2 Whereas Saudi nationals have joined the insurgency in Iraq, carrying out terrorist activities and providing financial support; Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia controls and regulates all forms of education in public and private schools at all levels; Whereas Islamic religious education is compulsory in public and private schools at all levels in Saudi Arabia; Whereas the religious curriculum is written, monitored, and taught by followers of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, the only religion the Government of Saudi Arabia allows to be taught; Whereas rote memorization of religious texts continues to be a central feature of much of the educational system of Saudi Arabia, leaving thousands of students unprepared to function in the global economy of the 21st century; Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia has tolerated elements within its education system that promote and encourage extremism; Whereas some textbooks in Saudi Arabian schools foster intolerance, ignorance, and anti-Semitic, anti-American, and anti-Western views; Whereas these intolerant views instilled in students make them prime recruiting targets of terrorists and other extremist groups; Whereas extremism endangers the stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region, and threatens global security; Whereas the events of September 11, 2001, and the global rash of terrorist attacks since then, have created an ur 3 gent need to promote moderate voices in the Islamic world as an effective way to combat extremism and terrorism; Whereas the report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States stated that "Education that teaches tolerance, the dignity and value of each individual, and respect for different beliefs is a key element in any global strategy to eliminate Islamist terrorism"; and Whereas the ascension of King Abdullah to the throne in August 2005 presents a new opportunity for education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Now, therefore, be 1 it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 2 concurring), That the Congress— 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (1) urges the Government of Saudi Arabia to reform its textbooks and education curriculum in a manner that promotes tolerance and peaceful coexistence with others, develops civil society, and en courages functionality in the global economy; (2) urges the President to direct the Secretary of State to use existing public diplomacy channels, international visitor exchanges, professional develop ment, and educational reform programs, including those under the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the Broader Middle East Initiative, to focus on the issue of educational reform in Saudi Arabia in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 4 accordance with the objectives enumerated in para graph (1); (3) expresses extreme disappointment with the slow pace of education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; (4) urges the President to take into account progress in meeting the goals outlined in paragraph (1) when determining the level and frequency of United States bilateral relations with the Government of Saudi Arabia; and (5) requests that the Secretary of State examine the educational system in Saudi Arabia, monitor the progress of the efforts to reform the education curriculum, and report on such progress, in classified form if necessary, to the appropriate congressional committees. 109TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 535 Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death. IV IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. ACKERMAN, RESOLUTION Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death. Whereas Yitzhak Rabin was born March 1, 1922, in Jerusalem; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin volunteered for the Palmach, the elite unit of the Haganah (predecessor of the Israeli Defense Forces), and served for 27 years, including during the 1948 War of Independence, the 1956 Suez War, and as Chief of Staff in the June 1967 Six Day War; Whereas in 1975, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the interim agreement with Egypt (Sinai II) which laid the 2 groundwork for the 1979 Camp David Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin served as Ambassador to the United States from 1968-1973, Minister of Defense from 19841990, and Prime Minister from 1974-1977 and from 1992 until his assassination in 1995; Whereas on September 13, 1993, in Washington, D.C., Yitzhak Rabin signed the Declaration of Principles framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians; Whereas upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, Yitzhak Rabin said to the Palestinian people: "We say to you today in a loud and clear voice: Enough of blood and tears. Enough! We harbor no hatred toward you. We have no desire for revenge. We, like you, are people who want to build a home, plant a tree, love, live side by side with you-in dignity, empathy, as human beings, as free men."; Whereas Yitzhak Rabin received the 1994 Nobel Prize for Peace for his vision and bravery as a peacemaker, saying at the time: "There is only one radical means of sanctifying human lives. Not armored plating, or tanks, or planes, or concrete fortifications. The one radical solution is peace."; Whereas on October 26, 1994, Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan signed a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan; Whereas on November 4, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was brutally assassinated after attending a peace rally in Tel Aviv where his last words were: "I have always believed that the majority of the people want peace, are prepared to |