuming peaceful negotiations on outstanding issues;

Whereas on October 17, 2000, at the conclusion of the Middle East Peace Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the

United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt,

Jordan, the United Nations, and the European Union

agreed to form a fact-finding committee, chaired by

former United States Senator George Mitchell, to study

the ongoing violence in Israel, the West Bank, and the

Gaza Strip;

Whereas the report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding

Committee, known as ‘‘the Mitchell Committee Report’’,

submitted on April 30, 2001, was endorsed by the United

States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and the European Union;

Whereas the Mitchell Committee Report includes recommendations that represent a constructive approach to
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ending violence and implementing confidence-building

measures that will enable the parties to return to negotiations;

Whereas Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat reiterated their full

support for the Mitchell Committee recommendations and

agreed to meet for further discussions; and

Whereas such direct discussions between the Israelis and the

Palestinians represent an encouraging sign toward ending

the violence, rebuilding confidence, and resuming negotiation, as called for in the Mitchell Committee Report:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) joins with the President of the United

4 States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United

5 Nations, and the European Union in endorsing the

6 Mitchell Committee Report of April 30, 2001, and

7 its recommendations;

8 (2) urges the Government of Israel and the Pal9 estinian Authority to act swiftly and decisively to

10 halt violence, rebuild confidence, and resume peace11 ful negotiations on outstanding issues;

12 (3) calls on political leaders in Israel and the

13 West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and elsewhere in the re14 gion to act and speak decisively against violence and

15 incitement to violence; and
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1 (4) urges the President of the United States to

2 continue working with both Israel and the Pales3 tinian Authority to seek ways to implement the rec4 ommendations of the Mitchell Committee Report.

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