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August 4, 2000/3 Av 5760, Vol. 52, No.47
Salmon opposes declaration
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
If Yasser Arafat unilaterally declares a Palestinian state, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.-1st) has acted to ensure the state will not receive federal funding or recognition.
Salmon has co-sponsored House Resolution 4976, "the Middle East Peace Process Support Act," adding teeth to legislation he sponsored that passed in the House of Representatives March 16, 1999.
Sponsors of the current resolution are Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Thomas Reynolds (R-N.Y.).
The measure states, "United States assistance may not be provided directly or indirectly" to the Palestinian state. This "assistance" includes federal funds.
If signed, the law would prevent the United States from setting up an "embassy, consulate, or diplomatic facility" in the Palestinian state.
Lastly, it would require the president to instruct the United States' representative to the United Nations "to oppose ... admission to the United Nations of a unilaterally declared Palestinian state or formal recognition by the United Nations of such a state."
"For Chairman Arafat to threaten to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state in September is ... not an act of peace," said Salmon in a press release. "We must make it absolutely clear that America simply will not tolerate such behavior."
Tom Puglia, spokesman for Salmon, said the current legislation is "the logical next step on the same path" of his earlier action, House Concurrent Resolution 24.
The earlier resolution, passed by the House in March 1999, called for "any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process (to) invoke the strongest congressional opposition."
It also called for the president to "unequivocally assert United States opposition" to the declaration.
The current legislation expresses this "strongest congressional opposition" as withheld financial assistance and expresses the presidential assertion of "United States opposition" as the denial of United Nations recognition of the unilaterally declared Palestinian state.
"The U.S. has clout and prestige, and Arafat understands it," said community activist David Weiner, noting the importance of the current legislation. "It also sends a strong message of solidarity to Israel at a time when Israel needs it."
The House will take action on the legislation co-sponsored by Salmon after the August recess, but before Arafat's self-imposed September 13 deadline of unilaterally declaring Palestinian statehood.
Salmon was attending the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and was unavailable for comment for this report.
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