2011
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 11-027
       
       
       BY SENATOR(S) Shaffer B. and Kopp, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Cadman,
       Carroll, Foster, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Hodge,
       Hudak, Jahn, Johnston, King K., King S., Lambert, Lundberg, Morse,
       Nicholson, Renfroe, Roberts, Scheffel, Schwartz, Spence, Steadman,
       Tochtrop, White, Williams S.;
       also REPRESENTATIVE(S) McNulty and Pace, Acree, Balmer, Barker,
       Baumgardner, Becker, Beezley, Bradford, Brown, Casso, Conti, Coram,
       Court, DelGrosso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fields, Fischer, Gardner B.,
       Gardner D., Gerou, Hamner, Holbert, Hullinghorst, Jones, Joshi, Kagan,
       Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., Labuda, Lee, Levy, Liston, Looper, Massey,
       McCann, McKinley, Miklosi, Murray, Nikkel, Pabon, Peniston, Priola,
       Ramirez, Riesberg, Ryden, Scott, Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stephens,
       Summers, Swalm, Swerdfeger, Szabo, Todd, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil, Waller,
       Williams A., Wilson.
       
       
          CONCERNING CONTINUED SUPPORT BY THE COLORADO
       GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A STRONG RELATIONSHIP
       BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL. 
       
       
          WHEREAS, The State of Israel, since its founding in 1948, has been
       a strong and steadfast ally of the United States, standing alone in its
       commitment to democracy and individual liberty in the Middle East, a
       region characterized by instability and violence; and
       
          WHEREAS, Since its establishment, the State of Israel has rebuilt a
       nation, forged a new, diverse, and dynamic democratic society, and
       created a thriving economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life
       despite the heavy costs of war, terrorism, and the unjustified
       long-standing diplomatic and economic isolation carried out against the
       state and its people; and
       
          WHEREAS, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial
       economy, is among the world's leaders in high-tech industry, and is at the
       forefront of research and development in the field of renewable energy
       sources; 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 bravely defended itself from repeated terrorist
       and military attacks since its independence; and
       
          WHEREAS, The special relationship between the United States and
       Israel proves mutually beneficial, benefiting the security of both nations;
       and
       
          WHEREAS, Successive leaders of Israel have sought to achieve peace
       with Israel's Arab neighbors; and
       
          WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with
       neighboring Egypt and Jordan and has made its desire to establish
       peaceful relations with all Arab states and its Palestinian neighbors
       abundantly clear; and
       
          WHEREAS, The 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty has been the
       cornerstone of regional stability; and
       
          WHEREAS, A true and lasting peace between Israel and the
       Palestinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the
       parties; and
       
          WHEREAS, The recent popular uprisings against autocratic
       governments in the Middle East have strengthened the need for the
       United States to be able to rely on a stable and democratic ally in the
       region; and
       
          WHEREAS, Israel has an undeniable right to defend itself against any
       threat to its security, as does every nation; and
       
          WHEREAS, The citizens of Colorado feel a strong affinity for the
       Israeli people based on common values, a shared cultural heritage, and
       joint interests in high-tech industry, international trade, and the
       development of renewable energy and other resources in arid climates;
       and
       
          WHEREAS, The United States and the State of Colorado continue to
       regard Israel as a strong and trusted ally and an important strategic
       partner; now, therefore,
       
          Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly of
       the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
       
          That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby:
       
          (1)  Recognize the State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people;
       
          (2)  Commend the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements
       in building a new state and a pluralistic, democratic society in the face of
       terrorism, hostility, ostracism, and belligerence from many of their
       neighbors;
       
          (3)  Recognize the special bond between Israel and the United States
       and the State of Colorado, forged through common values and mutual
       interests;
       
          (4)  Reaffirm the importance of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty
       as a foundation of stability in the region; and 
       
          (5)  Recognize that Israel has an undeniable right to defend itself
       against any threat to its security, as does every nation.
       
                    Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to
       President Barack Obama, Vice-president Joseph R. Biden, Jr., His
       Excellency Michael Oren, Ambassador of Israel to the United States,
       Jacob Dayan, Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, and to each
       member of Colorado's congressional delegation.
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Brandon C. Shaffer                     Frank McNulty
       PRESIDENT OF                    SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES
       
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Cindi Markwell                        Marilyn Eddins
       SECRETARY OF                CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES