Florida Senate - 2018 (NP) SR 1054 By Senator Campbell 38-01640-18 20181054__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the 70th anniversary of the 3 founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming 4 the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between 5 the State of Florida and Israel. 6 7 WHEREAS, on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General 8 Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate for Palestine 9 and create a Jewish state, and 10 WHEREAS, on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed 11 the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of 12 Israel, and the United States Government established full 13 diplomatic relations with Israel, and 14 WHEREAS, the desire of the Jewish people to establish an 15 independent modern State of Israel is an outgrowth of the 16 historic kingdom of Israel established in the land of Israel 17 3,000 years ago, with the city of Jerusalem as its capital, and 18 WHEREAS, for more than 2,000 years, there has been a 19 continuous Jewish presence and residence in the lands comprising 20 the modern State of Israel, and 21 WHEREAS, the establishment of the modern State of Israel as 22 a homeland for the Jewish people followed World War II and the 23 slaughter of more than 6 million European Jews during the 24 Holocaust, and 25 WHEREAS, since its establishment 70 years ago, the modern 26 State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic 27 democratic society, and created a thriving economic, political, 28 cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of war, 29 terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and economic boycotts 30 against the people of Israel, and 31 WHEREAS, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial 32 economy, is among the world’s leaders in the high-tech industry, 33 and is at the forefront of research and development in the field 34 of renewable energy sources, and 35 WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search 36 and-rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other emergency supplies 37 to help victims of disasters around the world and has absorbed 38 millions of Jews from other countries and fully integrated these 39 immigrants into Israeli society, and 40 WHEREAS, for 7 decades, the United States and Israel have 41 maintained a special relationship based on shared democratic 42 values, common strategic interests, and moral bonds of 43 friendship and mutual respect, NOW, THEREFORE, 44 45 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 46 47 That the members of the Senate recognize the independence 48 of the State of Israel as a significant event in providing 49 refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish people and in 50 establishing a democracy in the Middle East; commend the 51 bipartisan commitment of successive United States 52 administrations and United States Congresses since 1948 to stand 53 by Israel and work for its security and well-being; assert their 54 commitment to continue to stand with Israel during times of 55 uncertainty; express support for Israel’s right to exist as a 56 democratic, Jewish State, to defend itself, and to protect the 57 lives and safety of the Israeli people; congratulate the United 58 States and Israel for the strengthening of bilateral relations 59 during the past decade in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and 60 homeland security and encourage both nations to continue their 61 cooperation in resolving future mutual challenges; reaffirm 62 their unequivocal, enduring, and bipartisan support for the 63 alliance and friendship between the United States and Israel; 64 and extend warm congratulations and best wishes to the people of 65 Israel as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of 66 the modern State of Israel.