IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 329 
Expressing the sense of Congress that former Presidents and high-ranking 
political figures should refrain from freelance diplomacy against the wish-
es of the current Government and stated United States foreign policy. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 16, 2008 
Mr. SHUSTER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that former Presidents 
and high-ranking political figures should refrain from 
freelance diplomacy against the wishes of the current 
Government and stated United States foreign policy. 
Whereas Hamas has been designated by the United States 
and Israel as a terrorist group, and has been instru-
mental in organizing and executing acts of terror against 
innocent Israeli civilians; 
Whereas the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 
since the beginning of the most recent wave of attacks by 
Palestinian terrorist groups against Israel, Hamas has 
executed over 52 suicide attacks that killed 288 Israelis 
and wounded 1,646; 
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•HCON 329 IH 
Whereas on March 6, 2008, eight students of the Mercaz 
Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem were killed and 11 wounded 
when a terrorist gunman opened fire in the school’s li-
brary, where about 80 people were gathered; 
Whereas Hamas released a statement approving of the Ye-
shiva attack, stating that the group ‘‘blesses the [Jeru-
salem] operation [and] it will not be the last’’; 
Whereas on Sunday, April 13, 2008, former President Jimmy 
Carter arrived in Israel for a nine day tour of the Middle 
East to investigate the current climate for future Israeli- 
Palestinian peace talks; 
Whereas President Carter traveled to the Middle East with-
out portfolio, despite being urged by the current Adminis-
tration not to engage in freelance peace talks; 
Whereas President Carter met with members of Hamas, in-
cluding exiled leader Khalid Mashall, which contradicts 
stated United States policy on terrorist groups; 
Whereas unofficial visits by former Presidents and high-rank-
ing political figures in areas as unstable and important 
as the Middle East have the inherent danger of 
miscommunicating United States policy, and create a 
false impression of United States foreign policy to the re-
gion’s population; and 
Whereas such actions could have a destabilizing effect on the 
region and the security of the United States: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) expresses its solidarity with the State of 
Israel and its democratic Government; 
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•HCON 329 IH 
(2) continues its commitment to Israel’s sov-
ereignty and the security of its people; 
(3) disapproves of former President Jimmy 
Carter’s freelance diplomatic efforts in the Middle 
East, which contradict the stated foreign policy posi-
tion of the current Administration; 
(4) calls on President Carter to cease all diplo-
matic efforts with recognized terrorist groups; 
(5) condemns Hamas for its relentless support 
of terrorism and the slaughter of innocent Israeli ci-
vilians; and 
(6) demands Hamas cease all terrorist and 
paramilitary operations, throw away the failed policy 
of aggression against Israel, and follow the path of 
diplomacy to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict. 
Æ 
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