H*5250 Concurrent Resolution, By Lourie, Bales, Loftis, Kennedy, Koon, Leach, 
J. Hines, J.E. Smith, Harrell, Kirsh, Coleman, Miller, Lloyd, Bingham, Cotty, 
Sinclair, Whatley, Altman, Emory, Allen, R. Brown, Chellis, Clyburn, Davenport, 
Edge, Freeman, Gourdine, Govan, Harrison, Haskins, Howard, Klauber, Lee, 
Limehouse, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, 
Phillips, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, Rivers, Rutherford, Scarborough, Scott, 
D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, Snow, Stille, Talley, Taylor, Townsend, 
Walker, Webb, Wilder and Wilkins
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
 FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND TO URGE ALL STATES AND NATIONS TO JOIN IN
 SUPPORTING THIS GREAT COUNTRY IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

   05/09/02  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-3
   05/09/02  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-6

TO DECLARE THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND TO URGE ALL STATES AND NATIONS TO JOIN IN SUPPORTING THIS GREAT COUNTRY IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

Whereas, the Jewish people have had over 4,000 years of continuity in their ancestral homeland and have been subjected to unspeakable horrors of terror by others throughout their history; and

Whereas, the Holocaust of the Nazi terror regime, when over six million Jewish people were killed only because of their beliefs, gave need for a state for safe haven for Jews; and

Whereas, for more than five decades since the legal establishment of the State of Israel, its people have been subjected to continual terrorist activities and wars by its neighbors; and

Whereas, it is the moral right and duty for any legally established nation to protect its people and its existence as Israel has done and continues to do; and

Whereas, in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States of America on September 11, 2001, the United States, South Carolina, and Israel now are committed to the same fight against worldwide terrorism that threatens to destroy all of our civilization; and

Whereas, even though in 1967, all of the West Bank, half of Jerusalem, and all of the cities contained in the lands thereof were not under the control of Israel, and without provocation Israel was still attacked with the stated purpose being the complete and total elimination of the State of Israel; and

Whereas, the actions of Yasser Arafat and those who he supports and harbors intentionally target civilians of Israel to be killed, which is the definition of terrorism, thus making all those who pursue these actions terrorists; and

Whereas, the actions of the State of Israel have been only to hunt down and bring to justice the terrorists and those who support and harbor terrorism in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel which is the first duty of any sovereign, peaceful state in the world; and

Whereas, Israel has consistently pursued these goals with the stated goal of not harming innocent civilians in any way, therefore making their actions legally defensive rather than terroristic; and

Whereas, Israel is doing nothing more than the United States is doing to hunt down and bring to justice the terrorists and the terrorist organizations involved in the terrorist acts against innocent civilians in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina has many of her native men and women serving in combat in the war against terror at this time; and

Whereas, the people of South Carolina, along with all Americans, grieve the senseless loss of innocent lives due to such infamous acts of terror and evil throughout our world; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina publicly declares its unequivocal support for the State of Israel in its need to maintain its existence as a country and a democracy. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, declare their support for the State of Israel and its relentless battle against terrorism and urge all states and nations to join in supporting this great country in its fight against terrorism.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the South Carolina delegation to the United States Congress, and to the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., for transmission to all of the proper authorities in the State of Israel.