HR 1637

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution reaffirming support of Israel and concurring
3	in United States Senate Concurrent Resolution 79 relating
4	to the Palestinian Authority.
5
6	WHEREAS, it is the sense of this assembled body, in keeping
7	with its time-honored traditions, to periodically reaffirm its
8	support of nations and peoples with whom the State of Florida
9	and this nation have had long-standing close relationships, and
10	WHEREAS, as a result of recent Palestinian Authority
11	elections, it is incumbent upon this assembled body to stand by
12	and support, with the firmest declaration of friendship, the
13	people and State of Israel, and
14	WHEREAS, the democratic systems of government and
15	pioneering histories of the United States and Israel linked and
16	established a mutual respect between our two nations from the
17	beginning, even to the extent that President Harry S. Truman
18	offered official United States recognition of Israel a mere 11
19	minutes after it had declared its independence as a sovereign
20	state, and
21	WHEREAS, the bond many Floridians have with Israelis is
22	both strong and fervent; many Floridians have family and friends
23	in Israel; and Florida and Israel have created many joint
24	economic and social programs that have greatly benefited both,
25	and
26	WHEREAS, since September 11, 2001, Americans, especially in
27	Florida, have become sadly familiar with and gained a greater
28	and deeper understanding of the specter of terrorism, and it is
29	this unfortunate understanding that has strengthened the union
30	of the hearts and souls of Israelis and Floridians against the
31	evil which threatens to destroy humane and compassionate
32	society, and
33	WHEREAS, Florida shares with Israel as well a deep belief
34	in democracy, freedom, and security within their borders, and it
35	is therefore with great dismay that this assembled body views
36	the admittance of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, to the
37	Palestinian Legislative Council without its being required to
38	renounce its terrorist acts or to acknowledge the State of
39	Israel's right to exist, and
40	WHEREAS, the fact that Hamas holds a majority of the seats
41	in this government magnifies the concern exponentially, and
42	WHEREAS, Hamas, recognized by the international community
43	as a terrorist organization, is responsible for more than 425
44	terrorist attacks since the beginning of the second intifada in
45	the fall of 2000 and the deaths of 377 people, including women
46	and children and approximately 27 Americans, since 1993, and
47	WHEREAS, the United States Senate and House of
48	Representatives have adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 79
49	expressing the sense of Congress that no United States
50	assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian
51	Authority if any representative political party holding a
52	majority of parliamentary seats within the Palestinian Authority
53	maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel, and
54	WHEREAS, the very existence of the State of Israel is a
55	triumph over the oppression and hatred which have challenged the
56	Jewish people throughout history, and the solidarity of the
57	people of the State of Florida with the State of Israel is clear
58	and unremitting, NOW, THEREFORE,
59
60	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
61	Florida:
62
63	That the House of Representatives pauses in its
64	deliberations to express its concurrence in United States Senate
65	Concurrent Resolution 79, to reiterate its abhorrence of
66	terrorism, and to reaffirm its affinity with and support of the
67	people and State of Israel.
68	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
69	presented to Arye Mekel, Consul General of Israel, as a tangible
70	token of the sentiments expressed herein.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.