IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 109 
Deploring the actions of the Palestinian Authority to join the International 
Criminal Court and undertake legal action through the Court against Israel. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2017 
Mrs. WALORSKI submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Deploring the actions of the Palestinian Authority to join 
the International Criminal Court and undertake legal 
action through the Court against Israel. 
Whereas the House of Representatives supports the long- 
standing position of the United States Government to in-
sist on the resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict 
through direct negotiations between the two parties; 
Whereas the House of Representatives has long appropriated 
United States taxpayer funds to facilitate a negotiated 
solution between the two parties; 
Whereas the House of Representatives believes the current 
policy of the Palestinian Authority to seek legitimacy for 
unilateral statehood through international institutions is 
toxic to the prospects of a negotiated solution with Israel; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:58 Feb 08, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
Whereas the term ‘‘lawfare’’ means the abuse of law to 
achieve political and military means and has as its goals 
the delegitimization of the sovereignty of democratic 
states and the obstruction of democracies to fight against 
and defeat terrorism; 
Whereas the House of Representatives believes that the cur-
rent policy of the Palestinian Authority to consider and 
potentially seek legal action against Israel through the 
International Criminal Court is a politically motivated ac-
tion designed to put political pressure on Israel outside 
the context of direct negotiations, weaken Israel’s sov-
ereignty, and hinder Israel’s ability to fight against and 
defeat terrorism, the House of Representatives believes 
the Palestinian Authority policy constitutes an act of 
lawfare; 
Whereas the use of lawfare is a national security danger to 
all democracies, including the United States and its 
democratic allies, who engage their militaries to defend 
their sovereignty and fight against and defeat terrorism, 
the House of Representatives views the current policy of 
the Palestinian Authority to use lawfare against Israel as 
a dangerous precedent that threatens the national secu-
rity of the United States and its democratic allies; and 
Whereas the United States Congress passed the American 
Service Members Protection Act, which became law on 
August 2, 2002, that protects United States citizens and 
allied persons by protecting them from the jurisdiction, 
investigation, arrest, detainment, prosecution or impris-
onment by or on behalf of the International Criminal 
Court with respect to actions undertaken by them in an 
official capacity: Now, therefore, be it 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:58 Feb 08, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives views 
lawfare as a threat to United States military activities 
abroad and those of the United States democratic allies, 
and believes it is vital to take a stand against its use in 
order to protect the Nation’s best interests. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:58 Feb 08, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS