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SCR126.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
ISRAEL - SUPPORT - Stating findings of the Legislature and expressing
support for the State of Israel as that nation engages in resistance to
terrorism.
02/17 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/18 Rpt prt - to St Aff
02/24 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
02/25 10th Ord - FAILED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Sweet
Filed in Office of the Secretary of Senate
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session - 2004
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 126
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND STATING SUPPORT FOR THE STATE OF
3 ISRAEL AS THAT NATION ENGAGES IN RESISTANCE TO TERRORISM.
4 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
5 WHEREAS, the ongoing threat of terrorism, particularly since September 11,
6 2001, has hurt the economy of Idaho as well as economies of our sister states
7 and the United States, damaged tourism and travel, and created a negative eco-
8 nomic atmosphere hurting business and resulting in job losses; and
9 WHEREAS, the ongoing threat of worldwide terrorism at home and abroad has
10 forced local, state and federal resources in the United States to be diverted
11 from other critical domestic programs for the purpose of enhancing the secu-
12 rity of our citizens; and
13 WHEREAS, the United States and Israel are joined in this common struggle
14 against terrorism and are on the front lines of a conflict thrust upon them by
15 forces beyond their control; and
16 WHEREAS, Yasser Arafat and members of the Palestinian leadership have
17 failed to abide by their commitments to nonviolence made in the Israel-PLO
18 Declaration of Principles (the "Oslo Accord") of September 1993, including
19 their pledges to (1) adhere strictly to "a peaceful resolution of the con-
20 flict," (2) resolve "all outstanding issues relating to permanent status
21 through negotiations," (3) renounce "the use of terrorism and other acts of
22 violence," and (4) "assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel
23 in order to assure their compliance (with the commitment to nonviolence), pre-
24 vent violence, and discipline violators"; and
25 WHEREAS, the continued terrorism and incitement committed, supported, and
26 coordinated by official arms of the Palestinian Authority are a direct viola-
27 tion of these commitments; and
28 WHEREAS, forces directly under Yasser Arafat's control, particularly the
29 al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, which is part of Arafat's Fatah organization has
30 been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the government of the
31 United States and has murdered scores of innocent Israelis; and
32 WHEREAS, President George W. Bush declared at a joint session of Congress
33 on September 20, 2001, that "from this day forward, any nation that continues
34 to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hos-
35 tile regime"; and
36 WHEREAS, Israel's military operations are an effort to defend itself
37 against the unspeakable horrors of ongoing terrorism and are aimed only at
38 dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas, an obliga-
39 tion Arafat himself undertook but failed to complete.
40 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
41 sion of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Rep-
42 resentatives concurring therein, that Idaho:
43 (1) Stands in solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary steps to pro-
44 vide security to its people by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in the
2
1 Palestinian areas; and
2 (2) Remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense and supports
3 additional United States assistance to help Israel defend itself; and
4 (3) Condemns Palestinian suicide bombings; and
5 (4) Demands that the Palestinian Authority at last fulfill its commitment
6 to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas, including
7 any such infrastructure associated with the PLO and Palestinian Authority
8 entities tied directly to Yasser Arafat; and
9 (5) Commends the President for his leadership in addressing the Israeli-
10 Palestinian conflict, particularly the efforts of the Administration to engage
11 countries throughout the region to condemn and prevent terrorism and to pre-
12 vent a widening of the conflict; and
13 (6) Urges all parties in the region to pursue vigorously efforts to
14 establish a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East; and
15 (7) Will work as an elected body to promote tourism, economic trade, and
16 cultural exchange with the State of Israel, keeping relations healthy now and
17 into the future for the benefit of the state of Idaho and Israel.