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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Israel has suffered through years of 
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rocket and missile fire from Hamas-controlled areas, even after 
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Israel fully withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Hamas is designated by the United States 
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government as a terrorist entity and is largely supported and 
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armed by Iran, which our government characterizes as the 
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world's main state sponsor of terrorism; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Over 10,000 Hamas rockets have intentionally 
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targeted schools, medical centers, homes, and  playgrounds from 
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Sderot to Beer Sheva in Israel and have killed or wounded many 
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Israelis; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Israel has demonstrated extraordinary restraint 
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in the face of such aggression; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The fundamental obligation of the government of 
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Israel is, like any other government, to protect its citizens; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Israel has now acted in a way that reflects its 
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stated goal of providing security to its people, rather than 
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impose suffering on the Palestinian people; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Israel continues to provide humanitarian 
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assistance to the Palestinians and provide early warning of 
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pending attacks to Palestinian civilians via text messages, 
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phone calls, and leaflet drops; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Israel continues to pursue peace with all of its 
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Arab neighbors; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The loss of innocent lives, both Israeli and 
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Palestinian, is tragic; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States, in addition to Egypt, Jordan, 
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and  other Arab countries, have attributed blame to Hamas for 
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initiating the latest round of increased violence; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Hamas charter calls for the destruction of 
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Israel, ruling out the possibility of compromise and peaceful 
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negotiations; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Hamas government denies freedom of religion, 
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press, assembly, and equal rights to all of Gaza's residents 
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and considers the United States its bitter enemy; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
 


 






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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support Israel and 
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its understandable efforts to protect its own citizens in the 
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face of Hamas hostility and rockets; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we believe that both Israel and the 
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Palestinian residents of Gaza are entitled to enjoy peace and 
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security; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we further believe that only a ceasefire 
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that ensures no future rocket attacks on Israeli citizens 
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should be viewed as a meaningful ceasefire; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the Office of the Israeli Consul General for the 
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Midwest, the Office of the United States Secretary of State, 
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and the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations.