HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S DAY OF INDEPENDENCE ON APRIL 21ST THROUGH APRIL 22ND, 2026, AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S DAY OF INDEPENDENCE ON
APRIL 21ST THROUGH APRIL 22ND, 2026, AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF
FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND, THE UNITED STATES,
AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Introduced By:
Representatives Edwards, Finkelman, Corvese, Kennedy, Shekarchi,
Blazejewski, McNamara, Chippendale, Paplauskas, and Newberry

Date Introduced:
April 16, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to
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partition British Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and Arab state, a decision welcomed by
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Jewish leadership and rejected by the Arab world; and
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WHEREAS, On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the
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sovereign and independent State of Israel, and the United States government established full
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diplomatic relations after Israel's first election in 1949; and
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WHEREAS, The desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of
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Israel is directly linked to the existence of the historic kingdom of Israel established in the land of
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Israel more than 3,000 years ago, with the City of Jerusalem as its capital both then and now; and
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WHEREAS, For over 2,000 years, Jews living in other parts of the world maintained a
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profound spiritual and emotional connection to the Land of Israel, and there has been continuous
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Jewish presence in the land comprising the modern State of Israel; and
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WHEREAS, The establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the
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Jewish people followed the destruction of much of European Jewry during the Holocaust; and
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WHEREAS, Since its establishment 78 years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt
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the nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and created a thriving economic, political, cultural,
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and intellectual life despite the heavy burdens of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and
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economic boycotts against the people of Israel; and

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WHEREAS, The people of Israel, in the spirit of Israel's Declaration of Independence,
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have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system, which includes freedom of
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speech, association, and religion; a vigorously free press; free, fair and open elections; the rule of
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law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic principles and practices; and
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WHEREAS, Israel has developed some of the world's leading universities, has an
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advanced, entrepreneurial economy, is among the world's leaders of the high-tech industry, and is
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at the forefront of research and development in the fields of renewable energy sources and
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medicine; and
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WHEREAS, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search and rescue teams, mobile
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hospitals, and other emergency supplies, to help victims of disasters around the world; and
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WHEREAS, Israel has taken in millions of Jews from countries throughout the world and
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sought to fully integrate them into Israeli society; and
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WHEREAS, Israel has established peaceful bilateral relations with Egypt and Jordan and
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has sought to achieve a secure peace with the Palestinians and Israel's other Arab neighbors; and
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WHEREAS, For more than seven decades, Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel
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have maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic and moral values,
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common strategic interests, and bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and
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WHEREAS, The American people and the people of Rhode Island feel a strong affinity
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for the Israeli people based on common values and shared cultural heritage; and
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WHEREAS, The United States and Rhode Island continue to regard Israel as a trusted
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ally and vital strategic partner in the volatile Middle East; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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recognizes the historic significance of the 78th Anniversary of the reestablishment of the
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sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That this House hereby reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation
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which have existed between Rhode Island, the United States, and Israel for more than 70 years,
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and commits to strengthening those bonds; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Gail Putnam, Chief Administrative Officer
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of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Mr. Benjamin Sharoni, Israeli Consulate
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General in Boston.
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