Affirming United States support for the continued implementation of the Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 258 Affirming United States support for the continued implementation of the Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 27, 2019 Mr. CONNOLLY (for himself and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Affirming United States support for the continued implemen- tation of the Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel. Whereas the Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, signed on March 26, 1979, including the Annexes thereto, by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Washington, DC (in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘Treaty of Peace’’), was the first peace agreement between Israel and an Arab country; Whereas Article III of the Treaty of Peace establishes ‘‘full recognition, diplomatic, economic and cultural relations, termination of economic boycotts and discriminatory bar- VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR258.IH HR258 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 258 IH riers to the free movement of people and goods’’ between Egypt and Israel; Whereas the Treaty of Peace followed the United States-me- diated 1978 Camp David Accords, which was signed by President Jimmy Carter, President Sadat, and Prime Minister Begin; Whereas President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin were awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their commit- ment to peaceful reconciliation; Whereas Egypt and Israel committed to the partial demili- tarization of the Sinai Peninsula monitored by the Multi- national Force and Observers in accordance with the Pro- tocol between Egypt and Israel signed on August 3, 1981, relating to the implementation of the security ar- rangements of the Treaty of Peace; Whereas the Multinational Force and Observers deployed in the Sinai Peninsula and have supervised the implementa- tion of the Treaty of Peace since 1982; Whereas the United States agreed to provide military forces, civilian observers, and pay a portion of the annual oper- ating expenses, which leverages financial or personnel contributions from Egypt, Israel, Italy, Australia, Can- ada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United King- dom, and Uruguay; Whereas the March 26, 1979, Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and Israel confirms ‘‘the with- drawal from Sinai imposes additional heavy security, military and economic burdens on Israel’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR258.IH HR258 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 258 IH Whereas the United States peacekeeping contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers ensures a separation of Egyptian military forces from the Israeli border; Whereas Israel and her neighbors depend on the United States as an arbiter of peace, including responsibility for supporting the Multinational Force and Observers; Whereas successive administrations have expressed strong commitment to the United States contributing role to the Multinational Force and Observers in a bipartisan man- ner alongside Egypt and Israel; Whereas upon signing the Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution (Public Law 97–132; 95 Stat. 1693) into law, which authorizes the participation of the United States in the Multinational Force and Observers, President Ronald Reagan affirmed ‘‘I am gratified that both the executive and legislative branches addressed this matter which is so vital to our nation’s foreign policy in a spirit of close consultation and cooperation. This legis- lation demonstrates the results that can be achieved through working together in that spirit.’’; Whereas under President Bill Clinton, Defense Secretary Wil- liam Cohen addressed the United States Multinational Force and Observers contingent declaring ‘‘without peace in the Sinai, it would be very difficult to promote a wider, regional peace’’; Whereas despite ongoing security challenges, since Sinai was demarcated, there has been peace between Egypt and Israel in addition to unparalleled security relations be- tween the two countries, upheld by cooperation within the Multinational Force and Observers; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR258.IH HR258 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 258 IH Whereas Congress designated Israel as a ‘‘major strategic partner’’ of the United States in 2014; and Whereas United States-designated foreign terrorist organiza- tions, such as Islamic State-Sinai Province, pose a threat to the region by leading insurgencies against Egypt: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the importance of the Treaty of 2 Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the 3 State of Israel, signed on March 26, 1979, including 4 the Annexes thereto, on its 40th anniversary; 5 (2) reaffirms the critical role of the Multi- 6 national Force and Observers for upholding peace 7 and stability between Egypt and Israel, and in the 8 Middle East broadly; 9 (3) encourages the United States to continue its 10 important military, civilian, and financial commit- 11 ments to the Multinational Force and Observers; 12 and 13 (4) reaffirms the importance of establishing 14 peace between Israel and her neighbors. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR258.IH HR258 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS