ADOPTED - APRIL 29, 2008

Agenda Item No. 6

Introduced by the County Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE STATE OF ISRAEL

ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 60^TH ANNIVERSARY

RESOLUTION #08-111

WHEREAS, 2008 marks the 60^th anniversary of the founding of the modern Jewish State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, on November 29, 1947 the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, and through that vote, to create the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS the desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern State of Israel is the outgrowth of the existence of the historic Kingdom of Israel established three thousand years ago in the city of Jerusalem and in the land of Israel; and

WHEREAS a century ago at the First Zionist Congress, in Basel, Switzerland, participants under the leadership of Theodore Herzl affirmed the desire to reestablish a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel; and

WHEREAS, in its 60 years of existence, Israel has become the most successful democracy in the Middle East, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the area; and

WHEREAS, born in the ashes of the Holocaust, Israel has from its inception faced the hostility, and frequently the armed aggression, of its neighbors; and

WHEREAS, since its establishment sixty years ago, the modern State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and created a unique and vital economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of six wars, terrorism, international ostracism, and economic boycotts; and

WHEREAS, despite difficult and often dangerous circumstances, Israel has prospered, blessed with a success of great leaders, from David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir to Menachem Begin, and Yitzak Rabin; and

WHEREAS Israel continues to strive for peace with security and dignity for themselves and their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, with the anniversary observance taking place throughout the year, Israel will celebrate its anniversary with events marking the birth and development of the state, the struggle to find peace and security, and its hopes for the future.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners recognizes the historic significance of the sixtieth anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and independent modern State of Israel; commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East in the face of terrorism, hostility and belligerence by many of her neighbors; and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between the United States and Israel for six decades and which have been significant for both countries.

ADOPTED - APRIL 29, 2008

Agenda Item No. 6

RESOLUTION #08-111

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous and successful future.

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Nolan, Copedge, Soule, Grebner, Severino

Nays:  None                 Absent:  De Leon               Approved 4/22/08