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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 502 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 502

Supporting robust relations with the State of Israel bilaterally and in 
   multilateral fora upon seventy years of statehood, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 9, 2018

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Supporting robust relations with the State of Israel bilaterally and in 
   multilateral fora upon seventy years of statehood, and for other 
                               purposes.

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.
                                 <all>
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