Bill Text: PA HR380 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing the Congress of the United States to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and supporting United States Senate Resolution No. 185.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 31-12)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-09-13 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HR380 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR380-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2342
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 380 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY MICCARELLI, B. BOYLE, SHAPIRO, AUMENT, BARRAR, BROOKS, CUTLER, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GABLER, GROVE, HEFFLEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, KRIEGER, MAJOR, METZGAR, MICOZZIE, MURT, PICKETT, SABATINA, SCHRODER, TALLMAN, HUTCHINSON, SAYLOR, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, M. O'BRIEN, FRANKEL, GERGELY AND DePASQUALE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Memorializing the Congress of the United States to reaffirm the
commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of
the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and supporting United States
Senate Resolution No. 185.
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania expresses its strong support of United States
Senate Resolution 185, which reaffirms the commitment of the
United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian Conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations. It also reaffirms opposition to the inclusion of
Hamas in a united government unless it is willing to accept
peace with Israel and renounce violence and, further, declare
that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition as a state outside
direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith
commitment to peace negotiations and will have implications for
continued United States aid; and
WHEREAS, The policy of the United States since 2002 has been
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to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict; and
WHEREAS, A true and lasting peace between the people of
Israel and the Palestinians can only be achieved through direct
negotiations between the parties. This was the feeling of
Palestine Liberation Organization Chair Yasser Arafat, who wrote
to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on September 9, 1993,
stating that all outstanding issues relating to permanent status
will be resolved through negotiations; and
WHEREAS, The reconciliation agreement signed by Fatah and
Hamas on May 4, 2011, was reached without Hamas being required
to renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist and accept
prior agreements made by the Palestinians (the Quartet
conditions). Hamas, an organization responsible for the death of
more than 500 innocent civilians, including two dozen United
States citizens, has been designated by the United States
Government as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially
designated terrorist organization. It has violated international
norms since 2006, when it kidnapped and held captive Israeli
sergeant Gilad Shalit, and it continues to forcefully reject the
possibility of negotiations or peace with Israel. By contrast,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted a two-
state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; and
WHEREAS, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated, "We
will not deal with nor in any way fund a Palestinian government
that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced
violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous
obligations of the Palestinian Authority." The United States has
also vetoed, under two Presidents, 11 United Nations Security
Council resolutions related to this conflict and our permanent
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representative to that organization has stated that it is
"unwise" for the United Nations to attempt to resolve key issues
between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Congress of the
United States has also resolved that any attempt to establish
Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will
"invoke the strongest possible congressional opposition." The
United States provides more than $550 million annually and more
than $3.5 billion cumulatively in direct bilateral assistance to
the Palestinians, who are among the world's largest recipients
of foreign aid per capita; and
WHEREAS, The resolution reaffirms the Senate's strong support
for a negotiated solution, 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. It states its firm belief that any Palestinian
unity government must publicly and formally forswear terrorism,
accept Israel's right to exist and reaffirm previous agreements
made with the State of Israel. It also reiterates its strong
opposition to any attempt to establish or seek recognition of a
Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated between
leaders in Israel and Palestine. The resolution supports the
President's opposition to a unilateral declaration of a
Palestinian state and calls on other elements of the United
States Government to continue the strong statements expressed in
the past; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania acknowledges the bipartisan cosponsorship of this
resolution by 88 members of the United States Senate, including
both Senators Robert P. Casey, Jr. and Patrick Toomey of
Pennsylvania, and its subsequent passage by unanimous consent;
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and
WHEREAS, It is our hope that this strong message by the
United States Senate and other legislative bodies around the
nation will reaffirm its belief to the international community
that the United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state at
this time does not further the peace process; and therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
United States to unite this legislative body in support of
United States Senate Resolution No. 185, and to demonstrate our
desire to bring about the peace so desperately needed in the
Middle East; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, to the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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