Florida Senate - 2009                            (NP)    SR 66-A
       
       
       
       By Senators Deutch, Smith, Hill, Dockery, Haridopolos, Fasano,
       Gelber, Rich, and Sobel
       
       
       
       30-00052B-09A                                          200966A__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in its
    3         defense against terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, the State of Israel is the greatest ally of the
    6  United States in the Middle East, and
    7         WHEREAS, the Hamas terror organization's charter calls for
    8  the destruction of the State of Israel, and
    9         WHEREAS, Palestinian terrorists of the Islamic Jihad and
   10  Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sponsored and trained by Iran, have
   11  recently fired hundreds of rockets at civilian targets in
   12  southern Israel, ending a 6-month cease fire with Israel in
   13  declaration and in deed, and
   14         WHEREAS, during the 6-month “state of calm,” Israel allowed
   15  the entrance of some 17,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid into
   16  the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian terrorists launched 538
   17  rockets and mortars into Israel, and
   18         WHEREAS, the latest terrorist attacks took place only days
   19  after the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution
   20  1850, which unanimously declared support for the peace process
   21  between the Palestinians and Israelis, and
   22         WHEREAS, since these latest terrorist attacks and the
   23  beginning of its military operation on December 27, 2008, Israel
   24  has allowed the entrance of hundreds of truckloads of
   25  humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in full coordination with
   26  donor Arab countries and international aid organizations,
   27  including the Red Cross, out of respect for human rights and
   28  lives and in an effort to minimize the hardship and suffering of
   29  the Palestinian population, and
   30         WHEREAS, Israel's military operations are an effort to
   31  defend its citizens as a moral duty against the unspeakable
   32  horrors of ongoing, indiscriminate terrorism and are aimed only
   33  at dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, and
   34         WHEREAS, hundreds of innocent Israeli and Palestinian
   35  civilians have been tragically killed due to ongoing escalations
   36  of violence initiated by Palestinian terrorist organizations,
   37  NOW, THEREFORE,
   38  
   39  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   40         
   41         That the Senate:
   42         (1) Stands in solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary
   43  steps to provide security to its people;
   44         (2) Remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense and
   45  supports additional United States' assistance to help Israel
   46  defend herself;
   47         (3) Condemns the end of the ceasefire by Hamas;
   48         (4) Condemns the firing of rockets into civilian areas by
   49  the Iran-sponsored terrorist groups of Hamas and the Islamic
   50  Jihad;
   51         (5) Urges all Arab states to declare their opposition to
   52  terrorism and attacks on civilians; and
   53         (6) Urges all parties in the region to pursue lasting peace
   54  in the Middle East.