OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, today issued a statement on the Oklahoma House of Representatives' support of the state of Israel.

"The House over a number of years has adopted numerous resolutions and legislation expressing its support of the state of Israel and acknowledging its right to exist. Today, as this ally stands under attack by cruel enemies and faces an increasing number of lives lost and those injured or kidnapped, it is more important than ever for us to remember our support of and pledge our help to Israel through our actions and our prayers."

The House in 2021 adopted House Resolution 1037, which expressed support for the nation of Israel during a time of adversity and hostile actions by a foreign power. The resolution was passed on the day in history when Israel declared statehood in 1948, fulfilling a 3,000-year-old prophecy from the Book of Amos that God would bring his people, Israel, out of captivity.

The resolution in part reads: "We must stand united with Israel in this latest attack against their sovereignty and their right to exist as a nation and for the Jewish people to exist. Israel is one of the United States' staunchest allies. We must stand firm in condemning the hatred against this people that has led to their expulsion from countries across the globe for centuries and to their massacre, including the more than 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust under the Nazis."

The resolution called for a restoration of peace in Israel and asked for prayers for the Jewish people and others involved in the latest escalation of fighting.

The resolution further states: “We stand today united in our support of Israel and the Jewish people and we bless them, and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Copies of the resolution were distributed to each member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation.

McBride said HR1037 is as relevant today as the day it was passed. He said were the House in session presently, he would suggest another such resolution given the current war.

He also pointed out House Resolution 1063, adopted in 2022, which states that Oklahoma will divest the state and its retirement funds of any company that boycotts Israel; and House Bill 3967, passed in 2020, which declared Israel a prominent trading partner and that the state, and those companies that do business by and through the state, in the interest of the state's economic policy, should not boycott trade with Israel.