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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General
3Assembly voted to partition British Mandatory Palestine into a
4Jewish state and a Arab state, a decision welcomed by Jewish
5leadership and rejected by the Arab world; and
 
6    WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed
7the establishment of the sovereign and independent state of
8Israel, and the United States government established full
9diplomatic relations after Israel's first election in 1949; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an
11independent modern state of Israel is directly linked to the
12existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the
13land of Israel 3,000 years ago, with the city of Jerusalem as
14its capital both then and now; and
 
15    WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, Jews living in other parts
16of the world maintained a profound spiritual and emotional
17connection to the Land of Israel, and there has been continuous
18Jewish presence in the land comprising the modern state of
19Israel; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The establishment of the modern state of Israel as
21a homeland for the Jewish people followed the destruction of

 

 

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1much of European Jewry during the Holocaust; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Since its establishment 70 years ago, the modern
3State of Israel has rebuilt the nation, forged a new and
4dynamic society, and created a thriving economic, political,
5cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy burdens of
6war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and economic
7boycotts against the people of Israel; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The people of Israel, in the spirit of Israel's
9Declaration of Independence, have established a vibrant,
10pluralistic, democratic political system, which includes
11freedom of speech, association, and religion, a vigorously free
12press, free, fair, and open elections, the rule of law, a fully
13independent judiciary, and other democratic principles and
14practices; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Israel has developed some of the world's leading
16universities; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial
18economy, is among the world's leaders of the high-tech
19industry, and is at the forefront of research and development
20in the fields of renewable energy sources and medicine; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search

 

 

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1and rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other emergency
2supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Israel has taken in millions of Jews from
4countries throughout the world and sought to fully integrate
5them into Israeli society; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Israel, with courage and high ethical standards,
7has defended itself from repeated attacks since its
8independence, including by terrorist adversaries such as Hamas
9and Hezbollah that violate international law by using civilians
10as human shields; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral
12relations with Egypt and Jordan and has sought to achieve a
13secure peace with the Palestinians and Israel's other Arab
14neighbors; and
 
15    WHEREAS, For seven decades, the United States, Illinois,
16and Israel have maintained a special relationship based on
17mutually shared democratic and moral values, common strategic
18interests, and bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The American people and people of Illinois feel a
20strong affinity for the Israeli people based on common values
21and shared cultural heritage; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The United States and Illinois continue to regard
2Israel as a trusted ally and vital strategic partner in the
3volatile Middle East; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the
6historic significance of the 70th anniversary of the
7reestablishment of the sovereign and independent state of
8Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm the bonds of friendship and
10cooperation which have existed between the United States,
11Illinois, and Israel for the past 70 years, and commit to
12strengthening those bonds; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we commend the people of Israel for their
14remarkable achievements in building a new state and a
15pluralistic, democratic society in the face of terrorism, as
16well as hostility, ostracism, and belligerence from many of
17their neighbors; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for Israel's right
19to defend itself against threats to its security and existence;
20and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our enduring support for Israel
2as Israel pursues peace with its neighbors; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we extend the warmest congratulations and
4best wishes to the state of Israel and Israeli people for a
5peaceful and prosperous future.