HJ0092

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, In May of 1948, with recognition by the United 
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Nations of the need for a Jewish homeland, the State of Israel 
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was established as a sovereign and independent nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The new State of Israel was established in the 
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ancient homeland of the Jewish people, the culmination of 
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decades of efforts by the modern Zionist movement to resettle 
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and reinvigorate the land; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The United States was one of the first nations to 
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recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its creation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Israel provided a refuge to Jews who 
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survived the horrors of the Holocaust and the evil acts 
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committed by the Nazis; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Israel has provided the opportunity for Jews from 
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all over the world, including immigrants from Ethiopia, the 
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former Soviet Union, and from the Arab lands to make new lives 
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in their ancient homeland; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Israel, home to religious sites sacred to Judaism, 
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Christianity, and Islam, is committed to the protection of 
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these sites and to freedom of worship; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, The people of Israel have established a 
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pluralistic democracy which protects the freedoms cherished by 
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the people of the State of Illinois, including freedom of 
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speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of 
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the press, an independent judiciary, and government by the 
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consent of its citizens; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Israel continues, in a region generally bereft of 
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such practices, to serve as a shining model of democratic 
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values maintaining gender equality, freedom of sexual 
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orientation, and equal rights for all citizens; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Israel has a thriving culture and has made 
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significant global contributions in the fields of science, 
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medicine, and technology; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois and the State of Israel have 
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developed mutually beneficial economic, cultural, educational, 
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trade, and scientific partnerships; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize the anniversary of 
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the establishment of the State of Israel as a significant event 
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in providing refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish 
 


 






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people; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we commend the bipartisan commitment of all 
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United States presidential administrations and United States 
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Congresses since the establishment of the State of Israel in 
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1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and 
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well-being; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we extend our warmest congratulations and 
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best wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate the 60th 
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anniversary of their nation's independence.