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109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION

H. CON. RES. 149

Recognizing the 57th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.

IV

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 11, 2005

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. PENCE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 57th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.

Whereas on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established as a sovereign and independent nation;

Whereas the United States was one of the first nations to recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its creation;

Whereas Israel has provided the opportunity for Jews from all over the world to reestablish their ancient homeland; Whereas Israel is home to many religious sites which are sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;

Whereas Israel provided a refuge to Jews who survived the horrors of the Holocaust and the evils committed by the Nazis which were unprecedented in human history;

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Whereas the people of Israel have established a unique, pluralistic democracy which includes the freedoms cherished by the people of the United States, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the governed;

Whereas Israel continues to serve as a shining model of democratic values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising in its Parliament, the Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its citizens;

Whereas Israel has bravely defended itself from attacks repeatedly since independence;

Whereas the Government of Israel has successfully worked with the neighboring Governments of Egypt and Jordan to establish peaceful, bilateral relations;

Whereas, despite the deaths of over one thousand innocent Israelis at the hands of murderous, suicide bombers and other terrorists during the past 4 years, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors;

Whereas the United States and Israel enjoy a strategic partnership based on shared mutual democratic values, friendship, and respect;

Whereas the people of the United States share affinity with the people of Israel and view Israel as a strong and trusted ally;

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

HCON 149 IH

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Whereas Israel's Independence Day on the Jewish calendar coincides this year with May 12, 2005: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress

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(1) recognizes the independence of the State of Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish people;

(2) praises the efforts of President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to create the

conditions for peace in the Middle East;

(3) commends the bipartisan commitment of all United States administrations and United States Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and well-being; and

(4) extends warm congratulations and best

wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate the 57th anniversary of Israel's independence.

IV

109TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

H. RES. 273

Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 11, 2005

Mr. McCOTTER (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. Cox, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in Leb

anon.

Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times to the present, and Lebanon has been a free and democratic nation for much of its modern history;

Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and cooperation which has been witnessed by the immigration of millions of Lebanese to the

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United States where they and their descendants have contributed greatly to the fabric of American life;

Whereas Syria has dominated Lebanese politics and political leaders, resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon's human rights situation, the engineering of Lebanese election results to Syria's liking, and the imposition of curbs on Lebanon's media, once the freest in the Arab world; Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces from Lebanon, leaving behind a pro-Syrian intelligence structure within the Lebanese intelligence agencies;

Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on Damascus in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) upon the Government of Syria ending its occupation of Lebanon, including the complete withdrawal of intelligence and all other security-related personnel in Lebanon, and upon other factors;

Whereas the international community has reaffirmed its call for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon through the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004);

Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of national and world concern the assassination of Rafiq alHariri, former Lebanese prime minister, which has justly been condemned as a terrorist act;

Whereas the international community has begun investigations into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and it is the policy of the United States to urge full compliance with the investigations;

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