1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 HR 1086
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5 By: Representative McAlindon
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7 HOUSE RESOLUTION
8 TO ENCOURAGE THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO ENTER INTO
9 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND
10 ISRAELI COMPANIES REGARDING EDUCATION, HISTORY,
11 RELIGION, ARCHEOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND INNOVATION.
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14 Subtitle
15 TO ENCOURAGE THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO
16 ENTER INTO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH
17 THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND ISRAELI COMPANIES
18 REGARDING EDUCATION, HISTORY, RELIGION,
19 ARCHEOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND INNOVATION.
20
21 WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas and the State of Israel have enjoyed
22 cordial and mutually beneficial relations since 1948, a friendship that
23 continues to strengthen with each passing year; and
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25 WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas, which lies in America's heartland, has
26 a special kinship with Judea and Samaria, Israel's biblical heartland; and
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28 WHEREAS, cities across Arkansas bear the names of biblical cities
29 throughout Judea and Samaria, such as Bethel, Hebron, Shiloh, Salem, and
30 numerous others; and
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32 WHEREAS, in the words of former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson,
33 supporting the State of Israel is "a fundamental part of American culture,
34 history, and of the ties that we have between Judaism and Christianity" and
35 is "a friendship that helps keep America safe"; and
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 HR1086
1 WHEREAS, in 2022, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson joined Chief
2 Scientist and Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority Dr. Ami Appelbaum
3 and Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Livia Link-Raviv to sign a
4 Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Arkansas and the Israel
5 Innovation Authority ensuring the promotion and cooperation in technological
6 innovation, research, and development among businesses, corporations,
7 research universities, and other entities within their respective borders;
8 and
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10 WHEREAS, the State of Israel has been a cornerstone of America's
11 defense against the spread of totalitarian movements and military
12 dictatorship into the Mediterranean and the Middle East for years; and
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14 WHEREAS, the State of Israel and Arkansas have benefitted from defense
15 cooperation through the building of the Iron Dome, thus saving countless
16 lives; and
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18 WHEREAS, students all over the world greatly benefit from overseas
19 educational programs that promote culture, education, and learning, and these
20 benefits are typically realized by the students' home countries; and
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22 WHEREAS, the Jewish State of Israel has a rich cultural and
23 archaeological history and world-class archaeological sites, which reflect
24 the biblical tradition held sacred by all of Western civilization; and
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26 WHEREAS, the State of Israel is recognized as a world leader in
27 agricultural technologies; and
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29 WHEREAS, Arkansas is one (1) of the top agriculture-producing states in
30 the United States; and
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32 WHEREAS, the State of Israel is recognized internationally as the
33 start-up nation and is ranked as one (1) of the top innovative nations in the
34 world; and
35
36 WHEREAS, Arkansas can meet some of its challenges, including grid
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 HR1086
1 security, water purification, civilian security first response, and more,
2 through partnerships developed with the State of Israel; and
3
4 WHEREAS, the State of Israel is our only remaining sister democracy in
5 the Middle East and its biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria,
6
7 NOW THEREFORE,
8 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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11 THAT the House of Representatives encourage the State of Arkansas to
12 build upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed by former Arkansas Governor
13 Asa Hutchinson, which encourages partnerships in innovation between Arkansas
14 and the State of Israel.
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16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the House of Representatives strongly encourage
17 the State of Arkansas to explore additional strategic partnerships with the
18 State of Israel and Israeli companies regarding education, history, religion,
19 archeology, agriculture, and innovation.
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