Alabama Expresses Solidarity with Israel
and Condemns Terrorism from Gaza in Strong Resolution

May 17, 2021 (Montgomery, AL) – The state of Alabama made a strong and important statement as the legislative session came to a close. With rockets continuing to rain down on Israeli civilians and population centers, and so many voices increasingly fixated with hurling unjust disparaging claims and false accusations inferring Israel is somehow to blame or at fault, Alabama expressed unwavering solidarity with Israel and emphatically condemned terrorism from Gaza in a strong joint resolution (SJR 138, 2021 RS). It originated from the same legislative body that - over 75 years ago, in the midst of World War II – formally called for the recognition of the Jewish state and homeland through a unanimous joint resolution five years before Israel was reborn as a nation (SJR 4, 1943 RS).

Among other, the resolution highlights Hamas was founded with the stated goal of Israel's destruction, has been designated by the United States a foreign terrorist organization, intentionally targets civilians, and uses innocent civilians as human shields while launching thousands of rockets on Israeli homes, families, and communities. It also affirms Israel’s right to defend its people from such terror, and expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

It is significant that the resolution was introduced and passed both houses of the legislature on the very last day possible in the the 2021 legislative session. With so much to complete from the session by midnight Monday May 17th, it is a testament to the importance and the urgency that legislators added it the last day to the agenda, and stayed until nearly midnight to ensure it had consideration - it passed overwhelmingly and with bipartisan support. It is important to not remain silent, and bear witness to the truth, when so many continue to delegitimize and demonize our closet ally in the Middle-East.

For many the timing was also especially meaningful as the resolution (SJR 138) passed the Alabama Legislature on Shavuot, the biblical Feast of Weeks on the Hebrew Calendar, a holy season of the year fifty days after Passover and aligning with the giving of the divine Law to Moses upon Sinai. The same corresponds also to the Christian Pentecost (though celebration of the latter can vary slightly from the former, if use the solar vs lunar calendar).

Reference SJR138 Text (IMG)(PDF)(HTML)

Alabama Joint Resolution
(Act 483, SJR 138, 2021 Regular Session)

EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL IN ITS DEFENSE
AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE GAZA STRIP

WHEREAS, Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, Hamas has been designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; and

WHEREAS, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and mortars against Israeli population centers, since Israel withdrew its civilian population and its military from Gaza in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Palestinian terrorists of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas have launched over 1800 rocket and mortars against Israeli civilian areas in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Hamas has increased the range and payload of its rockets, reportedly with support from Iran and others, putting hundreds of thousands of Israelis in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza; and

WHEREAS, Hamas locates elements of its terrorist infrastructure in civilian population centers, thus using innocent civilians as human shields; and

WHEREAS, the democratic, Jewish State of Israel is a key ally and a strategic partner of the United States and friend and partner of the State of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama plays an important role in the production of the Iron Dome missile defense system which has saved countless lives against rocket attacks by Hamas onto population centers in Israel; and

WHEREAS, Israel, a fellow democracy, has an inherent right to self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the State of Alabama:

(1) Expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against Hamas’s unceasing aggression.

(2) Reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, agree to abide by previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, and verifiably dismantle its terrorist infrastructure.

(3) Encourages the Administration to work actively to support a durable and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, as soon as possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding its terrorist infrastructure, including the capability to launch rockets and mortars against Israel, and thereby allowing for the long-term improvement of daily living conditions for the people of Gaza.

(4) Condemns Hamas for deliberately embedding its fighters, leaders, and weapons in private homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, and otherwise using Palestinian civilians as human shields, while simultaneously targeting Israeli civilians; and to lay blame both for the breaking of the calm and for subsequent civilian casualties in Gaza precisely where blame belongs, that is, on Hamas.