Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 1.djvu/498

 102 STAT. 460

PUBLIC LAW 100-311—MAY 6, 1988

Public Law 100-311 100th Congress Joint Resolution May 6, 1988 [H.J. Res. 541]

Commending the State of Israel and its people on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the restablishment of the independent State of Israel.

Whereas the State of Israel redeems the Biblical promise to the Jewish people of the homeland from which they were exiled for 2,000 years; Whereas the establishment of the State of Israel as a homeland for the Jews followed the slaughter of more than 6,000,000 Jews during the Holocaust; Whereas the United States helped in the creation of the State of Israel by extending diplomatic relations to the State of Israel upon its proclamation of independence on May 14, 1948; Whereas since its establishment 40 years ago, Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new society, and created an economic, cultural, and intellectual infrastructure that is nothing short of miraculous; Whereas despite the heavy costs of six wars, terrorism, international ostracism, and economic boycotts, the people of Israel have relinquished neither their desire to live in peace with their neighbors nor their democratic ideals; Whereas at great social and financial costs, Israel has absorbed 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 the world, particularly the less developed countries of Latin America and Africa, has benefited tremendously from Israeli advances in agriculture, medicine, and industry; Whereas the United States and Israel have always maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, strategic interests, and moral bonds of friendship and 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 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) hails the historic milestone of 40 years of existence of the reestablished, independent State of Israel; (2) praises the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and society and maintaining the only democracy in the Middle East in the face of constant belligerence by her neighbors;

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