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Legislative Roundup - September 16, 2005

I. New Bills and Resolutions II. On the Hill III. Lantos on the Record

for the week ending September 16, 2005

I. New Bills and Resolutions
II. On the Hill
III. Lantos on the Record


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I. NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
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(UN/Anti-Semitism) S. Res. 240: Introduced September 15th by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and 16 co-sponsors, "expressing the sense of the Senate regarding manifestations of anti- Semitism by United Nations member states and urging action against anti-Semitism by United Nations officials, United Nations member states, and the Government of the United States, and for other purposes." Agreed to Sept. 15th by unanimous consent. (UN/Israel) H. Res. 438: Introduced September 14th by Reps. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), "Urging member states of the United Nations to stop supporting resolutions that unfairly castigate Israel and to promote within the United Nations General Assembly more balanced and constructive approaches to resolving conflict in the Middle East." Referred to the House International Relations Committee. (Peace process) H. Res. 448: Introduced September 15th by Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA) and no cosponsors, "Recognizing the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians and acknowledging the sacrifices made in the interest of peace by the Israeli settlers who left the Gaza Strip voluntarily, and for other purposes." Referred to the House International Relations Committee.


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II. On the Hill
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- On September 21st the House International Relations Committee's Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia will hold a hearing entitled "The Middle East Peace Process and U.S. Strategic Priorities Post- Disengagement." Witnesses have not yet been announced. - On September 15th the House International Relations Committee marked-up H. Res. 38, "Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development."


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III. Lantos on the Record
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Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), statement submitted to the Congressional Record, September 13, 2005:

"Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commending the Government of Israel for its bold action in disengaging from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in the past few weeks. At considerable political risk, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has demonstrated his resolve by following through on his commitment to withdraw the Israeli presence from these areas. His government has made an unprecedented and unilateral sacrifice in the name of peace, surrendering land on which Israelis have lived continuously for almost four decades-- land won in a war that was thrust upon them.

"To be sure, the disengagement serves Israeli security interests, since it establishes a defensible line of separation that improves Israel's ability to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks. That is good news for both Israelis and Palestinians. Every day without bloodshed brings us one day closer to peace.

"Mr. Speaker, I would particularly like to commend Israeli military and government officials for implementing disengagement in a way that allowed as many settlers as possible to express their remorse or anger while still encouraging them to vacate the area without resorting to violence. Even when some individuals or groups sought to provoke confrontations, Israeli authorities wisely avoided being drawn into fighting and, in the end, successfully and patiently evacuated even the most determined of dissidents. I am full of admiration for the Israeli military's achievement.

"A significant majority of Israelis favored disengagement, and I think it is important for them to know that the American people are behind them, supporting them in their struggle against terrorism and in the search for peace.

"But the decision of Prime Minister Sharon and his government to relinquish the settlements also creates an unprecedented opportunity for Palestinians who seek a state of their own. After this historic Israeli gesture, the burden to act now rests with Palestinian Authority leaders, who must prove that they can take on the challenge of securing and administering the territory just now coming under their control.

"It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we will soon see a concerted effort on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to move against terrorist organizations. This means not only bringing to a halt the attacks against Israel, but disarming the terrorists as well. A lull in violence is simply not enough. Terrorist infrastructure must be dismantled if Gaza is not to become a permanent launching pad for attacks by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other murderous fanatics. And I would urge President Mahmoud Abbas to insist that any group that wishes to participate in the January elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council first renounce violence in word and deed and divest itself of all arms.

"President Bush recently noted in his first- ever interview with Israeli television that we are witnessing in Gaza 'an opportunity for the Palestinians to show leadership and self-government' as well as 'an opportunity for democracy to emerge.' Mr. Speaker, I invite Palestinian leaders to make this vision a reality, building a Gaza that is democratic and peaceful, free and open.

"In the wake of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the international community should also do its part to assist the Palestinian Authority to move in the right direction, and Special Envoy James Wolfensohn is impressively leading the way. But there are additional responsibilities that fall squarely on the shoulders of Egypt and the Arab and Islamic nations.

"Mr. Speaker, one of the most dramatic but least publicized aspects of the disengagement was Israel's decision to underscore the completeness of its withdrawal by removing its forces from Gaza's border with Egypt and allowing Egypt to send 750 troops to guard that border.

"This effectively alters the longstanding arrangement, based on the 1979 Israeli- Egyptian peace treaty, which prohibited Egyptian troops from that region. Egypt has now assumed the major responsibility for ensuring that terrorists and arms do not penetrate that border. Terrorists seek to make a mockery of Israel's disengagement by making Gaza an unrestrained launching pad for terrorism into Israel--just as opponents of disengagement predicted they would. It is the responsibility of Egypt, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, to win the confidence of the Israeli people by keeping Gaza peaceful.

"The wider Arab and Islamic worlds also have a significant part to play. By pursuing normalization with Israel, they will demonstrate that steps toward peace will be met in kind. The very significant meeting last week between the Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers is encouraging in this regard, as are recent reports of stepped-up Israeli contact with the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia.

"Mr. Speaker, I applaud Prime Minister Sharon and his government for taking this wise and exceptionally courageous step toward peace--a step that is fraught with more risks than the media have acknowledged. I encourage the Palestinians to capitalize on this unique opportunity to demonstrate their own competence in governance and commitment to peace. And I call on the Arab and Islamic world to assume responsibility for proving to Israel that unilateral steps toward peace are not only appreciated but reciprocated."


For more information, contact APN Government Relations Director Lara Friedman at 202/728-1893, or at lfriedman@peacenow.org.