Senator Kahn offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 191.

            A resolution recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the state of Israel.

            Whereas, On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine to establish a Jewish state; and

            Whereas, On 14 May 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed their independence, creating the sovereign state of Israel, and the government of the United States of America established full diplomatic relations with Israel; and

            Whereas, For more than 2,000 years, there has been a continuous Jewish presence in the land comprising the modern state of Israel, and the desire of its people to establish an independent, modern Jewish state is an outgrowth of that existence; and

            Whereas, The state of Israel established a homeland for Jewish people following the Nazi slaughter of more than 6 million Jews in the Holocaust during World War II; and

            Whereas, Israel has prospered for 60 years and has been blessed with great political and cultural leaders from David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir, to Menacham Begin and Yitzhak Rabin, to Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon; and

            Whereas, The modern state of Israel has rebuilt itself and moved forward to develop a thriving democracy, bringing forth a vibrant economic, political, cultural, and intellectual society in the heart of the Middle East, despite constant terrorist threat and unjustified diplomatic and economic boycott; and

            Whereas, Israel has developed an advanced economy on the forefront of research and development in the areas of the high-tech industry and renewable sources of energy; and

            Whereas, Israel strives for universal peace with security and dignity for itself and its neighbors; and

            Whereas, The United States and Israel have for six decades maintained a special relationship based on the mutual values of democratic freedom, common strategic interests, and the moral bonds of friendship and respect; and

            Whereas, The connection between the state of Israel and the state of Michigan continues to strengthen, with developments such as the Michigan-Israel Business Bridge which promotes economic and business partnerships between the states; and

            Whereas, The people of Michigan feel a strong affinity for the Israeli people based on these shared beliefs and continues to regard Israel as an ally and important strategic partner; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize the historic significance of the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the free, independent, and sovereign state of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people; and be it further

            Resolved, That we commend the people of Israel for their unprecedented achievement and success in building a new democratic society in the heart of the Middle East, despite all odds against it, including unwarranted persecution and hostility from their neighbors; and be it further

            Resolved, That we reaffirm our long bond of friendship and cooperation, and we commit to strengthening those ties and our support for Israel's right to exist and defend itself against threats to its security; and be it further

            Resolved, That we extend Michigan's warmest congratulations and best wishes to the state of Israel and its people for continued success and prosperity and security for now and in the future; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor as an expression of its respect and admiration for Israel's accomplishments and for its best wishes for a continued peaceful and prosperous existence.