Forty years after the 1967 war, peace between Israel and its neighbors has still not been
achieved. With the current spiraling violence in and around Gaza, now is
the time for Congress to take substantive action to support U.S.
diplomatic efforts and promote peace and security for Israelis and
Palestinians. Unfortunately,
H. Con. Res. 152 does neither.
H
Con. Res. 152 has little to do with the present realities of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It ignores the complexities of daily life
in Jerusalem and fails to recognize the growing consensus that the city
must be shared by both Israel and a future Palestinian state. Its
statements and recommendations do not take into consideration the
sensitive nature of the status of Jerusalem, but rather promote U.S.
actions that would pre-judge the city’s future and undermine final status
negotiations.
When H. Con. Res. 152 comes to the floor tomorrow, under suspension of the
rules, Churches for Middle East Peace urges Members to support consistent
U.S. policy that the status of Jerusalem be determined through
negotiations and vote NO or make a floor statement highlighting the need
for vigorous U.S. diplomacy to help achieve a two-state resolution of the
conflict. More background on Jerusalem can be
found in CMEP’s new resource:
“Jerusalem Factsheet:
Toward a Negotiated Resolution for the Holy City”.
Key Points
on Peacemaking and Jerusalem:
40 Years After the 1967
War: The Time for Peace is Now
The
need for peace is greater than ever. Without a
diplomatic context, Palestinian factional hostilities and the spiraling
Israeli-Palestinian violence in and around Gaza may overtake any possible
progress. Secretary of State Rice said on Thursday, “the best
solution here is going to be when there is a Palestinian state that can
live side by side in peace and freedom with Israel”. The Arab League
Peace Proposal provides a platform for Israel-Palestinian negotiations
that can lead to a two-state solution. As we mark the 40th
anniversary of the 1967 war, now is the time for forward-looking
initiatives and Congressional support for Secretary Rice’s efforts.
Consistent U.S. Policy on
Jerusalem: A Final Status Issue in Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations
Consistent U.S. policy has been that the future of Jerusalem
is a final status issue to be decided upon through mutual agreement and
direct negotiations between the parties.
The United States has an
important role to play as a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians.
Actions such as moving
the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem outside the context of Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations would undermine U.S. efforts to advance peace, undercut Arab
allies and incite extremists.
A Negotiated Solution for
Jerusalem: Key to Durable Two-State Solution and Regional Stability
Jerusalem is an issue at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, with implications for regional stability and U.S. national
security interests. A negotiated solution for Jerusalem is an integral
component to a durable two-state solution with a viable and contiguous
Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure Israel that is
recognized by its neighbors.
Sharing Jerusalem:
Heritage, Hope and Home of Two Peoples and Three Religions
Jerusalem is
holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims worldwide and has deep
political, historical and religious significance for both Israelis and
Palestinians. A solution for Jerusalem must be found that respects the
human, political and religious rights of both peoples, including access to
the Holy Places and religious liberty for all peoples.
Key Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and
peace proposals to date (Clinton Parameters, subsequent Taba negotiations,
Geneva Accord and People’s Voice Initiative), have proposed that Jerusalem
be the “capital of two states”, one undivided city with shared
sovereignty.
Israeli-Palestinian
Peacemaking: Only Path to Jerusalem Becoming One Undivided, City of Peace
The Jerusalem of today is a multi-cultural and multi-religious city which,
while formally united, is in reality divided, with Jews and Arabs living
different lives in West and East Jerusalem and with the separation barrier
disrupting Palestinian neighborhoods and communities. Jerusalem should
never be physically divided as it was between 1948 and 1967 when Jews did
not have access to their holy places. Only through a peace process that
leads to
an
equitable solution for sharing Jerusalem by the two peoples and the three
faiths
can Israel’s capital gain recognition, a Palestinian state be viable and
Jerusalem finally embody its name, “city of peace”.
Also see CMEP’s new resource:
“Jerusalem Factsheet: Toward a Negotiated Resolution for the Holy City”.
