R 192
2018 -- H 8103
Enacted 04/24/2018

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S ESTABLISHMENT AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Knight, and Regunberg
Date Introduced: April 24, 2018

     WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to
partition British Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and Arab state, a decision welcomed by
Jewish leadership and rejected by the Arab world; 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 after Israel's first election in 1949; and
     WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of
Israel is directly linked to 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 both then and now; and
     WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, Jews living in other parts of the world maintained a
profound spiritual and emotional connection to the Land of Israel, and there has been continuous
Jewish presence 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 destruction of much of European Jewry during the Holocaust; and
     WHEREAS, Since its establishment 70 years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt
the nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and created a thriving economic, political, cultural,
and intellectual life despite the heavy burdens of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and
economic boycotts against the people of Israel; and
     WHEREAS, The people of Israel, in the spirit of Israel's Declaration of Independence,
have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system, which includes 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 world's leading universities, has an
advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the world's leaders of the high-tech industry, and is
at the forefront of research and development in the fields of renewable energy sources and
medicine; 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; and
     WHEREAS, Israel has taken in millions of Jews from countries throughout the world and
sought to fully integrate them into Israeli society; and
     WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with Egypt and Jordan and
has sought to achieve a secure peace with the Palestinians and Israel's other Arab neighbors; and
     WHEREAS, For seven decades, Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel have
maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic and moral values,
common strategic interests, and bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and
     WHEREAS, The American people and the people of Rhode Island feel a strong affinity
for the Israeli people based on common values and shared cultural heritage; and
     WHEREAS, The United States and Rhode Island continue to regard Israel as a trusted
ally and vital strategic partner in the volatile Middle East; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the historic significance of the 70th Anniversary of the
reestablishment of the sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish
people; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That this House hereby reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation
which have existed between Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel for the past 70 years, and
commits to strengthening those bonds; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. Adam Greenman, President and CEO of
the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Yehuda Yaakov, Consul General of Israel.
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LC005444
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