[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 599 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 599

 Expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, 
     security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and 
  democratic state with secure borders, and recognizing and strongly 
  supporting its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens 
                       against acts of terrorism.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 2012

 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Rubio, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. Risch, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Feinstein, 
Mr. Moran, Mr. Coons, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Warner, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Cantwell, 
Mr. Coats, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Graham, 
  Mr. Casey, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Corker, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Boozman, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Klobuchar, 
   Mr. Schumer, Mr. Burr, Mr. Franken, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Johnson of South 
 Dakota, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Heller, Mr. Brown of Ohio, 
 Mr. Johanns, Mr. Manchin, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
   Baucus, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Thune, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
  Stabenow, Mr. Portman, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Tester, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Udall of 
 New Mexico, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Begich, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Hutchison, and Mr. 
  Levin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, 
     security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and 
  democratic state with secure borders, and recognizing and strongly 
  supporting its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens 
                       against acts of terrorism.

Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of 
        Israel;
Whereas Hamas has been designated by the Secretary of State as a Foreign 
        Terrorist Organization;
Whereas Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, 
        and accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and missiles since Israel 
        dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005;
Whereas terrorists in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have fired approximately 
        900 rockets and missile shells into Israel this year, an increase from 
        roughly 675 attacks in 2011 and 350 in 2010;
Whereas Hamas has increased the range of its rockets, reportedly with support 
        from Iran and others, putting additional large numbers of Israelis in 
        danger of rocket attacks from Gaza;
Whereas, on November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama condemned the rocket fire 
        from Gaza into Israel and reiterated Israel's right to self-defense; and
Whereas Israel, a fellow democracy, has an inherent right to self defense in the 
        face of terrorist attacks: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses unwavering commitment to the security of the 
        State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure 
        borders, and recognizes and strongly supports its inherent 
        right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against 
        acts of terrorism;
            (2) reiterates that Hamas must end Gaza-linked terrorist 
        rocket and missile attacks against Israel, recognize Israel's 
        right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous 
        agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
            (3) urges the United Nations Security Council to condemn 
        the recent spike in Gaza-linked terrorist missile attacks 
        against Israel, which risk causing civilian casualties in both 
        Israel and Gaza; and
            (4) encourages the President to continue to work 
        diplomatically with the international community to prevent 
        Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist organizations from 
        retaining or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and 
        missiles against Israel.
                                 <all>