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“THE CITY OF JERUSALEM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S5903-S5904 on June 18, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE CITY OF JERUSALEM
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, yesterday we passed the State Department Authorization Act by a vote of 90 to 5. Today there is comment on the bill that we passed yesterday in the Washington Post regarding particularly the sections of that legislation that deal with the city of Jerusalem and the recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
In this article, the State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns is quoted as saying:
Our view is that Jerusalem is the most emotional and complex issue that Israel and the Palestinians will have to deal with in the permanent status negotiations. We do not believe it is wise for the United States or any other outside country to make an initiative on Jerusalem that in effect prejudges that issue.
Then later on in the article, the writer of the article says:
The State Department regards Jerusalem as ``disputed territory'' with its permanent status to be settled in negotiations and has kept the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv.
Mr. President, I want to respond very briefly to that and say that the suggestions made by the State Department spokesman in my opinion are wrong. The commentary by the reporter does not recognize the fact that in the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995--both Houses of Congress passed and it became law--is a provision that not only directed that our Embassy be placed in Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv thereby doing what we have done in every other country but one in the world, which is to have our Embassy in the city in which the host country had designated as its capital. But, Mr. President, in that bill--that bill now law--this Congress made very clear its intention that it is American policy to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. We, in fact by strong bipartisan majority, adopted a resolution a short time ago on the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem restating that position.
So, Mr. President, this may be controversial. But trust is built up among parties, including those who are involved in the Middle East process, including Israel, the Palestinians, and other countries. Trust is built on honesty. And honest reflection of not just American policy but American law as adopted by this Congress in 1995 is that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel.
It is time, therefore I would say, to bring our policies in line with our law; that time for the statements such as those made by the State Department spokesman in my opinion respectfully has passed.
I appreciate very much again the graciousness of my friend from Texas for allowing me to say this.
I thank the Chair.
I yield the floor.
Mrs. HUTCHISON addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
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