Whereas on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its
independence;
Whereas the United States was one of the first nations to
recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its creation;
Whereas Israel has provided the opportunity for Jews from
all over the world to reestablish their ancient homeland;
Whereas Israel is home to many religious sites sacred to
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;
Whereas Israel provided a refuge to Jews who survived the
unprecedented horrors of the Holocaust;
Whereas the people of Israel have established a
pluralistic democracy which includes the freedoms cherished by the people of
the United States, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of
association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the
governed;
Whereas Israel continues to serve as a shining model of
democratic values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the
free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising in its Parliament, the
Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its
citizens;
Whereas Israel has bravely defended itself from terrorist
and military attacks repeatedly since independence;
Whereas the rocket attacks that have occurred in Israel in
recent years have caused hundreds of casualties and have destroyed homes,
schools, buildings, roads, power lines, and other significant
infrastructure;
Whereas Israel has signed landmark peace treaties and
successfully established peaceful bilateral relations with neighboring Egypt
and Jordan;
Whereas it is imperative for all countries in the Middle
East, and for United States’ interests in the Middle East, that these peace
treaties continue to be recognized and upheld by all involved parties;
Whereas despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis
over the last several years at the hands of murderous, suicide bombers and
other terrorists, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their
Palestinian neighbors;
Whereas Iran, which rejects Israel's right to exist as a
nation, is a continued threat to both Israel’s and the United States’ safety
and security, both through its support of terrorist groups like Hamas and
Hezbollah and through its ongoing efforts to acquire nuclear weapons;
Whereas the United States and Israel enjoy a strategic
partnership based on shared democratic values, friendship, and respect;
Whereas the people of the United States share an affinity
with the people of Israel and view Israel as a strong and trusted ally;
Whereas Israel has made significant global contributions
in the fields of science, medicine, and technology; and
Whereas Israel's Independence Day on the Jewish calendar
coincides this year with April 26, 2012: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
(1)recognizes the independence of the State of
Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for
the Jewish people and in establishing a democracy in the Middle East;
(2)commends the
bipartisan commitment of all United States administrations and United States
Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and
well-being;
(3)asserts its
commitment to continue to stand with Israel during times of uncertainty
throughout the Middle East and North Africa;
(4)expresses support
for Israel's right to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran,
defend Israeli sovereignty, and protect the lives and safety of the Israeli
people, including the use of military force if no other peaceful solution can
be found within a reasonable time;
(5)congratulates the
United States and Israel for the strengthening of bilateral relations in recent
years in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and homeland security, and
encourages both nations to continue their cooperation in resolving future
mutual challenges; and
(6)extends warm
congratulations and best wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate the
64th anniversary of Israel's independence.