[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 188 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 188
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of
Israel, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 2, 2023
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Schumer, Mr. McConnell, Mr.
Cardin, Mr. Romney, Mr. Coons, Mr. Young, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Sullivan, Mr.
Merkley, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Braun, Mr. Booker, Mr.
Barrasso, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Hagerty, Mr.
Graham, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of
Israel, and for other purposes.
Whereas May 14, 2023, marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the
State of Israel;
Whereas May 11, 2023, marks the 74th anniversary of Israel's membership in the
United Nations;
Whereas, on September 21, 1922, President Warren G. Harding signed House Joint
Resolution 322, after unanimous support from the House of
Representatives and the Senate, endorsing the Balfour Declaration
establishing a national home for the Jewish people;
Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of
the sovereign and independent State of Israel;
Whereas, on May 14, 1948, President Harry S. Truman, on behalf of the United
States, was the first foreign leader to recognize the Jewish government
of the State of Israel;
Whereas the establishment of the State of Israel realized the right of the
Jewish people to self-determination and is an outgrowth of the existence
of the historic and ancestral kingdom of Israel established in the land
of Israel 3,000 years ago with Jerusalem as its capital;
Whereas the establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the
Jews followed the slaughter of more than 6,000,000 Jews during the
Holocaust;
Whereas the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, proclaimed
on May 14, 1948, states, in part, ``THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for
Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster
the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants;
it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the
prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and
political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race
or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language,
education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all
religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of
the United Nations.'';
Whereas, to preserve these values and the institutions of Israeli democracy,
Israel has enacted and amended the Basic Laws of Israel, which provide
the foundation of Israel's democratic system;
Whereas Israel is home to a vibrant Arab community, comprising an estimated 20
percent of Israel's population and possessing equal rights under Israeli
law;
Whereas the people of Israel have established a pluralistic democratic political
system, including freedom of speech, a free press, free, fair, and open
elections, the rule of law, and other democratic principles and
practices;
Whereas Israel--
(1) offers invaluable contributions to the international community,
including humanitarian aid, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, military
weaponry, counterterrorism, airport security, agriculture, water
management, arid-zone farming, medical advances, natural gas, and other
technologies; and
(2) will promote a positive vision for emerging technologies that is
anchored by democratic values;
Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel--
(1) contribute to the security interests of the United States;
(2) produce security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region;
(3) increase regional integration and stability; and
(4) build confidence with respect to peace negotiations;
Whereas Israel--
(1) maintains diplomatic relations with 166 of the 193 member states of
the United Nations; and
(2) retains 80 resident embassies, 21 consulates general, and 7 special
missions globally;
Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the United States, members
of the European Union, members of the European Free Trade Association,
Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other
nation states;
Whereas, in 1987, the United States Government designated Israel as a major non-
NATO ally;
Whereas, in 2014, the United States Government designated Israel as a major
strategic partner;
Whereas, on March 26, 1979, the Arab Republic of Egypt signed a peace treaty
with Israel, becoming the first Arab country to establish full,
normalized, diplomatic relations with the State of Israel;
Whereas, on October 26, 1994, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed a peace
treaty with Israel, becoming the second Arab country to normalize ties
with Israel;
Whereas security coordination between the State of Israel and the Palestinian
National Authority promotes stability and is critical to deescalating
tensions;
Whereas the United States has actively supported and played a significant role
in the efforts to bring about Israeli-Palestinian peace, consistent with
the long-standing United States commitment to a sustainable, viable,
two-state solution negotiated directly between the parties, resulting in
an end to the conflict and two states for two peoples based on mutual
recognition, dignity, and peaceful neighborly relations;
Whereas, on September 15, 2020, the United States, the State of Israel, the
United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Abraham
Accords, consisting of agreements to establish full relations between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and the Kingdom
of Bahrain;
Whereas the landmark Abraham Accords were quickly followed by agreements to
