SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17

(By Senators Woodrum, Blair (Mr. President), Azinger, Barrett, Boley, Chapman, Clements, Deeds, Grady, Hamilton, Hunt, Jeffries, Karnes, Martin, Maynard, Nelson, Oliverio, Phillips, Plymale, Queen, Roberts, Rucker, Smith, Stover, Stuart, Swope, Takubo, Tarr, Taylor, Trump, Weld, and Caputo)

[Introduced January 15, 2024]

Reaffirming the West Virginia Legislature’s support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people; condemning anti-Semitic acts and expressions, both domestic and abroad; recognizing Israel's right to exist as a sovereign nation and a partner of the State of West Virginia; denouncing terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terrorism that threaten Israel's security and stability; and affirming the Christian-Jewish relationship as a source of strength and hope in the face of common enemies.

Whereas, The State of Israel is the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people, who have maintained a continuous presence in the land for over 3,000 years, and who have established a modern, democratic state that upholds the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity; and

Whereas, The State of Israel shares a strong bond of friendship and cooperation with the United States of America, based on common interests and values, such as the defense of liberty, the promotion of peace, and the respect for human rights; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia has a long history of supporting Israel and the Jewish people, dating back to 1947, when West Virginia Governor Clarence W. Meadows urged President Harry S. Truman to recognize the establishment of the State of Israel; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia has benefited from the cultural, educational, scientific, technological, and economic contributions of the Jewish community in various fields, such as agriculture, medicine, education, arts, and commerce; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia condemns all forms of anti-Semitism, which is a manifestation of hatred and bigotry that targets Jews as individuals or as a collective group; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia is deeply concerned by the rise of anti-Semitic incidents and expressions in many parts of the world, including in the United States, which have resulted in violence, intimidation, harassment, vandalism, and discrimination against Jews; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes that Israel faces constant threats from terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and others, that seek to destroy Israel and deny its right to exist; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia also acknowledges that Israel faces hostility from state sponsors of terrorism, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic, that provide financial, military, and political support to these terrorist groups; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia affirms Israel's right to defend itself against all enemies that seek to harm its people or undermine its sovereignty; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia values the Christian-Jewish relationship as a vital element of Western civilization and a source of inspiration for facing common challenges and adversaries, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature now reaffirms its support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people; condemns anti-Semitic acts and expressions both domestically and abroad; recognizes Israel's right to exist as a sovereign nation and a partner of the State of West Virginia; denounces terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terrorism that threaten Israel's security and stability; and affirms the Christian-Jewish relationship as a source of strength and hope in the face of common enemies; and be it

Further Resolved: That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor.

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of Senate forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation, the Prime Minister of Israel, and the Ambassador of Israel to the United States.