INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

PROMOTING COOPERATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

WHEREAS, for 20 years Mayors from the United States and from around the world have gathered in Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Conference of Mayors; and

WHEREAS, the Jerusalem Conference of Mayors has given U.S. Mayors a fuller appreciation and better understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing Israel and the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, the Oslo Accords have opened the door to the settlement of long-standing conflicts between the Israelis and their neighboring Palestinians; and

WHEREAS, the responsibility for the governance and management of substantial areas and key municipalities on the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been entrusted to the Palestinian National Authority; and

WHEREAS, efforts to nurture and expand the dialogue and cooperation between communities and residents of the United States, Israel, and the Palestinian National Authority would be mutually beneficial and promote understanding and trust,

NOW, THEREFORE , be it resolved that the United States Conference of Mayors recognizes the value and the opportunity to strengthen peace, cooperation and confidence between and among the people and communities of the United States, Israel, and Palestinian Authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors promotes and encourages the pursuit of the tri-partite collaborations involving sister-city and other cooperative relationships between municipalities of the United States, Israel and Palestinian National Authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors are requested to initiate discussions with the Union of Local Authorities in Israel and the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities in pursuit of the above stated goals and objectives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership encourages the United States Conference of Mayors to seek the support and cooperation of the American Jewish Congress and equivalent American Palestinian Congress in this endeavor; and

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors seek support from the United States Government, private foundations and other sources to facilitate and fund the establishment of cooperative tri-partite relationships between and among municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and residents of the United States, Israel, and Palestinian National Authority.