Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/5159

 12 2 STA T .5 1 36CON C UR R E NT RESO L UT I ONS — A P R.2 4, 2 0 0 8Wher e ast he esta bli sh m e n t of the mo d ern S tate of I srael as a homeland for the J e w ish p eople followed the sla ug hter of more than 6,0 00,000 E uropean Jews during the H olo c aust Whereas since its establishment 60 y ears ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic demo - cratic society, and created a thri v ing economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of war, terrorism, and un j ustified diplomatic and economic boycotts against the people of Israel; Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system, including freedom of speech, associa- tion, and religion; a vigorously free press; free, fair and open elections; the rule of law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic principles and practices; Whereas Israel has developed some of the leading universities in the world, and 8 Israeli citi z ens have been awarded the N obel P rize; Whereas Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the world ’ s leaders in the high-tech industry, and is at the forefront of research and development in the field of renewable energy sources; Whereas Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search-and- rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other emergency supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world, including the 19 9 4R wandan civil war, the 1998 bombing of the U nited States Embassy in K enya, the 1999 earth q ua k es in T urkey, the 2 004 Indian O cean tsunami, the 200 5 hurricanes along the southern coast of the United States, and the 200 7 fires in G reece; Whereas Israel has absorbed millions of Jews from countries throughout the world and fully integrated them into Israeli society; Whereas Israel has bravely defended itself from repeated terrorist and military attacks since its independence; Whereas successive leaders of Israel have sought to achieve peace with Israel’s A rab neighbors; Whereas Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with neighboring Egypt and Jordan and has made its desire to estab- lish peaceful relations with all Arab states abundantly clear; Whereas for 6 decades, the United States and Israel have main- tained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and moral bonds of friendship and mutual respect; Whereas the American people feel a strong affinity for the Israeli people based on common values and shared cultural heritage; and Whereas the United States continues to regard Israel as a strong and trusted ally and an important strategic partner

Now, there- fore, be it Resolv e dbyth e H o u seo f Re pr ese n t a t i ves ( the S enate c oncur - rin g), That C ongress —( 1 ) recognizes the historic significance of the 60th anniver- sary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people;

