Resolution condemning the endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-Semitic incitement to violence and Holocaust denial in the Arab media and press.

Bill: 110-hres-1127
Sponsor: Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5]
Introduced: 2008-04-22 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Antisemitism
Arab countries
Arab-Israeli conflict
Armed Forces and National Security
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Israel
Jewish holocaust (1939-1945)
Jews
Middle East and North Africa
Political violence
Religion
Violence in mass media

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: 
Condemns the restrictions on freedom of the press and expression in the Arab world and the widespread presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab media.
 
Expresses concern that many of the Arab governments to which United States has turned for assistance in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are responsible for using their government-controlled media to promulgate incendiary speech regarding Israel and the Jewish people that makes U.S. efforts to help resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict all the more difficult.
 
Calls on the President, the Secretary of State, and all U.S. ambassadors to Arab countries to protest the lack of freedom of thought and expression. 

action_date: 2008-06-18
text: 
Condemns the restrictions on freedom of the press and expression in the Arab world and the widespread presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab media.
 
Deplores the practices utilized by the governments in the Middle East to exert control over the press and on public expression.
 
Expresses concern that many of the Arab governments to which United States has turned for assistance in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are responsible for using their government-controlled media to promulgate incendiary speech regarding Israel and the Jewish people that makes U.S. efforts to help resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict all the more difficult.
 
Calls on the President to: (1) raise the issue of the lack of media freedom in the Middle East and the proliferation of anti-Semitic incitement; and (2) take into account the compliance of governments throughout the region with international norms and obligations regarding media freedom and anti-Semitic incitement when determining U.S. assistance.
 
Calls on U.S. allies and governments throughout the Middle East to publicly repudiate purveyors of anti-Semitic incitement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5522-5523)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5522-5523)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1127.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5522-5526)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Mr. Ackerman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules, (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: Introduced in House