This resolution was written on Tuesday evening and then revised (a bit for the better) on Wednesday and was debated on the House floor last night as H.Res. 713.  Late this morning the House voted on passage of the resolution, approving it 361 to 45, with 13 Members voting present. 

An analysis of the vote follows: 

1)       As has been stated previously, when Congress considers resolutions regarding Israel and the Palestinians, it tends to vote overwhelmingly to show support for Israeli actions and to condemn and/or penalize Palestinians.  So, it is not at all surprising that resolutions such as this one (which we at CMEP opposed and worked against), passes the House. 

2)       The resolution in essence is a way of having the House express itself on the issue.  There is nothing in the resolution that implements new policy toward Israelis or the Palestinians or changes the U.S. position vis-à-vis the International Court of Justice or the UN General Assembly.  The problem with a resolution like this is not any policy that is implemented but rather the perception in the Middle East and throughout the world that the U.S. government is not evenhanded in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

3)       45 votes against a resolution and 13 votes present is actually quite extraordinary.   A full 25% of Democrats voting on this resolution either voted no or present.  This is somewhat unprecedented when it comes to congressional votes on resolutions related to Israel and the Palestinians. 

4)       Three Members who particularly spoke out about their objections to this resolution did so very eloquently last night – Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), and Rep. David Obey (D-WI).  Mr. Obey, ranking member on the Appropriations Committee,  is one of the most senior Democrats in the House.  Ms. Capps, who went with Lutheran bishops to Israel and the West Bank in January 2004, has become one of the most eloquent congressional spokespersons expressing support for both Israeli security and the creation of a Palestinian state and for supporting an evenhanded approach in U.S. policy. 

5)       As you may recall, a House resolution a couple weeks ago expressing support for Israel and the Sharon-Bush letters of agreement passed the Housed with only 9 votes “no” and 3 votes “present.”  We believe that advocates should take heart from today’s vote.  Whereas 45 is not a groundswell, it does reflect a pattern we see on Capitol Hill: Many Representatives and staff understand that U.S. policy must show more balance in its approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace.   We hear all the time in offices that “while we had to vote in favor, we would prefer that the House not be asked to go on record constantly on these matters as it just escalates tensions and misrepresents where U.S. policy in the Middle East should be.”

ACTION NEEDED:

Below is the list of the 58 Representatives who voted no or present (Democrats are listed in italics, Republicans are in normal-face type, and Independents are underlined.  If your Member of Congress is on this list, PLEASE write them an email and/or fax a letter today or tomorrow thanking them for this vote and telling them that you support their efforts to lend balance to U.S. policy on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

NAYS    45 ---

Abercrombie
Baird
Becerra
Capps
Clay
Conyers
Davis (IL)
DeGette
Dingell
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Grijalva
Hinchey
Inslee                                 

Issa
Jackson (IL)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kilpatrick
Kleczka
Kucinich
LaHood
Lee
Lewis (GA)
Lofgren
McDermott
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moran (VA)                         

Obey
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rohrabacher
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanders
Solis
Stark
Waters
Watt
Wynn

---- ANSWERED “PRESENT”    13 ---

Bereuter
Blumenauer
Capuano
Case
Cunningham                                 

DeFazio
Doggett
Holt
Jefferson
Leach                                           

Petri
Sabo
Velázquez

 For the text of the resolution, please go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.RES.713:

For the text of the debate on the resolution, please go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/R?r108:FLD001:H55768

For the complete roll call vote on the resolution, please go to: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll378.xml