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Text of the US Congress Bill on Jerusalem
(click
here to read the Palestinian Response to this Bill)
To provide for the relocation of the United
States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short Title.
This act may be cited as the “Jerusalem Embassy
Relocation Implementation Act of 1995.”
Section 2. Findings.
The congress makes the following findings:
- Each sovereign nation, under international law
and custom, may designate its own capital.
- Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the
capital of the state of Israel.
- The city of Jerusalem is the seat of
Israel’s President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of
numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions.
- The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center
of Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of other
religious faiths.
- From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city
and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of all states
were denied access to holy sites in the area controlled by Jordan.
- In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited
during the conflict known as the Six Day War.
- Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city
administered by Israel, and persons of all religious faiths have been
guaranteed full access to holy sites within the city.
- This year marks the 28th consecutive year that
Jerusalem has been administered as a unified city in which the rights all
faiths have been respected and protected.
- In 1990, the congress unanimously adopted
Senate Concurrent Resolution 106, which declares that the congress
“strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which
the rights of every ethnic religious group are protected”.
- In 1992, the United States Senate and House
Representatives unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 113 of the
One Hundred Second Committee to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the
reunification of Jerusalem, and reaffirming congressional sentiment that
Jerusalem must remain an undivided city.
- The September 13, 1993, Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements lays out a timetable for
the resolution of “final status” issues, including Jerusalem.
- The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the
Jericho Area was signed May 4, 1994, beginning the five-year transitional
period laid out in the Declaration of Principles.
- In March of 1995, 93 members of the United
States Senate signed a letter to Secretary of State Warren Christopher
encouraging “planning to begin now” for relocation of the United States
Embassy to the city of Jerusalem.
- The United States maintains its embassy in the
functioning capital of every country except in the case of our democratic
friends and strategically, the State of Israel.
- The United States conducts official meetings
and other business in the city of Jerusalem in de facto recognition of its
status as the capital of Israel.
- In 1996, the States of Israel will celebrate
the 3,000 anniversary of the Jewish presence in Jerusalem since King
David’s entry.
Section 3. Timetable.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the
United States that:-
- Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in
which the rights of every ethnic religious group are protected;
- Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital
of the State of Israel; and
- the United States Embassy in Israel should be
relocated to Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.
(b) Opening Determination.-- Not more than 50
percent of the funds appropriated to the Department of States for fiscal yea1999
for “Acquisition and Maintenance of Building Abroad” may be obligated until
the Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress that the United States
Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.
Section 4. Fiscal Years 1996 and 1997 Funding.
(a) Fiscal Year 1996.-- Of the funds authorized to
be appropriated for “Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad” for
the Department of States in fiscal year 1996, not less than $25,000,000 should
be made available until expended only for construction and other costs
associated with the relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel to the
capital of Jerusalem.
(b) Fiscal Year 1997.--Of the authorized to be appropriated for “Acquisition
and Maintenance of Building Abroad” for the Department of State in fiscal year
1997, not less than $75,000,000 should be made available until expended only for
construction and other costs associated with the relocation of the United States
Embassy in Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.
Section 5. Report on Implementation.
No later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
detailing the Department of State’s plan to implement this Act. Such report
shall include:-
- estimated dates of completion for each phase
of the relocation of the United States Embassy, including site
identification, land acquisition, architectural, engineering and
construction surveys, site preparation, and construction; and
- an estimate of the funding necessary to
implement this Act, including all costs associated with relocating the
United States Embassy to Jerusalem.
Section 6. Semiannual Reports.
Beginning January 1, 1996, and every six months
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall report to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the
progress.
(click
here to read the Palestinian Response to this Bill)
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