[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3773-S3774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  MR. PRESSLER. Mr. President, It was just ten months ago when Israeli 
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein came before this 
body--and the world--to make an unprecedented call for peace in the 
Middle East. This week, Secretary of State Warren Christopher travels 
to Israel in an effort to jump start the peace process and help forge 
an agreement between Israel and Syria over perhaps the most vexing 
issue of the peace process: the status of the Golan Heights. However, 
as the people of Israel know all to well, the road to peace is a long 
and arduous one. Now more than ever, we must bolster our support for 
our greatest ally in the Middle East--Israel--and adopt her mission of 
regional peace as our own.
  Without a doubt, a peaceful environment of mutual self-determination 
and co-existence in the Middle East is advantageous for the United 
States. I need not remind this body of the binding political and 
cultural ties that this country maintains with Israel and the great 
potential that an Arab-Israeli peace would have for the United States. 
The peace process is not solely an opportunity for improved Arab-
Israeli affairs, but a unique occasion upon which the United States may 
attempt to ally herself with countries that, in the past, have 
vehemently refused to open their doors to the West.
  [[Page S3774]] Syria represents perhaps the last great obstacle to 
regional peace. The Syrian mandate for a single, complete Israeli 
withdrawal from the Golan Heights has resulted in a year and a half 
impasse in Syria-Israel negotiations. Arbitrary demands for withdrawal 
as a condition of cooperation cannot be viewed as a good faith effort 
to achieve peace. Without a doubt, Israel is correct to insist upon a 
comprehensive peace agreement with ironclad security arrangements 
before it begins any pullback from the strategically vital Golan 
Heights. Israel should not be asked to risk the security of her people 
in return merely for the possibility of better relations with Syria.
  Mr. President, I sincerely hope that Secretary Christopher's latest 
round of shuttle diplomacy with Israel and Syria results in a renewal 
of the peace process. Clearly, Secretary Christopher needs to convey to 
the Syrian government that real concessions must be made in order for 
the Syrians to demonstrate they are serious about peace. The United 
States cannot agree to turn a blind eye to Syria's drug trade in 
exchange for cooperation in the peace process. Rather, Syria must take 
the initiative to stop being a safe-haven for terrorists and drug 
lords. That kind of action represents a genuine commitment to the 
peace-making process. Paper pledges and handshakes do not suffice.
  Some have suggested that the recent peace talks are just cause for 
the United States to scale back its financial commitments with Israel. 
I disagree. The United States can best support the fragile peace 
process by continuing its investment in Israel's economic and military 
strength. The financial assistance we provide each year is in our 
national interest. Without it, Israel would be unable to deter 
potential threats and would fall victim to regional extremists. An 
economically vigorous Israel is the single most important element to 
sustain any peace agreement with her neighbors. For the past forty-six 
years, we have refused to manipulate Israel by bartering economic 
assistance for political influence. We have continually voted to avoid 
jeopardizing Israel's stability, at the bequest of our constituencies 
and our consciences. That course of action has put us on the path to 
peace. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to pursue our present course 
rather than consider options that have the potential of debilitating 
our sole democratic ally in the region during this delicate transition.
  Eleven years ago, Congress endorsed the relocation of the United 
States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem--a symbolic 
recognition of Jerusalem as the true capital of the State of Israel. It 
is time to call upon the United States government to begin the formal 
process of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital city. To be sure, 
the acknowledgement of Jerusalem as the political center of Israel 
would not alienate the religious rights of Arabs or Christians. As 
Prime Minister Rabin recently stated before the Knesset, ``[Jerusalem] 
has been * * * and forever will be the capital of the Jewish people.'' 
By clarifying our position now, instead of during sensitive ``final 
status'' negotiations, the United States would expedite the peace 
process. In doing so, we would represent the American people, assist 
our ally, and help preclude any existing false hopes among 
Palestinians.
  Mr. President, though I no longer sit as a member of the Foreign 
Relations Committee, I will continue to monitor closely the events in 
the Middle East. Very few current foreign policy issues bear greater 
relevance to this nation than the security of the people of Israel. We 
must stand side by side with Israel's democratically elected leadership 
in the struggle for lasting peace. As the world's sole superpower, we 
must be unrelenting in our support of our allies, especially Israel who 
bravely stands alone as the Middle East's sole democracy. It is the 
responsibility of the United States to foster the peace process, and 
not to undermine our ally's regional goals during this time of 
transition. We must work to see the day when the people of Israel can 
turn to all its neighbors in the Middle east and say ``Shalom 
Aleichem''--``Peace be with you.''


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