III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 599 

Expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, 

security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic 

state with secure borders, and recognizing and strongly supporting its 

right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2012 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mr. KIRK, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. RUBIO, Ms. 

MIKULSKI, Mr. RISCH, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. WICKER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. COONS, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. WARNER, Mr. HOEVEN, 

Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. COATS, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. CASEY, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. CORKER, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. 

COCHRAN, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. BURR, 

Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. KYL, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. BARRASSO, 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HELLER, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. JOHANNS, 

Mr. MANCHIN, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. VITTER, Mr. THUNE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. 

STABENOW, Mr. PORTMAN, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. TESTER, 

Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. KOHL, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. REED, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, and Mr. LEVIN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing vigorous support and unwavering commitment 

to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of 

Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure 

borders, and recognizing and strongly supporting its 


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2 

•SRES 599 ATS 

right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against 

acts of terrorism. 

Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel; 

Whereas Hamas has been designated by the Secretary of 

State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; 

Whereas Hamas refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, 

renounce violence, and accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians; 

Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and missiles since Israel dismantled settlements and withdrew 

from Gaza in 2005; 

Whereas terrorists in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have 

fired approximately 900 rockets and missile shells into 

Israel this year, an increase from roughly 675 attacks in 

2011 and 350 in 2010; 

Whereas Hamas has increased the range of its rockets, reportedly with support from Iran and others, putting additional large numbers of Israelis in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza; 

Whereas, on November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama 

condemned the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel and reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense; and 

Whereas Israel, a fellow democracy, has an inherent right to 

self defense in the face of terrorist attacks: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses unwavering commitment to the 

3 security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and demoVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:31 Nov 15, 2012 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR599.ATS SR599

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•SRES 599 ATS 

1 cratic state with secure borders, and recognizes and 

2 strongly supports its inherent right to act in self-de3 fense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism; 

4 (2) reiterates that Hamas must end Gaza5 linked terrorist rocket and missile attacks against 

6 Israel, recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce vio7 lence, and agree to accept previous agreements be8 tween Israel and the Palestinians; 

9 (3) urges the United Nations Security Council 

10 to condemn the recent spike in Gaza-linked terrorist 

11 missile attacks against Israel, which risk causing ci12 vilian casualties in both Israel and Gaza; and 

13 (4) encourages the President to continue to 

14 work diplomatically with the international commu15 nity to prevent Hamas and other Gaza-based ter16 rorist organizations from retaining or rebuilding the 

17 capability to launch rockets and missiles against 

18 Israel. 

Æ 


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