normalize relations between Israel and Sudan on October 23, 2020, and
between Israel and Morocco on December 10, 2020;
Whereas Congress underscored in the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2022
(division Z of Public Law 117-103) that the Abraham Accords, and related
agreements and frameworks, ``have the potential to fundamentally
transform the security, diplomatic, and economic environment in the
Middle East and North Africa and advance vital United States national
security interests'';
Whereas the United States continues to build upon the foundations and success of
the Abraham Accords by urging further normalization with Israel and by
deepening regional integration and cooperation, including between Israel
and Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, most
recently, through holding the Negev Summit on March 27 and 28, 2022, in
Sde Boker, Israel, and the establishment of the Negev Forum on June 27,
2022, in Manama, Bahrain;
Whereas, on June 27, 2022, the Negev Forum Steering Committee announced the
establishment of--
(1) 6 working groups that foster the integration of clean energy, food
and water security, education and coexistence, health, regional security,
and tourism; and
(2) ``initiatives that strengthen the Palestinian economy and improve
the quality of life of Palestinians'';
Whereas the joint security cooperation between the United States and Israel in
many fields, including intelligence sharing, air defense technology,
joint comprehensive military exercises, and cybersecurity, has proven
invaluable in strengthening the national security of the United States
and Israel;
Whereas Israel faces growing threats to its security, including--
(1) Iran's advancing nuclear program and support for global terrorism;
(2) terrorist threats from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and
Hizballah; and
(3) other terrorist threats;
Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-year bilateral
security cooperation and assistance memoranda of understanding in which
the United States committed to provide Israel with security assistance
valued at--
(1) $26,700,000,000 during the 10-year period ending on September 30,
2008;
(2) $30,000,000,000 during the 10-year period ending on September 30,
2018; and
(3) $38,000,000,000 during the 10-year period ending on September 30,
2028;
Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance with such memoranda of
understanding, reflecting the two countries' shared priorities in the
region and the strength of United States support for maintaining
Israel's qualitative military edge;
Whereas Congress passed the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act
of 2020 (title VIII of division K of Public Law 116-260), which supports
economic development and peacebuilding efforts between Israelis and
Palestinians;
Whereas antisemitism continues to rise globally, reaching an alarming all-time
high during 2021 with 2,717 incidents in the United States and an
estimated 1,090,000,000 people worldwide harboring antisemitic
attitudes, making self-determination and a safe haven for the Jewish
people even more necessary;
Whereas Israel has absorbed millions of Jews from countries throughout the world
and fully integrated them into Israeli society;
Whereas the United States and Israel have maintained a special relationship for
75 years based on mutually shared democratic values, common strategic
interests, and moral bonds of friendship and mutual respect between
their countries and people;
Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the community of nations
benefits Israel, the United States, and all governments that share
common values and promote democratic stability throughout the world; and
Whereas the United States will continue to advocate for equitable treatment of
Israel in international fora in the face of antisemitic bias: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the historic significance of, and joins the
Israeli people in their celebration of, the 75th anniversary of
the founding of the State of Israel;
(2) reaffirms--
(A) the longstanding and indelible partnership
between the United States and Israel;
(B) the unshakeable commitment of the United States
to the security of the State of Israel; and
(C) the right of Israel to exist in peace,
prosperity, and security alongside its neighbors;
(3) reiterates its support for a comprehensive and lasting
peace between Israelis and Palestinians, in which both enjoy
peace, security, and prosperity;
(4) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the State of
Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all governments
around the world;
(5) reiterates its support for the Abraham Accords, the
Negev Forum, and all other ongoing efforts to formalize and
strengthen relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors in
pursuit of a more integrated and peaceful region;
(6) reaffirms its continuing support for Israel as a Jewish
and democratic state that is committed--
(A) to defending the security, freedom and equality
of all its inhabitants, regardless of religion, race,
or sex; and
(B) to guaranteeing freedom of religion,
conscience, language, education, and culture;
(7) reaffirms that the United States will continue to fight
against antisemitism globally and against the efforts to
delegitimize Israel in international fora;
(8) commends the people of Israel for their remarkable
achievements in building a pluralistic democratic society in
the Middle East; and
(9) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to
the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous,
and successful future.
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