[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 502--SUPPORTING ROBUST RELATIONS WITH THE STATE OF 
   ISRAEL BILATERALLY AND IN MULTILATERAL FORA UPON SEVENTY YEARS OF 
                   STATEHOOD, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. Booker) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 502

       Whereas May 14, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the State of Israel;
       Whereas May 11, 2018, marks the 69th anniversary of 
     Israel's membership in the United Nations;
       Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the United States was the first 
     country to grant recognition to the State of Israel;
       Whereas Israel offers invaluable contributions to the 
     international community, including to the fields of start-up 
     economies, entrepreneurship, cyber security, military 
     weaponry, counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, airport 
     security, agriculture, water management, arid-zone farming, 
     medical advances, natural gas, and other technologies;
       Whereas, in 2000, with the support of the United States 
     Government, Israel was accepted into the Western European and 
     Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations headquarters in New 
     York, and its membership became permanent in 2004;
       Whereas, in 2013, Israel also became a member of WEOG at 
     the United Nations bodies in Geneva;
       Whereas WEOG membership made possible the election for 
     2016-17 of Israel's Ambassador as the chair of the Sixth 
     (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, and in 2017, 
     Israel's election to the Executive Board of the United 
     Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of 
     Women (UN Women);
       Whereas, in May 2017, Israel was elected as one of the 
     Vice-Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel maximize 
     security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region, 
     increase regional stability, and build confidence with 
     respect to peace negotiations;
       Whereas Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 158 
     nations and retains 79 resident embassies, 22 consulates 
     general, and 6 special missions globally;
       Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the 
     United States, members of the European Union, members of the 
     European Free Trade Association, Canada, Turkey, the Czech 
     Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Mexico, 
     Romania, Bulgaria, and Jordan;
       Whereas, in 1989, the United States Government designated 
     Israel as a major non-NATO ally;
       Whereas, in 2014, the United States Government designated 
     Israel as a ``major strategic partner'';
       Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-
     year memoranda of understanding, in which the United States 
     committed to provide $26,700,000,000 between fiscal year 1999 
     and fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000,000 between fiscal year 
     2009 and fiscal year 2018, and $38,000,000,000 between fiscal 
     year 2019 and fiscal year 2028;
       Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance 
     with such memoranda of understanding, reflecting the two 
     countries' shared priorities in the region and the strength 
     of United States support for maintaining Israel's qualitative 
     military edge; and
       Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the 
     community of nations benefits both Israel and the United 
     States, and allies who share common values and promote 
     democratic stability throughout the world: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) encourages equitable treatment of Israel in 
     international fora;
       (2) urges United Nations member states to support Israel's 
     future candidacy for the United Nations Security Council;
       (3) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the state of 
     Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all United 
     States allies and from governments across the globe; and
       (4) reiterates its support for a negotiated settlement 
     leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the 
     democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized, 
     democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and 
     security.

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