IV
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 382
Condemning the ongoing violence in the Middle East and urging Israel and
the Palestinian Authority to enter into an immediate cease fire agreement
and return to negotiations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 10, 2002
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Condemning the ongoing violence in the Middle East and
urging Israel and the Palestinian Authority to enter into
an immediate cease fire agreement and return to negotia-
tions.
Whereas in the past year more than 400 Israelis and 1,200
Palestinians have lost their lives to continuing violence in
the Middle East;
Whereas since January 22, 2002, violence in Israel has esca-
lated to levels not seen in more than 15 years;
Whereas Israel has fallen victim to more than 35 suicide at-
tacks, or more than 1 attack every other day since late
January 2002, and most recently, 43 Israelis were killed
and more than 100 were wounded when a suicide bomber
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killed himself at a Passover celebration in Netanya,
Israel;
Whereas Israel has already expressed its willingness to assist
in the creation of a peaceful Palestinian state and Pales-
tinian suicide bombings are counterproductive to the long
term goal of the creation of such a state;
Whereas every week scores of Israeli and Palestinian families
mourn the losses of loved ones;
Whereas children in Israel and the Palestinian territories are
being raised to hate and not love, to live in war and not
coexist;
Whereas as evidenced by the Madrid Conference, Oslo Ac-
cords, Wye River Memorandum, Sharm el-Sheikh Memo-
randum, and the Camp David II negotiations, a historical
willingness for peace and coexistence exists amongst
Israelis and Palestinians;
Whereas stability in the Middle East is largely connected with
the stability of the peace process;
Whereas the need for United States leadership in the region
is critical;
Whereas the international community has historically looked
to the United States for leadership with respect to the
peace process in the Middle East;
Whereas precedent indicates that when the United States Ad-
ministration is actively and publicly engaged in the Mid-
dle East region, peace agreements between Israel and its
neighbors can occur;
Whereas Israel has the right to protect and defend its bor-
ders and citizens; and
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Whereas the Palestinian people have a legitimate right to the
creation of an independent Palestinian state: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) condemns any and all acts of violence in
Israel and the Palestinian territories;
(2) expresses its heartfelt sympathy and condo-
lences to the families of those who have died as a
result of ongoing violence in Israel and the Pales-
tinian territories;
(3) urges Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir
Arafat to do everything in his power to assist in ar-
resting and turning over to the Israeli Government
all known terrorists currently residing in the Pales-
tinian territories;
(4) maintains its ongoing commitment to the
Middle East peace process;
(5) urges both Israel and the Palestinian Au-
thority to enter into an immediate permanent cease
fire agreement and return to the negotiating table
where differences and disagreements can be settled
in a peaceful manner;
(6) expresses support for the Secretary of State
on his current mission to the Middle East to seek
peace and a community of coexistence; and
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(7) urges the President to follow the Secretary
of State’s visit to the Middle East, when appro-
priate, with a mission of peace for the purpose of
bringing Israelis and Palestinians together for con-
tinued peace negotiations.
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