2025 -- S 1065

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LC002884

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S DAY OF INDEPENDENCE ON

APRIL 30TH THROUGH MAY 1ST, 2025, AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF

FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND, THE UNITED STATES,

AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, and Raptakis

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2025

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to

partition British Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and Arab state, a decision welcomed by

Jewish leadership and rejected by the Arab world; and

     WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the

sovereign and independent State of Israel, and the United States government established full

diplomatic relations after Israel's first election in 1949; and

     WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of

Israel is directly linked to the existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the land of

Israel more than 3,000 years ago, with the City of Jerusalem as its capital both then and now; and

     WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, Jews living in other parts of the world maintained a

profound spiritual and emotional connection to the Land of Israel, and there has been continuous

Jewish presence in the land comprising the modern State of Israel; and

     WHEREAS, The establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the

Jewish people followed the destruction of much of European Jewry during the Holocaust; and

     WHEREAS, Since its establishment 77 years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt

the nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and created a thriving economic, political, cultural,

and intellectual life despite the heavy burdens of war, terrorism, and diplomatic and economic

boycotts against the people of Israel; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Israel, in the spirit of Israel's Declaration of Independence,

have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system, which includes freedom of

speech, association, 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; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has developed some of the world's leading universities, has an

advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the world's leaders of the high-tech industry, and is

at the forefront of research and development in the fields of renewable energy sources and

medicine; and

     WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search and rescue teams, mobile

hospitals, and other emergency supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world; and

     WHEREAS, Israel has taken in millions of Jews from countries throughout the world and

sought to fully integrate them into Israeli society; and

     WHEREAS, For more than seven decades, Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel

have maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic and moral values,

common strategic interests, and bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and

     WHEREAS, The American people and the people of Rhode Island feel a strong affinity

for the Israeli people based on common values and shared cultural heritage; and

     WHEREAS, The United States and Rhode Island continue to regard Israel as a trusted

ally and vital strategic partner in the volatile Middle East; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes the historic

significance of the 77th Anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and independent

State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation

which have existed between Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel for more than 70 years,

and commits to strengthening those bonds; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. Adam Greenman, President and CEO of

the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Mr. Benjamin Sharoni, Israeli Consulate

General in Boston.

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LC002884

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