Gottheimer, Gallagher, Engel Condemn U.N. General Assembly Vote Targeting U.S. and Israel

Bipartisan Resolution Denounces U.N. bias against Israel; reaffirms need for direct negotiations

Today, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-8) announced H.Res.684, a bipartisan House Resolution opposing the United Nations General Assembly’s recent vote criticizing the United States’ rightful recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. This bipartisan resolution was also cosponsored by House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (NY-16).

“The United States has a long and proud bipartisan history of standing with our ally Israel at the biased-United Nations. In that tradition, our legislation objects to the UNGA resolution, highlights the U.N.’s long history of bias and anti-Semitism when it comes to Israel, and urges the General Assembly to repeal this harmful resolution,” said Congressman Gottheimer.

“Last January, Rep. Gallagher, Ranking Member Engel and I were proud to vote for H.Res.11, which condemned the U.N. Security Council’s appalling resolution singling out our ally Israel and damaging the prospects for peace. It’s sad that the biased-United Nations, which cannot seem to lift a finger when it comes to pressing issues like war-torn Syria, chose, yet again, to convene a special emergency session for the sole purpose of denouncing Israel — our key ally in the fight against terror,” continued Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

 “For over twenty years, it has been U.S. law to recognize the self-evident reality that Jerusalem is, and always has been, the capital of Israel. This resolution makes clear that the United States stands proudly beside our ally and will not shy away from asserting our rights as a sovereign nation,” said Congressman Mike Gallagher.

“The singular negative focus on Israel of certain UN member states distracts from the many challenges facing the world. The Security Council vote late last year will have no impact on where the United States chooses to place our embassies and at the same time degrades efforts toward a two-state solution. A Palestinian state will never be born on the backs of anti-Israel UN resolutions,” said Rep. Engel. “I’m glad to join Mr. Gottheimer who’s brought important focus on this issue,” said Ranking Member Engel.

The text of the resolution can be found HERE and below:

RESOLUTION

Objecting to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19, which criticizes the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

Whereas the United States has long opposed biased resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly, including United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, which infamously declared that “zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination”;

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly continues to demonstrate bias against Israel, adopting twenty resolutions during the 71^st session singling out Israel, more than any other country and more than all other countries combined;

Whereas Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations states that the Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members;

Whereas each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital and, as a sovereign nation the United States has the right to determine where to locate its embassies abroad;

Whereas the United States is the single largest contributor of financial support to the United Nations and its agencies, should reform the United Nations, and oppose resolutions that infringe on its sovereignty;

Whereas in 1995, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act and the President of the United States signed Public Law 104-45, which declares that it is the policy of the United States that “Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel” and that the “United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999”;

Whereas on December 6th, 2017, the President of the United States issued a proclamation that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and that the United States Embassy to Israel will be relocated to Jerusalem as soon as practicable;

Whereas on December 18th, 2017, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations issued a veto to the draft resolution S/2017/1060 in the United Nations Security Council which contained similar language to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19;

Whereas in light of the veto cast on December 18^th, 2017 by the United States in the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly resumed the tenth Emergency Special Session to consider the resolution which criticizes the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calls upon all countries to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem;

Whereas United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19 is non-binding, does not carry the force of international law, and has no effect on the sovereign rights of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the House of Representatives—

(1)   affirms the President’s December 6, 2017 proclamation recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announcing the relocation of the United States Embassy to Israel as soon as practicable;

(2)   opposes the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19 on December 21, 2017, which criticizes the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel;

(3)   calls for United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19 to be repealed; and

(4)   reaffirms that a sustainable peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians will only result from direct, bilateral negotiations between the two parties, and cannot be imposed by international organizations such as the United Nations.

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