105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. J. RES. 102
JOINT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of
the 50th anniversary of the founding of the modern
State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of friendship
and cooperation between the United States and Israel.
Whereas on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General
Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Pal-
•HJ 102 EH
estine, and through that vote, to create the State of
Israel;
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 inde-
pendent modern State of Israel is the outgrowth of the
existence of the historic Kingdom of Israel established
three thousand years ago in the city of Jerusalem and in
the land of Israel;
Whereas one century ago at the First Zionist Congress on
August 29 to 31, 1897, in Basel, Switzerland, partici-
pants under the leadership of Theodore Herzl affirmed
the desire to reestablish a Jewish homeland in the his-
toric land of Israel;
Whereas the establishment of the modern State of Israel as
a homeland for the Jews followed the slaughter of more
than six million European Jews during the Holocaust;
Whereas since its establishment fifty years ago, the modern
State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dy-
namic society, and created a unique and vital economic,
political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy
costs of six wars, terrorism, international ostracism, and
economic boycotts;
Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant and
functioning pluralistic democratic political system includ-
ing freedom of speech, a free press, free and fair and
open elections, the rule of law, and other democratic prin-
ciples and practices;
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Whereas, at great social and financial costs, Israel has ab-
sorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews from countries
throughout the world, many of them refugees from Arab
countries, and fully integrated them into Israeli society;
Whereas for half a century 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; and
Whereas the American people have shared an affinity with
the people of Israel and regard Israel as a strong and
trusted ally and an important strategic partner: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the United States—
(1) recognizes the historic significance of the
fiftieth anniversary of the reestablishment of the
sovereign and independent modern State of Israel;
(2) commends the people of Israel for their re-
markable achievements in building a new state and
a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East in
the face of terrorism, hostility and belligerence by
many of her neighbors;
(3) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and co-
operation which have existed between the United
States and Israel for the past half-century and
which have been significant for both countries; and
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(4) extends the warmest congratulations and
best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for
a peaceful and prosperous and successful future.
Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 1998.
Attest:
Clerk.