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.
PL 105-175 (H.J.Res.102), enacted 05/11/1998

112 STAT. 102 
PUBLIC LAW 105-175—MAY 11, 1998 
Public Law 105-175 
105th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
M 11 199A 
Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary 
*^ ' 
of the founding of the modem State of Israel and reaf&rming the bonds of 
[H. 
J. Res. 102] 
friendship 
and cooperation between the United States and Israel. 
Whereas on November 29,1947, the United Nations General Assem-
bly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, and 
tlu*ough 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 independent 
modem State of Israel is the outgrowth of the existence of the 
historic Kingdom of Israel estabUshed three thousand years ago 
in the city of Jerusalem £ind in the land of Israel; 
Theodore Herzl. 
Whereas one century ago at the First Zionist Congress on August 
29 to 31, 1897, in Basel, Switzerland, participants under the 
leadership of Theodore Herzl affirmed the desire to reestablish 
a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel; 
Whereas the establishment of the modem 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 estabUshment 50 years ago, the modem State 
of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic 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 func-
tioning pluralistic democratic political system including freedom 
of speech, a free press, free and fair and open elections, the 
rule of law, and other democratic principles and practices; 
Whereas, at great social and financial costs, Israel has absorbed 
himdreds of thousands of Jews from countries throughout the 
World, many of them refugees from Arab countries, and fiilly 
integrated them into Israeli society; 
Whereas for half a century the United States and Israel have 
maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared demo-
cratic values, common strategic interests, and moral bonds of 
friendship and mutual respect; and 
Whereas the Atnerican 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 
PUBLIC LAW 105-175—MAY 11, 1998 
112 STAT. 103 
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 50th anniver-
sary of the reestabhshment of the sovereign and independent 
modem State of Israel; 
(2) commends the people of Israel for their remarkable 
achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic demo-
cratic 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 cooperation which 
have existed between the United States and Israel for the 
past half-century and which have been significant for both 
countries; and 
(4) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes 
to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful and pros-
perous and successful future. 
Approved May 11, 1998. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 102: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998): 
Apr. 28, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 29, considered and passed Senate. 
68-194 O - 98 - 6: QL 3 Part 1