[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 700 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 700
Supporting an upgrade in Israel's relationship with NATO to that of a
leading member of NATO's Individual Cooperation Program, as a first
step toward Israel's inclusion in NATO as a full member with all
corresponding rights, privileges, and responsibilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2006
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself and Mr. Wexler) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting an upgrade in Israel's relationship with NATO to that of a
leading member of NATO's Individual Cooperation Program, as a first
step toward Israel's inclusion in NATO as a full member with all
corresponding rights, privileges, and responsibilities.
Whereas ministers representing Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization have expressed the need to amend the NATO alliance in order
to enhance its ability to address new threats;
Whereas the confluence of global terrorist threats necessitate the geographic
expansion of the alliance;
Whereas NATO Member States have been attacked by, and continue to be threatened
by, groups based in the Middle East;
Whereas Israel's geographic location and advanced military and intelligence
capabilities make it considerably able to address such regional threats;
Whereas Israel is a valuable strategic ally of the United States and other NATO
Member States;
Whereas Israel has been a staunch ally in the global effort to eradicate terror
and a strong defender of democracy, freedom, and human rights;
Whereas Israel faces a range of regional strategic threats and is not a party to
any organization, such as NATO, that has a mutual security guarantee
mechanism, such as Article 5 of the NATO Charter;
Whereas Israel has presented NATO with a plan for a step-by-step upgrade in
bilateral cooperation entitled the ``Individual Cooperation Program:
Strategic Cooperative Framework Between the State of Israel and NATO for
2006-2007'' detailing a wide range of vehicles for enhanced cooperation
between Israel and NATO, including Israel's willingness to provide NATO
with assets to support NATO search and rescue operations, in addition to
disaster relief;
Whereas NATO has also sought to deepen its relationship with Israel, including
through the visit of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to
Israel in February 2005, marking the first such visit to Israel by a
NATO Secretary General;
Whereas in February 2006, a delegation of multinational military officers led by
NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force General Axel Tuttelman
brought an AWAC early warning surveillance plane to Israel, in hopes of
further enhancing security cooperation between NATO and Israel in the
war on global terrorism;
Whereas NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated that Israel ``had
shown a keen interest'' in joining NATO naval patrols in efforts to
prevent terrorist smuggling of materials through the Mediterranean into
Europe;
Whereas Israel is a member of the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue, which has served
as a forum for consultation and practical cooperation between countries
in the Mediterranean area for the past ten years;
Whereas the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue criteria precludes Israel from deepening
its military and strategic relationship with NATO in a number of areas
that would be mutually beneficial to both Israel and NATO Member States;
Whereas Israel and NATO have held joint military operations and have explored
the possibility of increasing joint counter-proliferation efforts and
intelligence sharing;
Whereas Israel is developing the technology to make its military assets
interoperable with those of NATO forces;
Whereas Israel will place a liaison officer at NATO's naval headquarters in
Naples, Italy;
Whereas Israel continues to demonstrate its commitment to work with NATO Member
States to enhance its policies and programs regarding military
capabilities, military doctrine and exercises, border security, arms
control, terrorist prevention, humanitarian efforts, public diplomacy,
and technological advancement to forge a relationship with NATO which
enhances the capabilities of the alliance;
Whereas Israel possesses a functioning democratic form of government, market-
based economy, and respect for the political rights and liberties of
minority groups, has demonstrated a strong commitment to peacefully
settle disputes and the ability and willingness to contribute militarily
to the alliance, and has in place a democratic civil-military structure;
and
Whereas Israel meets the criteria for membership in NATO and executes policies
and upholds principles which are in keeping with the objectives of the
Washington Treaty and in ensuring the alliance's future relevance: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives
that--
(1) the pluralistic and geographic expansion of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance is necessary for the
alliance's continued effectiveness and relevance;
(2) Israel's demonstrated commitment to uphold democracy
and to combat terrorism, in addition to its strong strategic
and military capabilities, make Israel deserving of NATO
membership, and would make Israel an invaluable NATO ally;
(3) the United States, as Israel's strong ally, should take
the lead in supporting an upgrade in Israel's relationship with
NATO to that of a leading member of NATO's Individual
Cooperation Program, as a first step toward Israel's inclusion
in NATO as a full member with all corresponding rights,
privileges, and responsibilities; and
(4) Israel's deepened relationship with NATO would be
mutually beneficial to both Israel and NATO Member States,
including the United States.
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