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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 322 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.322
                                                Agreed to April 24, 2008

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
            the third day of January, two thousand and eight

                          Concurrent Resolution

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;

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;
        (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.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.
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