Regarding the Security of Israel and the Principles of Peace in the Middle East
REGARDING THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL AND THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- (House of Representatives - June 23, 2004)
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), ranking member of the Committee on International Relations; the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen); the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer); and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) for their leadership on this very important and urgent issue.
I rise today in strong support of this resolution, in support of America's closest ally in the Middle East, and I rise with the hope that a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be achieved.
No country in the world is more familiar with what Americans experienced on September 11 than Israel. Since Yasser
Arafat turned his back on peace with Israel and fled Camp David to oversee the latest wave of violence, there have been over 130 suicide bombings responsible for the death of over 500 Israelis. Thousands more have been injured, and little progress has been made in forging a lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
This resolution sends a strong, bipartisan message of support for strengthening the security and well-being of Israel.
The peace process is dead because the Palestinian Authority continues to refuse to fulfill its most basic obligations under the roadmap. It refuses to stop the terrorist attacks against Israel, dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, and begin a process of political reform.
It is time for the Palestinian leadership to express their desire for a Palestinian state living side by side peacefully with Israel rather than a Palestinian state in place of Israel.
Israel has the right to secure and defensible borders that reflect the demographic realities. The time is long past for the Palestinian people to reject terrorism and violence. America will never condone terrorist acts. America will never support those that perpetrate them, and America will stand side by side with Israel in its struggle against terrorism.
This resolution, once again, sends a clear message to the supporters of terrorism and the enemies of Israel. America will always side with democratic and peace-loving people. America should and does stand side by side with the people of the State of Israel. I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution.
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