IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 177 

Urging the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas to clarify 

a presidential succession plan, expand political freedom in the West 

Bank, and take preventative measures to limit the possibility of a Hamas 

takeover in the West Bank. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 23, 2013 

Mr. ROSKAM (for himself and Mr. LIPINSKI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud 

Abbas to clarify a presidential succession plan, expand 

political freedom in the West Bank, and take preventative measures to limit the possibility of a Hamas takeover 

in the West Bank. 

Whereas a democratic and strong Palestinian Authority is a 

key strategic component of United States foreign policy 

in the Middle East; 

Whereas the Palestinian Authority represents the only viable 

partner for peace between Israelis and Palestinians; 

Whereas Palestinian Authority security forces are critical to 

maintaining relative stability in the West Bank; 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 177 IH 

Whereas Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ 

presidential term expired on January 15, 2009, and no 

new presidential election has taken place since 2005; 

Whereas President Abbas does not have a responsible heir to 

succeed him in the event of his death; 

Whereas President Abbas is 78 years old, a prostate cancer 

survivor, and a frequent traveler who was hospitalized 6 

times in 2010; 

Whereas Salam Fayyad resigned as Prime Minister of the 

Palestinian Authority on April 13, 2013; 

Whereas Palestinian Basic Law, article 37 states that, in the 

event of the President’s death, ‘‘the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council shall temporarily assume the 

powers and duties of the Presidency of the National Authority for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days, during 

which free and direct elections to elect a new President 

shall take place in accordance with Palestinian Election 

Law’’; 

Whereas the current speaker of the Palestinian Legislative 

Council is Aziz Dweik, a Hamas member; 

Whereas Aziz Dweik was expelled from Israel in 1992 for his 

involvement with Hamas and was subsequently arrested 

in 2006 and 2012 for his involvement with Hamas and 

‘‘terrorist activities’’; 

Whereas Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by 

the United States, European Union, Israel, Canada, and 

Japan; 

Whereas a Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority would 

prevent any possibility of a two-state solution between the 

parties; 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 177 IH 

Whereas President Barack Obama has stated that ‘‘No country can be expected to negotiate with a terrorist organization sworn to its destruction. And we will continue to demand that Hamas accept the basic responsibilities of 

peace, including Israel’s right to exist and rejecting violence and adhering to all existing agreements.’’; 

Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, prohibits United States financial ‘‘assistance to Hamas or 

any entity effectively controlled by Hamas, any powersharing government of which Hamas is a member, or 

that results from an agreement with Hamas and over 

which Hamas exercises undue influence.’’; 

Whereas a Hamas takeover of the Palestinian Authority 

would trigger the suspension of United States foreign aid 

to the Palestinian Authority; 

Whereas the United States on average provides over 

$400,000,000 in annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, 

which is used to train security forces in the West Bank, 

develop infrastructure, provide humanitarian assistance, 

and keep the Palestinian economy afloat; 

Whereas these funds serve to promote democracy and human 

rights, economic development, education, health care, 

water and infrastructure, and prevent economic and political crises in the West Bank; 

Whereas these funds assist in laying the groundwork for a future, self-sustaining, and viable Palestinian state next to 

a State of Israel with secure and defensible borders; and 

Whereas the United States has a direct strategic interest in 

maintaining a legitimate political partner in control of 

the Palestinian Authority: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 177 IH 

1 (1) urges President Abbas to preempt a succes2 sion crisis in the Palestinian Authority by address3 ing the current succession plan, and by identifying 

4 figures committed to the peace process with Israel; 

5 (2) urges the Palestinian Authority and Presi6 dent Abbas to enact reforms to open the political 

7 process through fair and responsible elections, en8 suring the freedom of speech, the press, and political 

9 assembly and allowing a new generation of leader10 ship to freely express their views; and 

11 (3) urges the Palestinian Authority to ensure 

12 that officials participating in any present or future 

13 Palestinian Government are committed to the quar14 tet principles, the recognition of Israel, renunciation 

15 of violence, and adherence to previous diplomatic 

16 agreements. 

Æ 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS