Churches for Middle East Peace
Washington, D.C.
Action Alert April 18, 1997
State Department Authorization Bill Would Alter U.S. Policy with Respect to Jerusalem
BACKGROUND
According to a September, 1994 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress: The United States supported the U.N. recommendation for an international Jerusalem, but in 1949 changed its policy to favor a negotiated solution. In sum, the United States opposes unilateral actions that alter the city's status, favors a unified, undivided city, favors a negotiated resolution of the city's future, favors an open city accessible to all religious pilgrims, and maintains that the eastern Arab portion of the city seized by Israel in 1967 is occupied territory and subject to negotiations and subject to the international law contained in the fourth Geneva Convention.
The United States maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. Many in Congress support Israeli positions that the United States should accept Israel's claim to Jerusalem, should recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and should move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
SMITH AMENDMENT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZATION BILL
In a continuation of the struggle over Jerusalem between successive U.S. Administrations and Congresses, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) has initiated an amendment regarding U.S. policy with respect to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The amendment was approved by the subcommittee Smith chairs (the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee) and is now part of H.R. 1253, the State Department Authorization bill. H.R. 1253 will be marked-up by the full House International Relations Committee sometime between April 23-29. What follows is a summary of the amendment: Section (a) of the amendment would authorize the appropriation of funds for the construction of a United States Embassy in Jerusalem. Section (b) would limit the use of funds for the operation of a United States consulate in Jerusalem unless the consulate is under the supervision of the United States Ambassador to Israel. Section (c) would limit funds available for the publication of official government documents which list countries and their capital cities unless the publication identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Jerusalem. Section (d) would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to permit the place of birth to be recorded as Jerusalem, Israel, in the case of a U.S. citizen born in the city of Jerusalem.
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
The Jerusalem language in the State Department Authorization bill should be taken out of the bill. It should not be sent to the President for signature with the Jerusalem language included.
TALKING POINTS
The Jerusalem language in the State Department Authorization bill prejudges the issue of the status of Jerusalem, a topic of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. This action by Congress would cause great damage to the peace process and compromise the role of the U.S. Administration as sponsor and broker of the negotiations. As has been shown by the outbreak of violence following Israel's opening of a tunnel in the Old City and breaking ground for the building of the Har Homa settlement in east Jerusalem, unilateral changes relating to Jerusalem are flashpoints for Palestinian anger and increase tensions throughout the region. All countries, except El Salvador and Costa Rica, maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. According to the September, 1994 Congressional search Service Report for Congress, no country other than Israel recognizes Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem or Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At this sensitive moment in the peace process, the United States must not break ranks with the international community. Congress should be supportive of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the Administration's responsibilities as sponsor.
CONTACT LIST
Please contact your Representative ASAP if he or she is one of the following members of the House International Relations Committee:
Republicans - Cass Ballenger, NC; Doug Bereuter, NE; Roy Blunt, MO; Kevin Brady, TX; Tom Campbell, CA; Steve Chabot, OH; Jon Fox, PA; Bill Goodling, PA; Elton Gallegly, CA; Lindsey Graham, SC; Amo Houghton, NY; Henry Hyde, IL; Jay Kim, CA; Peter King, NY; Jim Leach, IA; Donald Manzullo, IL; John McHugh, NY; Jerry Moran, KS; Dana Rohrabacher, CA; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL; Ed Royce, CA; Matt Salmon, AZ; Mark Sanford, SC; Christopher Smith, NJ. Democrats - Robert Andrews, NJ; Sherrod Brown, OH; Walter Capps, CA; Bob Clement, TN; Pat Danner, MO; Eni Faleomavaega, AS; Lee Hamilton, IN; Earl Hilliard, AL; Matthew Martinez, CA; Cynthia McKinney, GA; Robert Menendez, NJ; Donald Payne, NJ; Steve Rothman, NJ; Brad Sherman, CA; Robert Wexler, FL.
PHONE! FAX! E-MAIL!
Check out these web pages for Congressional fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc: http://www.capweb.net/housealpha.html or
http://congress.nw.dc.us/c-span/congdir.shtml
What follows is the full text of the Smith amendment to H.R. 1253 (the State Department Authorization bill).
Amendment to H.R. 1253 Offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey At the end of title VII insert the following new section: SEC. --- United States Policy with Respect to Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel.
(a) Limitation. -- Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 101(4) for "Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad" $25,000,000 for the fiscal year 1998 and $75,000,000 for the fiscal year 1999 is authorized to be appropriated for the construction of a United States Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel.
(b) Limitation on Use of Funds for Consulate in Jerusalem. -- None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be expended for the operation of a United States consulate or diplomatic facility in Jerusalem unless such consulate or diplomatic facility is under the supervision of the United States Ambassador to Israel.
(c) Limitation on Use of Funds for Publications. -- None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be available for the publication of any official government document which lists countries and their capital cities unless the publication identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Jerusalem. (d) Record of Place of Birth as Jerusalem, Israel, for Passport Purposes. -- For purposes of the registration of birth, certification of nationality, or issuance of a passport of a United States citizen born in the city of Jerusalem, upon request, the Secretary of State shall permit the place of birth to be recorded as Jerusalem, Israel.