BILL NUMBER: SCR 117	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Strickland

                        JUNE 28, 2010

   Relative to the defense of Israel.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 117, as introduced, Strickland. Defense of Israel.
   This measure would declare California's support of Israel's
actions defending its blockade of the Gaza Strip on May 31, 2010, and
its authority to protect itself.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, On May 31, 2010, Israeli soldiers boarded a ship, the
Mavi Marmara, that was part of a flotilla attempting to break a
blockade of the Gaza Strip; and
   WHEREAS, Israel's blockade is acknowledged by the United States as
necessary and legal, given the control of Gaza by Hamas; and
   WHEREAS, Hamas is recognized by the United States as a terrorist
organization, and has illegally seized control of Gaza from the
duly-elected government, has repeatedly attacked Israel, kidnapped
and holds hostage Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit, and is committed to
the destruction of Israel; and
   WHEREAS, The flotilla's primary aim was not humanitarian relief,
but to cause a provocation as evidenced by the flotilla organizers'
announcements weeks in advance that they would resist Israeli forces
trying to peacefully enforce the Gaza blockade; and
   WHEREAS, The main organizer of the flotilla was the Turkish
Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which has publicly affirmed its links
to Hamas, is reported to have ties to other terrorist organizations
such as Al Qaeda, and is part of an umbrella organization that has
been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States; and

   WHEREAS, The Israeli Navy worked hard to peacefully intercept the
ships, successfully bringing five of the six ships to Israel's Ashdod
Port without any incident; and
   WHEREAS, On the Mavi Marmara, Israeli soldiers encountered intense
violence from some of the radicals and were significantly
outnumbered; and
   WHEREAS, A country may impose and enforce an embargo on
international waters during wartime; and
   WHEREAS, Israel's detention of the flotilla ships, and its use of
force to defend its soldiers when they were attacked by some of the
radicals, is acceptable under international law; and
   WHEREAS, Israel has a legitimate right to self-defense and has
good cause to inspect cargo going into Gaza, given that Hamas calls
for Israel's destruction and is in a state of war with Israel; and
   WHEREAS, Israel has announced the establishment of a commission,
including two foreign observers, one from Canada and the other, a
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, from Ireland, which will investigate the
Gaza flotilla incident; and
   WHEREAS, Israel allows approximately 15,000 tons of supplies to
enter Gaza on a daily basis and has allowed over one million tons of
humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza from Israel over the past 18
months; and
   WHEREAS, Thousands of Californians gathered at a rally in Los
Angeles on June 6, 2010 to support Israel and to protest the unfair
international criticism of Israel for enforcing the Gaza blockade;
and
   WHEREAS, Like every country in the world, Israel has the right to
defend itself; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares California's
support of Israel's actions defending its blockade of the Gaza Strip
on May 31, 2010, and its authority to protect itself; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.