IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 253
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending the violence
in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and endorsing the recommendations
of the Mitchell Committee Report.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 25, 2001
Mr. DINGELL (for himself, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HOUGH-
TON, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KIND, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. HORN,
Mr. SERRANO, Mr. ISSA, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr.
PALLONE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. BROWN
of Ohio, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. FARR of California,
Mr. KILDEE, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. OBEY, Mr. LEACH,
Mr. SAWYER, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. BONIOR,
Mr. KUCINICH, and Mrs. TAUSCHER) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Rela-
tions
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to ending
the violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and
endorsing the recommendations of the Mitchell Com-
mittee Report.
Whereas it is in the interests of the United States, Israel, the
Palestinian Authority, other countries in the Middle East,
and other countries of the world that the violence that
has consumed Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip
since September 28, 2000, cease immediately;
•HCON 253 IH
Whereas the Congress recognizes that fear, hatred, anger,
frustration, and mutual suspicion have risen amongst
both Israelis and Palestinians as a result of the ongoing
violence;
Whereas the ongoing violence threatens to spill over into the
region, destabilizing neighboring countries and strength-
ening the appeal of groups and countries that oppose
peace and threaten United States interests in the region;
Whereas the United States has vital strategic, military, and
economic interests in maintaining peace and stability in
the Middle East;
Whereas the leadership of the United States has been funda-
mental to all Middle East peacemaking, and is now es-
sential to ending the current violence, restoring con-
fidence, and resuming peaceful negotiations on out-
standing issues;
Whereas on October 17, 2000, at the conclusion of the Mid-
dle East Peace Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the
United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt,
Jordan, the United Nations, and the European Union
agreed to form a fact-finding committee, chaired by
former United States Senator George Mitchell, to study
the ongoing violence in Israel, the West Bank, and the
Gaza Strip;
Whereas the report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding
Committee, known as ‘‘the Mitchell Committee Report’’,
submitted on April 30, 2001, was endorsed by the United
States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United Na-
tions, and the European Union;
Whereas the Mitchell Committee Report includes rec-
ommendations that represent a constructive approach to
•HCON 253 IH
ending violence and implementing confidence-building
measures that will enable the parties to return to nego-
tiations;
Whereas Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Pales-
tinian Authority Chairman Arafat reiterated their full
support for the Mitchell Committee recommendations and
agreed to meet for further discussions; and
Whereas such direct discussions between the Israelis and the
Palestinians represent an encouraging sign toward ending
the violence, rebuilding confidence, and resuming negotia-
tion, as called for in the Mitchell Committee Report:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) joins with the President of the United
States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United
Nations, and the European Union in endorsing the
Mitchell Committee Report of April 30, 2001, and
its recommendations;
(2) urges the Government of Israel and the Pal-
estinian Authority to act swiftly and decisively to
halt violence, rebuild confidence, and resume peace-
ful negotiations on outstanding issues;
(3) calls on political leaders in Israel and the
West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and elsewhere in the re-
gion to act and speak decisively against violence and
incitement to violence; and
•HCON 253 IH
(4) urges the President of the United States to
continue working with both Israel and the Pales-
tinian Authority to seek ways to implement the rec-
ommendations of the Mitchell Committee Report.
Æ