09-R211

2009 -- S 0897

Enacted 04/30/09

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL

Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Miller, and Perry

Date Introduced: April 30, 2009

     WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to

partition the British Mandate of Palestine and create a Jewish state; and

     WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the

sovereign and independent State of Israel, and the United States government established full

diplomatic relations with Israel; and

     WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of

Israel is an outgrowth of the existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the Land of

Israel 3,000 years ago, with the City of Jerusalem as its capital; and

     WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, there has been a continuous Jewish presence and

residence in the land comprising the modern State of Israel; and

     WHEREAS, The establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the

Jewish people followed the slaughter of more than 6,000,000 European Jews during the

Holocaust; and

     WHEREAS, Since its establishment 61 years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt a

nation, forged a new and dynamic democratic society, and created a thriving economic, political,

cultural and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic

and economic boycotts against the people of Israel; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Israel have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic

political system, including freedom of speech, association, and religion; a vigorously free press;

free, fair and open elections; the rule of law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic

principles and practices; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has developed some of the leading universities in the world, and eight

Israeli citizens have been awarded the Nobel Prize; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the

world's leaders in the high-tech industry, and is at the forefront of research and development in

the field of renewable energy sources; and

     WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search-and-rescue teams, mobile

hospitals, and other emergency supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world, including

the 1994 Rwandan civil war, the 1998 bombing of the United States Embassy in Kenya, the 1999

earthquakes in Turkey, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 hurricanes along the southern

coast of the United States, and the 2007 fires in Greece; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has absorbed millions of Jews from countries throughout the world

and fully integrated them into Israeli society; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has bravely defended itself from repeated terrorist and military attacks

since its independence; and

     WHEREAS, Successive leaders of Israel have sought to achieve peace with Israel's Arab

neighbors; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with neighboring Egypt

and Jordan and has made its desire to establish peaceful relations with all Arab states abundantly

clear; and

     WHEREAS, For more than six decades, the United States and Israel have maintained a

special relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and

moral bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and

     WHEREAS, The American people feel a strong affinity for the Israeli people based on

common values and shared cultural heritage; and

     WHEREAS, The United States continues to regard Israel as a strong and trusted ally and

an important strategic partner; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes the historic significance of the 61st Anniversary of the reestablishment of the

sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people, and extends the

warmest congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and the Israeli people for a

peaceful, prosperous, and successful future; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby reaffirms the bonds of friendship and co-operation

which have existed between the United States and Israel for the past 61 years, and commits to

strengthening those bonds. We reaffirm our enduring support for Israel as Israel pursues peace

with its neighbors and supports Israel's right to defend itself against threats to its security and

existence. We furthermore commend the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in

building a new state and a pluralistic, democratic society in the face of terrorism, as well as

hostility, ostracism, and belligerence from many of their neighbors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to members of the Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation, Nadav Tamir, Consul General of Israel to New England and the Jewish Federation of

Rhode Island.

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LC02558

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