Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 518 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 24, 2019 Mr. LOWENTHAL (for himself and Mr. CONNOLLY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard- ing United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Pales- tinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution. Whereas the special relationship between the United States and Israel is rooted in shared national security interests and shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; Whereas the United States has worked for decades to strengthen Israel’s security through assistance and co- operation on defense and intelligence matters in order to enhance the safety of United States and Israeli citizens; Whereas the United States remains unwavering in its com- mitment to help Israel address the myriad challenges it faces, including terrorism, regional instability, horrifying VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:21 Jul 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR518.IH HR518 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 518 IH violence in neighboring states, and hostile regimes that call for its destruction; Whereas the United States has long sought a just, stable, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination and offers Israel long-term security and full normaliza- tion with its neighbors; Whereas for more than 20 years, Presidents of the United States from both political parties and Israeli Prime Min- isters have supported reaching a two-state solution that establishes a Palestinian state coexisting side by side with Israel in peace and security; Whereas for more than 20 years, Presidents of the United States from both political parties have opposed settlement expansion, moves toward unilateral annexation of terri- tory, and efforts to achieve Palestinian statehood status outside the framework of negotiations with Israel; Whereas United States administrations from both political parties have put forward proposals to provide a frame- work for negotiations toward a two-state solution, includ- ing the parameters put forward by President Bill Clinton in December 2000, the Road Map proposed by President George W. Bush in April 2003, and the principles set forth by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry in December 2016; Whereas ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is vital to the interests of both parties and the leadership of both par- ties must negotiate in good faith in order to achieve peace; and Whereas delays to a political solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians pose a threat to the ability to VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:21 Jul 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR518.IH HR518 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 518 IH maintain a Jewish and democratic state of Israel and the establishment of a viable, democratic Palestinian state: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) only the outcome of a two-state solution 3 that enhances stability and security for Israel, Pal- 4 estinians, and their neighbors can both ensure the 5 state of Israel’s survival as a Jewish and democratic 6 state and fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Pal- 7 estinian people for a state of their own; 8 (2) while the United States remains indispen- 9 sable to any viable effort to achieve that goal, only 10 the Israelis and the Palestinians can make the dif- 11 ficult choices necessary to end their conflict; 12 (3) the United States, with the support of re- 13 gional and international partners, can play a con- 14 structive role toward ending the Israeli-Palestinian 15 conflict by putting forward a proposal for achieving 16 a two-state solution that is consistent with previous 17 United States proposals to resolve the conflict’s final 18 status issues in ways that recognize the Palestinian 19 right to self-determination and enhance Israel’s 20 long-term security and normalization with its neigh- 21 bors; and 22 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:21 Jul 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR518.IH HR518 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HRES 518 IH (4) a United States proposal to achieve a just, 1 stable, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 2 conflict should expressly endorse a two-state solution 3 as its objective and discourage steps by either side 4 that would put a peaceful end to the conflict further 5 out of reach, including unilateral annexation of terri- 6 tory or efforts to achieve Palestinian statehood sta- 7 tus outside the framework of negotiations with 8 Israel. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:21 Jul 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR518.IH HR518 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS