RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PROACTIVE POLICY ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAFOR THE RENEWAL OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS

This resolution was jointly proposed by Joanne Yaron, Chair, DA-Israel,and by Susan Vaillant, holding Connie Borde, DA-France chair's proxy to theDPCA International Conference, Heidelberg, Germany,where it was adopted on 17March 2007

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WHEREAS the Israeli-Palestinian long-term violent conflict has become one ofthe central problems in the Middle East, a dangerous situation that needs to beresolved for the sake of world peace and stability, and the peoples of theregion;

WHEREAS we are encouraged by the numerous peace attempts and actions by therelevant parties and several of the leading Arab countries, and from suchimportant achievements as the long standing 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty and1994 Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty, both concluded with the active facilitation ofthe United States of America;

WHEREAS the United States has already been proactively involved in suchofficial and unofficial agreements, working papers and conference protocols asthe 1991 Madrid Principles, 1993 Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles,the 1998 Wye River Memorandum, 2000 Camp David Summit, 2001 Clinton Parametersand the 2002 Road Map for Peace;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Democrats Abroad supports a plank in theDemocratic Party platform to implement and renew with all judicious speed aproactive policy to be actively facilitated by the United States of America inclose cooperation with other interested nations, the United Nations, theEuropean Union as well as official representatives of Israelis and Palestinianswho have been instrumental in working for peace in the region;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party platform should promote theestablishment of a Permanent Ambassador assisted by a team of researchers andnegotiators as a resource, stationed in the Middle East, preferably in bothIsrael and the Palestinian Authority, and active in the development of anIsraeli-Palestinian peace process;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States of America will develop incooperation with other nations, a package of economic, social and politicalincentives as an integral part of its proactive policy, for the benefit of thePalestinian Authority and the State of Israel, with incentives to begin at atime certain to continue or be suspended based on benchmarks for progress;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that agreement by the Palestinian Authority andthe State of Israel to cease and desist all acts and rhetoric of violence andthe development or expansion of settlements, and to publicly and mutuallyrespect each other's rights to exist and recognize relevant prior agreements,will contribute to the execution of a treaty that respects international law,attested by neighboring states, thereby bringing the Israeli-Palestinianconflict to its long overdue peaceful conclusion.