REFERENCE TITLE: United Nations; anti-Israel activity; opposition

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1029

Introduced by Senator Griffin

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

opposing the United Nations' anti-Israel activity and supporting the move of the United States embassy to Jerusalem.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the United Nations (UN) has long taken a biased approach against Israel; and

Whereas, in former Secretary‑General Ban Ki Moon's final address to the UN Security Council, he stated that "decades of political maneuvering have created a disproportionate number of resolutions, reports and committees against Israel"; and

Whereas, according to UN Watch, in 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted 20 resolutions condemning Israel and only three resolutions condemning other nations; and

Whereas, in October 2016, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adopted a resolution on "occupied Palestine" that recognized Jerusalem's Temple Mount and Western Wall as exclusively Muslim holy places, blatantly disregarding Jewish and Christian ties to the area; and

Whereas, in December 2016, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2334 by a vote of 14-0, calling for an end to all building in areas that Israel gained after the 1967 Six-Day War and calling on all states "to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967"; and

Whereas, Israel fears that UN Security Council Resolution 2334 will lead to an increase in boycott and sanctions efforts against the nation, and Israeli officials have warned that it will provide a "tailwind for terror"; and

Whereas, Israel is a vibrant democracy whose leaders are elected and accountable to the Israeli people; and

Whereas, it is the historic position of the United States government to oppose and veto one‑sided or anti‑Israel UN resolutions; and

Whereas, Jerusalem is the historic capital of the Nation of Israel, and this body supports President Trump's announcement that the United States will formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will relocate its embassy accordingly.

Therefore

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

1.  That the Members of the Legislature oppose the UN's long‑standing biased approach against Israel and recent anti‑Israel resolutions, including both the October 2016 UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization resolution and UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature express their continuing support of Israel and their support of the move of the United States embassy to Jerusalem.

3.  That the Members of the Legislature request the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona to transmit copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.