2023 -- S 0943
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MODERN
STATE OF ISRAEL AND REAFFIRMING THE BOND S OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIP AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL
Introduced By: Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
Date Introduced: April 27, 2023
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to 1
partition the British Mandate of Palestine and create a Jewish state; and 2
WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the 3
sovereign and independent State of Israel, and the United States Government established full 4
diplomatic relations with Israel; and 5
WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of 6
Israel is an outgrowth of the existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the Land of 7
Israel 3,000 years ago, with the City of Jerusalem as its capital; and 8
WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, there has been continuous Jewish presence and 9
residence in the land comprising the modern State of Israel; and 10
WHEREAS, The establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the 11
Jewish people followed the slaughter of more than 6,000,000 European Jews during the 12
Holocaust; and 13
WHEREAS, Since its establishment 75 years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt a 14
nation, forged a new and dynamic democratic society, and created a thriving economic, political, 15
cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic 16
and economic boycotts against the people of Israel; and 17
WHEREAS, The people of Israel have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic 18
political system, including freedom of speech, association, and religion; a vigorously free press; 19
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free, fair and open elections; the rule of law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic 1
principles and practices; and 2
WHEREAS, Israel has developed some of the leading universities in the world, and 3
thirteen Israeli citizens have been awarded the Nobel Prize; and 4
WHEREAS, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the 5
world's leaders in the high-tech industry, and is at the forefront of research and development in 6
the field of renewable energy sources; and 7
WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search-and-rescue teams, mobile 8
hospitals, and other emergency supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world, including 9
the 1994 Rwandan civil war, the 1998 bombing of the United States Embassy in Kenya, the 1999 10
earthquakes in Turkey, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 hurricanes along the southern 11
coast of the United States, and the 2007 fires in Greece; and 12
WHEREAS, Israel has absorbed millions of Jews from countries throughout the world 13
and fully integrated them into Israeli society; and 14
WHEREAS, Israel has bravely defended itself from repeated terrorist and military attacks 15
since its independence; and 16
WHEREAS, Successive leaders of Israel have sought to achieve peace with Israel's Arab 17
neighbors; and 18
WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with neighboring Egypt 19
and Jordan and has made its desire to establish peaceful relations with all Arab states abundantly 20
clear; and 21
WHEREAS, For more than seven and a half decades, the United States and Israel have 22
maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, common strategic 23
interests, and moral bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and 24
WHEREAS, The American people feel a strong affinity for the Israeli people based on 25
common values and shared cultural heritage; and 26
WHEREAS, The United States continues to regard Israel as a strong and trusted ally and 27
an important strategic partner; now, therefore be it 28
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes the historic 29
significance of the 75th Anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and independent 30
State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people, and extends the warmest congratulations and 31
best wishes to the State of Israel and the Israeli people for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful 32
future; and be it further 33
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby reaffirms the bonds of friendship and co-operation 34
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which have existed between the United States and Israel for more than 75 years, and commits to 1
strengthening those bonds. We reaffirm our enduring support for Israel as Israel pursues peace 2
with its neighbors and supports Israel's right to defend itself against threats to its security and 3
existence. We furthermore commend the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in 4
building a new state and a pluralistic, democratic society in the face of terrorism, as well as 5
hostility, ostracism, and belligerence from many of their neighbors; and be it further 6
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 7
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to members of the Rhode Island Congressional 8
Delegation and Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England. 9
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