IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 448 
Recognizing the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians and acknowledging 
the sacrifices made in the interest of peace by the Israeli settlers who 
left the Gaza Strip voluntarily, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 
Mr. CAPUANO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians 
and acknowledging the sacrifices made in the interest 
of peace by the Israeli settlers who left the Gaza Strip 
voluntarily, and for other purposes. 
Whereas the Government of Israel has committed to and ac-
complished its historic disengagement from the Gaza 
Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank; 
Whereas almost 9,000 Israelis left behind homes, farms, and 
business where they had lived and worked for more than 
30 years, accepting, as citizens of a democracy, a policy 
proposed by the Prime Minister and approved by the 
Knesset;
•HRES 448 IH 
Whereas the Israeli Defense Force and police officers carried 
out the evacuation in good order, with discipline and re-
straint; 
Whereas the Palestinian Authority worked to minimize vio-
lence so that the disengagement did not take place 
‘‘under fire’’; 
Whereas the Government of Egypt has undertaken responsi-
bility to patrol the Philadelphi route on the border of 
Egypt and the Gaza Strip with 750 of its own police offi-
cers; 
Whereas the European Union has lauded the ‘‘historic 
progress’’ of disengagement and praised both Israel and 
the Palestinian Authority for the ‘‘commitment to over-
come the difficult challenges they face’’; 
Whereas the United Nations Security Council commended 
both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for the success-
ful disengagement and noted, as well, the efforts of 
James D. Wolfensohn, former President of the World 
Bank Group, relating to the economic future of the Gaza 
Strip; 
Whereas James D. Wolfensohn has secured pledges of $14 
million from private donors, under the auspices of the 
Aspen Institute, to preserve commercial greenhouses in 
the Gaza Strip, compensate their Israeli owners, arrange 
for continued employment of an estimated 3,500 Pal-
estinians, and ensure a continuing source of export rev-
enue for the Gaza Strip; 
Whereas a meeting, hosted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip 
Erdogan of Turkey, took place on September 1, 2005, be-
tween the Foreign Ministers of Israel and Pakistan,
•HRES 448 IH 
Silvan Shalom and Khursheed Kasuri, a historic first 
meeting between representatives of the two countries; 
Whereas Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri attributed the 
meeting to the importance that Pakistan attaches to 
Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip; and 
Whereas the Kingdom of Jordan has worked over many years 
to bring peace to the Middle East: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the suffering of both Israelis and 
Palestinians and acknowledges the sacrifices made in 
the interest of peace by the Israeli settlers who left 
the Gaza Strip voluntarily; 
(2) honors the courage and vision of Israeli 
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in taking this momen-
tous step; 
(3) honors the courage of Palestinian Authority 
President Mahmoud Abbas in his efforts to secure 
statehood for his people by serving as a ‘‘partner for 
peace’’; 
(4) honors the courage of Egyptian President 
Hosni Mubarak in assuming responsibilities beyond 
those agreed upon in Egypt’s bilateral peace agree-
ment with Israel; 
(5) honors the courage of Turkish Prime Min-
ister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his statesmanship in 
promoting peace and respect among peoples;
•HRES 448 IH 
(6) honors the courage of Pakistani President 
Pervez Musharaf for urging a just reconciliation to 
the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, two 
states living side by side in peace; 
(7) honors the courage of King Abdullah of 
Jordan in following the commitment made by his fa-
ther, King Hussein, to peace with Israel; 
(8) commends the efforts of James D. 
Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank 
Group, and private donors to secure a viable econ-
omy for the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip; 
(9) urges international lenders to invest in the 
West Bank and the Gaza Strip to provide immediate 
opportunities for employment and training; 
(10) urges the President of the United States 
and the Secretary of State to support the ongoing 
cooperation of Israelis and Palestinians with respect 
to the Gaza Strip and to encourage resumption of 
peace negotiations; and 
(11) urges all peace-loving nations to advocate 
and support the ‘‘two-state’’ solution. 
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