WHEREAS, both chambers of the Texas Legislature – the House of Representatives and the Senate – overwhelmingly passed resolutions to condemn the terrorist organization Hamas and its brutal, highly organized, and unprecedented attack upon the state of Israel and on her citizens in the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, and to request others to join them in denouncing hatred toward the Jewish people; and
WHEREAS, the foundational belief of Hamas is in the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of Jews, and in its endeavor to fulfill that mission, Hamas has, for decades, waged war against Israel, which manifested on October 7 in a coordinated land, sea, and air invasion, which resulted in the deaths of at least one thousand innocent civilians, including several United States citizens, the highest number of Jews to ever be killed in a single day since the Shoah, the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the mass murder of Jews, Hamas terrorists kidnapped children, women, elderly, and infirm civilians as hostages, and by timing the operation to coincide with the observance of the final High Holy Days of the Jewish faith, targeted family gatherings, celebrations, and ceremonies of remembrance to maximize civilian casualties and terror; and
WHEREAS, the level of logistical sophistication of the attack and the boastful admission of guilt by the Iranian regime in supporting Hamas indicate the involvement of state sponsors of terror, including Iran, in these atrocities; and
WHEREAS, Israel has begun her justified response to these attacks, striking military targets within Gaza and preparing for a ground invasion, and by granting ample time and warning for civilians to evacuate, has already demonstrated the commitment to civility and respect for human life that is continually violated by attackers such as Hamas; and
WHEREAS, an appalling number of politicians, media figures, and activists in the United States have issued statements calling for “ceasefire” or, even worse, have praised the attacks as a demonstration of “decolonization” in action; and
WHEREAS, referring to Israel, Genesis 12:3 states, “I will bless those who bless you, and will curse those who curse you”; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas, drawing inspiration from Psalm 122, prays for peace in Israel and in the Middle East and condemns all enemies of Israel and those dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the West; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas acknowledges that true peace within Israel in the face of the threat posed by Hamas, which will accept nothing less than submission to Islam and is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the West, can only come from Hamas’s unconditional surrender or total elimination; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas rejects one-sided calls for ceasefire or de-escalation, such as those issued by many Democratic members of Congress, the Biden Administration’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Administration’s Palestinian Affairs Office, and the Texas Democratic Party, and, recognizing the fact that the Jewish people were once subjected to the mass slaughter of half of their population in gas chambers and have in recent days seen over one thousand civilians systematically hunted down and butchered, supports Israel’s right to act decisively and unilaterally, without interference, to protect her citizens from Hamas and any other threats faced by her Jewish population; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls upon Texas law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jews, and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and violent jihad, in our neighborhoods, streets, public squares, and college campuses in these dangerous times, especially on October 13, 2023, which Hamas announced as “Al-Aqsa Flood Friday”; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes the threat to the United States posed by our own lack of border security and the presence of tens of millions of illegal aliens in the country, some of whom may be agents for Hamas, Hezbollah, or other Iran-funded terrorist groups – as evidenced by the number of verified members of terrorist watch lists detained at the border – and encourages Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, and all members of the Texas Legislature to close and secure our border and deport illegal aliens; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes the resettlement in the United States of any refugees from the Gaza Strip due to these security concerns; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes that the leftist ideology of “decolonization” is a thin pretext for genocide against Americans, Israelis, and our other Western allies, and calls upon the Boards of Regents of all public university systems in Texas to immediately eliminate extremist and racist “anti-colonial” courses, course content, and programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas condemns organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, and other entities, officials, and activists who refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist or Israel’s right to defend her people.
Israeli Jews are being murdered, not for land, or for geopolitical reasons, but simply for being Jews – and this hatred is forcefully condemned by the Republican Party of Texas.
