Recognizing the 61st Anniversary of the Independence of Israel

Floor Speech

RECOGNIZING THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF ISRAEL -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2009)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as we, today, commemorate 61 years of Israeli independence, we commemorate and celebrate so much more. We celebrate 61 years of the exercise of vibrant liberty, democracy and opportunity for those of all faiths. We celebrate over six decades of the revitalization of the Jewish homeland where Jewish culture, literature and philosophy have flourished. We celebrate 61 years of Israeli achievements in science and technology and business, achievements defined by continual innovation and entrepreneurship, and we celebrate the hard work, determination and love of peace displayed by the people of Israel, a people with whom we share our deepest values.

In short, Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate a quintessentially American story, an example of what other countries in the Middle East and beyond can achieve if they unleash the power of human freedom.

But as we celebrate, we cannot and must not ignore the continued and growing threats to Israel's survival. At the United Nations, Israel, like the United States, is singled out for bogus criticism and judged by double standards. Most recently at the Durban II conference in Geneva, speaker after speaker lambasted Israel for supposed racism, and the assembled nations passed a declaration that criticized Israel alone among nations. Of course, the most memorable and infamous moment from the Durban II was Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech where he savagely attacked the State of Israel and advanced anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that could have been taken verbatim from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction, and given the Iranian regime's pursuit of nuclear, chemical, biological and missile capabilities, he and his ilk may soon have the wherewithal to make good their threats. The prospect of an emboldened nuclear Iran is a threat to Israel, a threat to the United States, and a threat to us all, and we cannot stand idly by in the face of this danger.

Likewise, to Israel's north, Syria's dictator has threatened Israel with violence and brags of his support for the violent Islamist group Hezbollah, which continues to increase its capabilities to diminish Israel. Southern Israel continues to endure the nearly 9,000 rocket missiles and mortars that have been fired into Israel since 2001, more than 6,000 of them since Israel withdrew entirely from the Gaza Strip in November 2005. The result has been numerous Israeli deaths, physical and psychological wounds, and unceasing panic in the towns and cities within range of Hamas's artillery.

As we witnessed in the recent conflict in Gaza, Hamas's capabilities continue to expand; thus, as we celebrate the anniversary of Israeli independence, and with it the creation of a bastion of democracy in a sea of autocracy, we must remain mindful of the challenges that she faces. In short, the bond between our Nations and our people have never been stronger. The United States could not ask for a better friend and ally in the region, and I assure the Israeli people that they will always be able to depend on the United States and the American people.

I would like to extend my best wishes and congratulations to the people of the State of Israel on their 61st independence day.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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