Assembly Resolution No. 354

BY: M. of A. Rozic

CONGRATULATING the State of Israel on the 75th
Anniversary of its establishment and reaffirming the
bonds of friendship, cooperation, and shared values
between the people of the State of New York and
Israel

WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the
modern State of Israel in the ancestral home of the Jewish people; and

WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly
voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, and through that
vote, to create the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, Israel was officially declared an independent nation on May
14, 1948, in fulfillment of the eternal desire of the Jewish people to
return to the land of the historic Kingdom of Israel established 3,000
years ago and to the holy city of Jerusalem; and

WHEREAS, On the same day in 1948, only 11 minutes later, the United
States recognized the new State of Israel and established full
diplomatic relations with Israel; and

WHEREAS, For more than 2,000 years, there has been continuous Jewish
presence and residence in the land comprising the modern State of
Israel; and

WHEREAS, A century ago at the First Zionist Congress, in Basel,
Switzerland, participants under the leadership of Theodore Herzl
affirmed the desire to reestablish a Jewish homeland in the historic
land of Israel; and

WHEREAS, The modern State of Israel was created just a few years
after the Holocaust and World War II, where the death of six million
Jews did not eliminate the will of the Jewish People to seek dignity in
life and a place of respect and recognition among the people of the
world; and

WHEREAS, Israel, since its inception, when the combined forces of
five Arab nations invaded to destroy the dream of the Jewish people,
continues to face the hostility, and frequently through the years of its
statehood, the armed aggression, of its neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Despite these conflicts, in the 75 years since its
establishment, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a
new and dynamic society, and created a unique and vital economic,
political, cultural and intellectual life despite the heavy cost of six
wars, terrorism, international ostracism and economic boycotts; and

WHEREAS, In its 75 years of statehood, Israel has established a
modern parliamentary democracy and has become the most successful
democracy in the Middle East, and has provided its citizens with the
highest standards of living and human equality in a region otherwise
beset with poverty and human rights abuses; and


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

WHEREAS, Israel is home to many religions, primarily Judaism, Islam,
Christianity, and Druze, as well as many religious sites sacred to
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Druze; and

WHEREAS, The State of Israel has become a source of agricultural,
industrial, technological, academic, and cultural achievement and
creativity; and

WHEREAS, The State of Israel has formed many strategic partnerships
with the United States and developed a relationship valued by both
countries; and

WHEREAS, On March 26, 1979, Israel signed a groundbreaking peace
treaty with Egypt, the first of its kind with an Arab State, followed by
the Israel-Jordan peace treaty on October 26, 1994; and

WHEREAS, The Abraham Accords, signed by the United States, Israel,
United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain on September 15, 2020, the joint
declaration with Morocco on December 22, 2020, and the Abraham Accords
Declaration by Sudan on January 6, 2021, marked the first instance of
new normalized relations between Israel and Arab countries in more than
two decades and have ushered in a new era of peace in the Middle East
and North Africa; and

WHEREAS, The Abraham Accords has advanced understanding and
interfaith dialogue and has led to growth in tourism, trade, investment,
and defense cooperation between member countries showcasing the untapped
potential of building a better future for all in the region to work
together towards a two-state solution; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the State of Israel has and continues
to face challenges to its safety and security; and

WHEREAS, Israel continues to strive for peace with security and
dignity for itself, its neighbors and throughout the world in order to
fulfill the prophecy of becoming a light unto the nations; and

WHEREAS, The people of New York share an affinity with the people of
Israel and view Israel as a strong and trusted ally; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the State of Israel upon the occasion of the 75th
Anniversary of its independence; applauds Israel for its incredible
growth since its founding and the Israeli people for their significant
contributions to the international community; and reaffirms the bonds of
friendship and cooperation between the State of New York and Israel; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Consul General of Israel for New York.