CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—i^R. 14, 1999 113 STAT. 1965 PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD—OPPOSITION Apr. 12, 1999 [H. Con. Res. 24] Whereas at the heart of the Oslo peace process Ues the basic, irrevocable commitment made by Palestinian Chairman Yasir Arafat that, in his words, "all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations"; Whereas resolving the political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority while ensuring Israel's security is one of the central issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Whereas a declaration of statehood by the Palestinians outside the framework of negotiations would, thereibre, constitute a most fundamental violation of the Oslo process; Whereas Yasir Arafat and other Palestinian leaders have repeatedly threatened to declare unilaterally the establishment of a Palestinian state; Whereas the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state would introduce a dramatically destabilizing element into the Middle East, risking Israeli countermeasures, a. quick descent into violence, and an end to the entire peace process; and Whereas, in light of continuing statements by Palestinian leaders. United States opposition to any unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood should be made clear and imambiguous: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That^ (1) the final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority can only be determined through negotiations and agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; (2) any attempt to establish Palestinism statehood outside the negotiating process will invoke the strongest congressional opposition; and (3) the President should unequivocally assert United States opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinigm state, making clear that such a declaration would be a grievous violation of the Oslo accords and that a declared state would not be recognized by the United States. Agreed to April 12, 1999. NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL Apr, u, 1999 SERVICE—CAPITOL GROUNDS AUTHORIZATION [H.con. Res.44] Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE. The National Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, the eighteenth annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the Capitol Grounds on May 15, 1999, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate, in order to honor
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