H. Res. 1765 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
December 15, 2010. 
Whereas a true and lasting peace between Israel and the Pal-
estinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations 
between the parties; 
Whereas Palestinian leaders have repeatedly threatened to 
declare unilaterally a Palestinian state and to seek rec-
ognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations and 
other international forums; 
Whereas Palestinian leaders are reportedly pursuing a coordi-
nated strategy of seeking recognition of a Palestinian 
state within the United Nations, in other international 
forums, and from a number of foreign governments; 
Whereas, on November 24, 2010, Mahmoud Abbas, leader of 
the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation 
Organization, wrote to the President of Brazil, requesting 
that the Government of Brazil recognize a Palestinian 
state, with the hope that such an action would encourage 
other countries likewise to recognize a Palestinian state; 
Whereas, on December 1, 2010, in response to Abbas’s letter, 
the Government of Brazil unilaterally recognized a Pales-
tinian state; 
Whereas, on December 6, 2010, the Government of Argentina 
announced its decision to recognize unilaterally a Pales-
•HRES 1765 EH 
tinian state, and the Government of Uruguay announced 
that it would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state in 
2011; 
Whereas, on March 11, 1999, the Senate adopted Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 5, and on March 16, 1999, the 
House of Representatives adopted House Concurrent 
Resolution 24, both of which resolved that ‘‘any attempt 
to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating 
process will invoke the strongest congressional opposi-
tion’’; 
Whereas, on October 20, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary 
Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘There is no substitute for face- 
to-face discussion and, ultimately, for an agreement that 
leads to a just and lasting peace.’’; 
Whereas, on November 5, 2010, United States Department 
of State Spokesman Mark Toner, responding to a ques-
tion about the Palestinians possibly taking action to seek 
recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, 
said, ‘‘[T]he only way that we’re going to get a com-
prehensive peace is through direct negotiations, and any-
thing that might affect those direct negotiations we feel 
is not helpful and not constructive’’; 
Whereas, on November 10, 2010, Secretary Clinton stated, 
‘‘we have always said and I continue to say that negotia-
tions between the parties is the only means by which all 
of the outstanding claims arising out of the conflict can 
be resolved. . .There can be no progress until they actu-
ally come together and explore where areas of agreement 
are and how to narrow areas of disagreement. So we do 
not support unilateral steps by either party that could 
prejudge the outcome of such negotiations.’’;
•HRES 1765 EH 
Whereas, on December 7, 2010, Assistant Secretary of State 
for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley stated, ‘‘We don’t 
think that we should be distracted from the fact that the 
only way to resolve the core issues within the process is 
through direct negotiations.’’; 
Whereas, on December 10, 2010, Secretary Clinton stated, 
‘‘it is only a negotiated agreement between the parties 
that will be sustainable’’; 
Whereas the Government of Israel has made clear that it 
would reject a Palestinian unilateral declaration of inde-
pendence, has repeatedly affirmed that the conflict should 
be resolved through direct negotiations with the Palestin-
ians, and has repeatedly called on the Palestinian leader-
ship to return to direct negotiations; and 
Whereas efforts to bypass negotiations and to unilaterally de-
clare a Palestinian state, or to appeal to the United Na-
tions or other international forums or to foreign govern-
ments for recognition of a Palestinian state, would violate 
the underlying principles of the Oslo Accords, the Road 
Map, and other relevant Middle East peace process ef-
forts: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated so-
lution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two 
states, a democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a viable, 
democratic Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, 
security, and mutual recognition; 
(2) reaffirms its strong opposition to any attempt to 
establish or seek recognition of a Palestinian state out-
•HRES 1765 EH 
side of an agreement negotiated between Israel and the 
Palestinians; 
(3) urges Palestinian leaders to— 
(A) cease all efforts at circumventing the nego-
tiation process, including efforts to gain recognition 
of a Palestinian state from other nations, within the 
United Nations, and in other international forums 
prior to achievement of a final agreement between 
Israel and the Palestinians, and calls upon foreign 
governments not to extend such recognition; and 
(B) resume direct negotiations with Israel im-
mediately; 
(4) supports the Administration’s opposition to a 
unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state; and 
(5) calls upon the Administration to— 
(A) lead a diplomatic effort to persuade other 
nations to oppose a unilateral declaration of a Pal-
estinian state and to oppose recognition of a Pales-
tinian state by other nations, within the United Na-
tions, and in other international forums prior to 
achievement of a final agreement between Israel 
and the Palestinians; and 
(B) affirm that the United States would deny 
recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian 
state and veto any resolution by the United Nations