[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
[NOTE: Apr. 24, 2008 -  [H.Con.Res.322]   ISRAEL--60TH ANNIVERSARY

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;


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122 STAT. 5136


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;

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 by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(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;

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122 STAT. 5137

(2) reaffirms its enduring support for Israel as Israel
pursues peace with its neighbors;
(3) reaffirms its support for Israel's right to defend
itself against threats to its security and existence;
(4) 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;
(5) 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; 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.

Agreed to April 24, 2008.