III

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 143

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 14 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 7), 1993

Received

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress concerning the historic

opportunity for peace in the Middle East.

Whereas the conflict in the Middle East has caused untold

suffering for many decades;

Whereas the people of the State of Israel have the right to

live in peace within secure and recognized borders;

Whereas successive administrations of the United States Government have worked diligently to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East;

Whereas under the leadership of President Carter, Israeli

Prime Minister Begin and Egyptian President Sadat

signed the historic Camp David Accords of 1978;
2

HCON 143 RDS

Whereas under the leadership of President Bush, a dialogue

among the parties to the Middle East conflict was initiated at Madrid in October 1991;

Whereas this dialogue was continued through the strong and

constructive efforts of President Clinton and his administration;

Whereas the Government of Norway, through its Foreign

Minister, played an instrumental role in facilitating the

negotiations that led to the signing of the Declaration of

Principles between Israel and the Palestine Liberation

Organization;

Whereas the Palestine Liberation Organization has recognized the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and

security, announced that it renounces terrorism and other

acts of violence, and agreed to amend its charter to delete

all references to the destruction of the State of Israel;

Whereas the State of Israel has recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;

Whereas Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization

have agreed to a Declaration of Principles concerning an

interim period of limited autonomy for Palestinians on

the West Bank and in Gaza; and

Whereas many difficult issues remain to be resolved in future

discussions: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) supports the agreement between Israel and

4 the Palestine Liberation Organization, and hopes it

5 will serve as an historic opportunity to move toward
3

HCON 143 RDS

1 a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle

2 East;

3 (2) applauds the efforts of the Clinton adminis4 tration to facilitate these developments;

5 (3) welcomes the decision of the Palestine Lib6 eration Organization to recognize the State of Israel

7 and to renounce terrorism and other acts of violence

8 and accept the path of peaceful coexistence;

9 (4) welcomes the decision of the State of Israel

10 to enter into this Declaration of Principles, and reaf11 firms its commitment to helping assure the contin12 ued security of the State of Israel;

13 (5) commends all those who have worked dili14 gently to achieve these accords;

15 (6) encourages all parties to the Middle East

16 peace process to continue to work vigorously in the

17 pursuit of a comprehensive peace for the region; and

18 (7) endorses continuing United States engage19 ment in the peace process, and is committed to sup20 porting efforts to make this agreement a success.

Passed the House of Representatives September 14,

1993.

Attest: DONNALD K. ANDERSON,

Clerk.