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TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending February 4, 2005

House Resolution 56 commending the Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election on January 9, 2005 and for other purposes.

BRIEF

The Resolution congratulates new Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people who elected him. Mr. Abbas is the second Palestinian President preceded by the late Yassar Arafat.

President Abbas is urged to begin dismantling terrorism mechanisms that have favored the Palestinian cause and to confiscate weapons and arrest terrorists.

Arab states are urged to take active steps to help the Palestinian Authority to end terrorism and anti-Israel actions.

The Resolution is supported by the US commitment to the security of “…Israel and

Its well – being as a Jewish state.”

Sponsor: Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO-7^th)

Vote: Passed House 415 to 1, 17 not voting (Feb. 1, 2005) (RC 17)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Commending the Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election on January 9, 2005, and for other purposes.

Whereas on January 9, 2005, the Palestinian people elected Mahmoud Abbas as the second President of the Palestinian Authority;

Whereas this election has been hailed as free and fair and is an important and noteworthy step in advancing democracy in the Arab world;

Whereas Israel should be commended for facilitating the Palestinian election proceedings;

Whereas the United States is hopeful that a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be achieved;

Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the security of Israel and its well-being as a Jewish state; and

Whereas on June 24, 2002, President George W. Bush expressed his vision of two states living side by side in peace and security and that vision can only be fully realized when terrorism is defeated, so that a new state may be created based on the rule of law and respect for human rights: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) commends the Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election on January 9, 2005;

(2) congratulates the new Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas;

(3) urges the new Palestinian leadership to continue to advance democratic ideals by reforming the Palestinian political structure, advancing human rights, and ending corruption;

(4) strongly condemns terrorism and urges President Mahmoud Abbas, who has previously disavowed terrorism, to immediately take steps to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, confiscate unauthorized weapons, arrest and bring terrorists to justice, consolidate and control the many Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational institutions, mosques, and other institutions;

(5) urges Arab states to take active steps to encourage and assist the Palestinian Authority in bringing an end to terrorism and an end to anti-Israel incitement in their own media; and

(6) encourages all interested parties to take advantage of this historic opportunity to remove obstacles to achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East.