Honoring Israel

In the presence of Israeli and Jewish group officials, lawmakers recognized the 60th anniversary of Israel Thursday by passing a resolution honoring the occasion. Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, said America and Israel are united by shared values and mutual interests. "Given the unity of common interests and beliefs, it should not be surprising that support for Israel remains one of the most pronounced and consistent bipartisan foreign policy values of the American people," Glazier said. The two countries also share a firm commitment to democracy, said Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, who said she recently visited Israel. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 6/26/08).