Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1019

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

Commending the nation of Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and with the State of Arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Israel has been granted her land under and through the oldest recorded deed, as recorded in the Old Testament, scripture that is held sacred and revered by Jews and Christians alike, the acts and words of God; and

Whereas, the claim and presence of the Jewish people in Israel has remained constant throughout the past 4,000 years of history; and

Whereas, the legal basis for the establishment of the modern State of Israel was a binding act of international law established in the San Remo Resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the League of Nations in 1922 and subsequently affirmed by both houses of the United States Congress; and

Whereas, this resolution affirmed the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the historical region of the Land of Israel, including the areas of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem; and

Whereas, Article 80 of the United Nations Charter recognized the continued validity of the rights granted to states or peoples that already existed under international instruments, and, therefore, the 1922 League of Nations resolution remains valid and the 650,000 Jews currently residing in the areas of Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem reside there legitimately; and

Whereas, Israel declared its independence and self-governance on May 14, 1948, with the goal of reestablishing its God-given and legally recognized land as a homeland for the Jewish people; and

Whereas, the United States, as the first country to recognize Israel as an independent nation and as Israel's principal ally, has enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship with Israel and her people; and

Whereas, Israel is the greatest friend and ally of the United States in the Middle East, and the values of our two nations are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate one from the other; and

Whereas, there are those in the Middle East who have continually sought to destroy Israel from the time of its inception as a state, and those same enemies of Israel also hate and seek to destroy the United States; and

Whereas, the State of Arizona and Israel have enjoyed cordial and mutually beneficial relations since 1948, a friendship that continues to strengthen with each passing year; and

Whereas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before a joint session of Congress on March 3, 2015 and urged the United States to stand with Israel to "stop Iran's march of conquest, subjugation and terror" and warned the United States that an emerging nuclear agreement with Iran "paves Iran's path to the bomb."

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature commend Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and with the State of Arizona and support Israel as a Jewish state in its legal, historical, moral and God-given right of self-governance and self-defense on the entirety of its own lands, recognizing that Israel is not an occupier of the lands of others and that peace can be afforded in the region only through a whole and united Israel.

2.  That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, each member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the Governor of the State of Arizona.