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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This resolution expresses support for the State of Israel in its defense against Hamas.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This resolution:
12 ▸ recognizes the atrocities Hamas has committed against Israel, the Israeli people, and
13 other innocent civilians;
14 ▸ examines Utah's strong ties to Israel;
15 ▸ expresses the House of Representatives' steadfast support of Israel and encourages
16 the same from the United States and foreign countries;
17 ▸ condemns Hamas' unprovoked attack and acts of terrorism;
18 ▸ honors the Israeli people's courage and resolve in their pursuit to defeat terrorism;
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20 ▸ calls upon Utah law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans,
21 Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, supporters of Israel, and others in our
22 community.
23 Special Clauses:
24 None
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26 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
27 WHEREAS, in the early morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal, highly
28 organized, and vicious attack on the State of Israel;
29 WHEREAS, Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying Israel and has been
30 designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization;
31 WHEREAS, in its attack, Hamas fired thousands of rockets against Israeli population
32 centers in an attempt to kill innocent civilians;
33 WHEREAS, Hamas murdered more than 1,200 Israelis and over a dozen American
34 civilians, tortured innocent civilians, and committed heinous acts of sexual violence;
35 WHEREAS, Hamas took hostage hundreds of civilians, including women, children,
36 and the elderly and infirm, and continues to hold the hostages going on 40 days;
37 WHEREAS, the level of logistical sophistication demonstrated in this Hamas terrorism
38 operation indicates its receipt of support and funding from foreign state sponsors of terror,
39 namely Iran;
40 WHEREAS, the timing of the attacks coincided with the observance of the Jewish
41 Sabbath and high holiday of Simchat Torah, which demonstrated an intent to maximize civilian
42 casualties and to disrespect the holiest of Jewish traditions;
43 WHEREAS, Hamas continues to brazenly locate elements of its terrorist infrastructure
44 in civilian population centers, intentionally using civilians as human shields;
45 WHEREAS, Utah has strong ties with Israel, including religious foundations,
46 family-centered values, comparable geographic features, and dynamic ecosystems and
47 economies; and
48 WHEREAS, Utah and Israel are important trading partners and have cultivated
49 mutually beneficial relationships:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives expresses
51 its steadfast and united support of the State of Israel and condemns in the strongest terms the
52 horrific and appalling acts of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas against Israel.
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives supports Israel in its
54 efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives mourns the
56 tremendous loss of innocent civilian life.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives urges all countries,
58 especially parties to the Abraham Accords, to denounce Hamas' unprovoked attack and
59 encourages the United States to continue to support Israel in its defense against Hamas and all
60 other terrorist organizations.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives calls upon Utah law
62 enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim
63 Americans, supporters of Israel, and others in our community from acts of crime and unlawful
64 discrimination that tend to manifest in such times.
65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives commends the
66 courage and resolve shown by the Israeli people in their pursuit to defeat terrorism and pay
67 tribute to the many men, women, and children who lost their lives in these horrific attacks.