CONCERNING A REAFFIRMATION BY THE COLORADO GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STRONG BONDS CONNECTING THE
UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND AN
EXPRESSION BY THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL IN
ITS STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM.

WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General
Assembly voted to partition the British mandate of Palestine and, by that
vote, created the state of Israel; and

WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of the state of Israel
proclaimed the establishment of the sovereign and independent state of
Israel; and

WHEREAS, The United States government recognized the state of Israel
just minutes after its declaration of independence and, at that time,
established full diplomatic relations with the nascent state; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of the state of Israel as a modern
homeland for the Jewish people followed the extermination of more than
six million European Jews during the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, Since its establishment fifty-six years ago, the Israeli
people have built a modern nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and
created a unique and vital economic, cultural, and intellectual life while
confronting immense pressures and burdens associated with war, terrorism,
ostracism from much of the international community, and economic
boycotts; and

WHEREAS, In spite of this severe degree of adversity confronting them
since 1948, including the War of Independence, the Six-Day War, the Yom
Kippur War, and the terrorist attacks of the two Intifadas, the people of the
state of Israel have established a vibrant and functioning pluralistic and
democratic political system that guarantees fundamental freedoms of speech
and of the press, free, fair, and open elections, and respect for the rule of
law; and

WHEREAS, At great financial and social cost, Israel has absorbed
several millions of immigrants from many nations around the world and has
made great strides in fully integrating these immigrants into Israeli society;
and

WHEREAS, For over half a century, the people of the United States and
the people of the state of Israel have created and maintained a special
relationship based upon mutually shared democratic values, common
strategic interests, and the bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and

WHEREAS, The bonds connecting the United States and Israel include
increased economic ties between the two nations, particularly increased
trade between Colorado and Israel as evidenced by the following facts: In
2002, Colorado exported approximately $21 million worth of
manufacturing goods to Israel; total Colorado exports to Israel have
exceeded $200 million since 1991; in 2002, Israel ranked as Colorado's
26th leading trade partner; and collaboration between Colorado-based and
Israeli business concerns is taking place in, among other things, the areas
of advanced technology, telecommunications, water conservation and
development, agriculture, and health care; and

WHEREAS, The bonds connecting the United States and Israel also
include greater collaboration between scientific researchers in both nations,
including researchers in Colorado and Israel, and researchers in Colorado
and Israel are collaborating on scientific projects involving, among other
things, atmospheric science, applied chemistry and physics, medicine, and
agriculture; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly of the
State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That we, the members of the General Assembly of the state of
Colorado, hereby reaffirm the strong bonds that have connected the people
of the United States and the people of the state of Israel together through
turbulent times for more than half a century.

(2) That we commend the people of the state of Israel for their
remarkable achievements in building a democratic and pluralistic society in
the wake of almost unrelieved adversity spanning the entirety of the nation's
existence.

(3) That we express empathy with the people of the state of Israel as
they endure a daily struggle against terrorism and violence and support
efforts to bring security to the Jewish and democratic state of Israel.

(4) That we express outrage against, and in the strongest possible terms
condemn, all acts of terror perpetrated against the Israeli people with the
intent and effect of murdering Israeli civilians, including women and
children.

(5) That we reaffirm the commitment of the American people to a just,
lasting, and secure peace for the people of the state of Israel and all of the
peoples of the Middle East.