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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Hamas was founded with the stated goal of
3destroying the State of Israel; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Hamas has been designated by the United States
5Secretary of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to
7exist, to renounce violence, and to accept previous agreements
8between Israel and the Palestinians; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets, missile
10shells, and mortar shells since Israel dismantled settlements
11and withdrew from Gaza in 2005; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Terrorists in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip
13have, over a ten-day period as of May 19, 2021, fired thousands
14of rockets, missile shells, and mortar shells into Israel; and
 
15    WHEREAS, As of May 19, 2021, Hamas was firing these
16weapons at a rate of more than 400 explosives per 24 hours,
17aimed at Israeli civilians; and
 
18    WHEREAS, There are many public and private connections
19between the State of Illinois and the State of Israel, and

 

 

HR0325- 2 -LRB102 18555 MST 26818 r

1there is a desire to deepen and expand mutual opportunities;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Israel, a fellow democracy, has an inherent right
4to self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks; it is the
5responsibility of all Americans who love freedom to recognize
6this right to self-defense; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
8HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9we express our unwavering commitment to the security of the
10State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure
11borders and recognize and strongly support its inherent right
12to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of
13terrorism; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That we state our unequivocal belief that Hamas
15must end Gaza-linked attacks against Israel, must recognize
16Israel's right to exist, must renounce violence, and must
17agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the
18Palestinians; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20delivered to President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State
21Antony Blinken, Ambassador to the State of Israel Gilad Erdan,
22and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.