IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 686 

Expressing support for efforts to enhance Israeli security and create the 

conditions for progress toward a negotiated two-state solution to the 

Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 18, 2016 

Mr. YARMUTH (for himself, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. DOGGETT, Ms. 

LEE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. WELCH, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for efforts to enhance Israeli security 

and create the conditions for progress toward a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Whereas the immediate and long-term security of the State 

of Israel are core components of the United States-Israel 

special relationship; 

Whereas the State of Israel, its soldiers and civilians have 

faced a wave of stabbing and other terrorist attacks; 

Whereas incitement against Israel and Israelis, including by 

Palestinian officials, has contributed to the rise of such 

attacks; 


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•HRES 686 IH 

Whereas, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Military Intelligence 

Chief Major General Herzi Halevi reportedly highlighted 

for Israeli ministers that a sense of despair and frustration among Palestinians has also contributed to the rise 

of the current wave of violence; 

Whereas IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gadi 

Eisenkot recently noted that, ‘‘security cooperation between the IDF and the Palestinian Security forces is a 

shared interest of both parties’’; 

Whereas Lieutenant General Eisenkot also stated that taking 

steps to ensure that Palestinians are able to lead hopeful 

lives and provide for their families would benefit Israeli 

security; 

Whereas the House of Representatives has repeatedly called 

for a negotiated two-state solution to ensure Israel’s survival as a Jewish and democratic state, living alongside 

a Palestinian state in peace and security; 

Whereas the House of Representatives has also repeatedly expressed its opposition to the Palestinian Government’s 

strategy of seeking to penalize and sanction the State of 

Israel or its citizens before international tribunals such 

as the International Criminal Court; 

Whereas Vice President of the United States Joseph R. 

Biden, Jr., stated on March 20, 2016, ‘‘Israel’s government’s steady and systematic process of expanding settlements, legalizing outposts, seizing land, is eroding in my 

view the prospect of a two-state solution’’; and 

Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry stated on December 

5, 2015, that interim confidence-building measures, while 

constructive, ‘‘won’t ever take the place, however, of a 

real, credible political horizon for two states that meets 


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the legitimate aspirations of both peoples [which] could 

help begin to reduce tensions, build some trust, restore 

a measure of hope, open up new possibilities, and hopefully create some political space for people to be able to 

make bigger, more critical decisions’’: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms 

3 acts of terrorism against Israelis; 

4 (2) mourns all loss of innocent life on both 

5 sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; 

6 (3) supports the Administration’s continuing ef7 forts to ensure the long-term security of Israel 

8 through robust military and intelligence cooperation 

9 and assistance, and its commitment to strengthening 

10 that partnership; 

11 (4) encourages the United States Government 

12 to take further steps to enhance Israel’s immediate 

13 security, including— 

14 (A) reconvening the Trilateral Commission 

15 on Incitement to address and prevent violence16 inspiring rhetoric, as unanimously articulated in 

17 H. Res. 293; 

18 (B) maintaining robust United States as19 sistance to train and help support the oper20 ational costs of Palestinian security forces coVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:51 Apr 19, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR686.IH HR686

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1 operating with Israeli security forces to fight 

2 terrorism; and 

3 (C) working with Israel on enhancing areas 

4 of assistance and cooperation that would facili5 tate greater freedom of movement, economic 

6 growth, access to water and other elements of 

7 human security for Palestinians living in the 

8 West Bank; and 

9 (5) encourages the United States Government 

10 to help create the conditions for progress toward a 

11 negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Pales12 tinian conflict by— 

13 (A) consistently and firmly opposing ef14 forts by the Palestinians to seek penalties and 

15 sanctions against the State of Israel and 

16 Israelis before international tribunals such as 

17 the International Criminal Court; 

18 (B) consistently and firmly articulating 49 

19 years of consistent, bipartisan United States 

20 opposition to settlement expansion; and 

21 (C) helping provide a political horizon for 

22 ending the conflict by articulating a non-bind23 ing vision of what a comprehensive final status 

24 agreement might entail that could help foster 


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1 and guide revived negotiations between the par2 ties. 

Æ 


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