Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

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Supporting the vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving peace, and for other purposes.

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Mr. ISSA (for himself, Mr. FILNER, Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr. BALLENGER, Mrs. BONO, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. TERRY, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. PITTS, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. REYES, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. RAHALL, and Mr. BLUMENAUER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

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Supporting the vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving peace, and for other purposes. Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated Israel , the West Bank, and Gaza since September 2000, is in the vital interest of Israel , the Palestinians, and the United States;

Whereas ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict strengthens extremists and opponents of peace throughout the region, including those who seek to undermine efforts by the United States to stabilize Iraq and those who wish to see conflict spread to other nations in the region;

Whereas more than 3 years of violence, terror, and escalating military conflict have demonstrated that military means alone will not solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Whereas obligations under the peace plan known as the `road map' have not been met by Israeli and Palestinian leaders and no viable political alternatives have emerged;

Whereas despite mutual mistrust, anger, and pain, courageous and credible Israelis and Palestinians have come together in a private capacity to develop serious model peace initiatives, like the People's Voice Initiative and the Geneva Initiative;

Whereas those initiatives and other similar private efforts are founded on the determination of Israelis and Palestinians to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict and to live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity, and security, based on a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace;

Whereas those initiatives demonstrate that both Israelis and Palestinians want to end the current vicious stalemate, and that both peoples are prepared to make compromises in order to achieve peace;

Whereas the Geneva Initiative offers a detailed framework that addresses the fundamental requirements of both peoples, including preservation of the Jewish, democratic nature of Israel with secure and defensible borders, and the creation of a viable Palestinian state; and

Whereas such peace initiatives present precious opportunities to end the violence and restart fruitful peace negotiations: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

1. applauds the courage and vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving peace;
   
   
2. calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to capitalize on the opportunities offered by these peace initiatives; and
   
   
3. urges the President to embrace and encourage all serious efforts to move away from violent military stalemate toward achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace.