[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3163-S3164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 522--RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING 
   OF THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF CLOSE 
    FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL

  Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
Allard, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, 
Mr. Burr, Mr. Byrd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, 
Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
DeMint, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, 
Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, 
Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
Martinez, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, 
Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
Salazar, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith, 
Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Sununu, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 522

       Whereas on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General 
     Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine 
     and create a Jewish state;
       Whereas on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed 
     the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of 
     Israel, and the United States Government established full 
     diplomatic relations with Israel;
       Whereas the desire of the Jewish people to establish an 
     independent modern State of Israel is an outgrowth of the 
     existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in 
     the Land of Israel 3,000 years ago, with the city of 
     Jerusalem as its capital;
       Whereas for over 2,000 years, there has been continuous 
     Jewish presence and residence in the land comprising the 
     modern State of Israel;
       Whereas the establishment of the modern State of Israel as 
     a homeland for the Jewish people followed the slaughter of 
     more than 6,000,000 European Jews during the Holocaust;
       Whereas since its establishment 60 years ago, the modern 
     State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and 
     dynamic democratic society, and created a thriving economic, 
     political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy 
     costs of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and 
     economic boycotts against the people of Israel;

[[Page S3164]]

       Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant, 
     pluralistic, democratic political system, including freedom 
     of speech, association, and religion; a vigorously free 
     press; free, fair and open elections; the rule of law; a 
     fully independent judiciary; and other democratic principles 
     and practices;
       Whereas Israel has developed some of the leading 
     universities in the world, and 8 Israeli citizens have been 
     awarded the Nobel Prize;
       Whereas Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial 
     economy, is among the world's leaders in the high-tech 
     industry, and is at the forefront of research and development 
     in the field of renewable energy sources;
       Whereas Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search-
     and-rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other emergency 
     supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world, 
     including the 1994 Rwandan civil war, the 1998 bombing of the 
     United States Embassy in Kenya, the 1999 earthquakes in 
     Turkey, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 hurricanes 
     along the southern coast of the United States, and the 2007 
     fires in Greece;
       Whereas Israel has absorbed millions of Jews from countries 
     throughout the world and fully integrated them into Israeli 
     society;
       Whereas Israel has bravely defended itself from repeated 
     terrorist and military attacks since its independence;
       Whereas successive leaders of Israel have sought to achieve 
     peace with Israel's Arab neighbors;
       Whereas Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations 
     with neighboring Egypt and Jordan and has made its desire to 
     establish peaceful relations with all Arab states abundantly 
     clear;
       Whereas for 6 decades, the United States and Israel have 
     maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared 
     democratic values, common strategic interests, and moral 
     bonds of friendship and mutual respect;
       Whereas the American people feel a strong affinity for the 
     Israeli people based on common values and shared cultural 
     heritage; and
       Whereas the United States continues to regard Israel as a 
     strong and trusted ally and an important strategic partner: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 60th 
     anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and 
     independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish 
     people;
       (2) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which 
     have existed between the United States and Israel for the 
     past 60 years, and commits to strengthening those bonds;
       (3) commends the people of Israel for their remarkable 
     achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic, 
     democratic society in the face of terrorism, as well as 
     hostility, ostracism, and belligerence from many of their 
     neighbors;
       (4) reaffirms its support for Israel's right to defend 
     itself against threats to its security and existence;
       (5) reaffirms its enduring support for Israel as Israel 
     pursues peace with its neighbors; and
       (6) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to 
     the State of Israel and the Israeli people for a peaceful, 
     prosperous, and successful future.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I come to the floor today with the distinct 
honor of introducing a resolution with my friend Senator McConnell 
commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State 
of Israel.
  On this historic occasion, Jews and non-Jews from around the world 
will come together to celebrate 60 years of Israeli independence. Out 
of the dark shadows of the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of over 6 
million Jews, and many others, the state of Israel was reborn on the 
very same lands where the Jewish people had maintained a continuous 
presence for more than 2 millennia.
  As an American, I am so proud that the United States has stood by 
Israel, our closest of allies, from the very beginning of its modern 
existence. On May 14, 1948, the date on which the people of Israel 
proclaimed the establishment of the sovereign and independent state of 
Israel, the United States was right there to offer our unwavering 
support and establish full diplomatic ties with our new friend. Sixty 
years later, I want the new generations of Israelis and Jewish-
Americans to know that America reaffirms its commitment to the U.S.-
Israel alliance and pledges to strengthen the bonds we have forged 
throughout the decades.
  Yom Ha'atzmaut, the Israeli Independence Day, falls on May 8th this 
year, the same day the world traditionally celebrates the Allied 
victory over Nazism. Because of America's commitment to defeating 
European fascism, the histories of the United States and Israel will be 
forever linked. For it was from the ashes of World War II that our 
great country rose to become a global superpower at the same time a 
beacon of democracy and hope was established in the Holy Land.
  Today, we face a new set of challenges to peace and freedom. As we 
have so many times before, the United States and Israel will stand 
together to combat those who seek to undermine the right of a Jewish 
state to exist. The Middle East remains an extremely volatile region 
with a series of ongoing violent conflicts, so it is a great comfort to 
know that we have a strong partner in such a strategically important 
part of the globe.
  In a region long dominated by autocratic and monarchic traditions, 
Israel has been a paragon of democratic pluralism. Over the course of 
its modern existence, Israeli society has defended the principles we, 
as Americans, hold in such high esteem: freedom of speech, religion, 
and the press, an independent judiciary, and free market capitalism. 
Israel's strong democracy, despite being constantly under siege from 
neighboring states and terrorist entities, shows a remarkable 
commitment to the ideals of freedom and democracy.
  Millions of Americans will undoubtedly commemorate this momentous 
anniversary, including thousands in my home State of Nevada. I am very 
fortunate to hail from a part ofthe country with such a dynamic Jewish 
community; one that is committed to promoting the interests of our 
great State in any way they can. I would like to offer special 
congratulations to all those folks in Nevada who have worked so hard to 
put on events to honor the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence.
  In the spirit of continuing the tradition of strong U.S.-Israel 
relations, I urge this entire chamber to wish all those who choose to 
celebrate this occasion another 60 years of happiness and prosperity. 
My best wishes for a safe and peaceful anniversary celebration.

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