A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Commending the nation of Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and with the State of South Dakota.

WHEREAS, Israel has been granted her lands by a promise made by God to Abraham, father to the Jewish nation (Genesis 12:1-3); and

WHEREAS, the claim and presence of the Jewish people in Israel has remained constant throughout the past four thousand years of history; and

WHEREAS, the legal basis for the establishment of the modern state of Israel was a binding resolution under international law, which was unanimously adopted by the League of Nations in 1922 and subsequently affirmed by both houses of the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, this resolution affirmed the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the historical region of the land of Israel, including the areas of Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem; and

WHEREAS, Israel declared its independence and self-governance on May 14, 1948, with the goal of re-establishing its God-given and legally recognized lands as a homeland for the Jewish people; and

WHEREAS, the United States, having been the first country to recognize Israel as an independent nation and as Israel's principal ally, has enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship with Israel and her people; and

WHEREAS, there are increasing incidents of anti-Semitism around the world, including across the United States reflected in official hate crime statistics; and

WHEREAS, the international boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement is one of the main vehicles for spreading anti-Semitism and advocating the elimination of the Jewish State; and

WHEREAS, Israel is the greatest friend and ally of the United States in the Middle East and our values are very similar; and

WHEREAS, there are those in the Middle East who have continually sought to destroy Israel, from the time of its inception as a state, and those same enemies of Israel also hate, and seek to destroy, the United States; and

WHEREAS, the promise of the God of Israel, is that God will bless those that will bless Israel and let it also be known that the State of South Dakota openly blesses Israel with gratitude for our cordial and mutually beneficial relations since 1948:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature commends Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and with the State of South Dakota, supports Israel in its legal, historical, moral, and God-given right of self-governance and recognize Israel as our principal ally in the Middle East.