[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 79 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      COMMEMORATING THE 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE

 Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to mark a joyous 
event, the founding of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. From its 
near-miraculous beginnings as a country born in strife, Israel enters 
its 48th year a prosperous and vigorous democracy.
  With the hyperinflation of the 1980's a distant memory, Israel enjoys 
stable economic growth with moderate inflation. Israel's economic 
problems are now the challenges of any developed country--generating 
and distributing wealth. As the circle of peace in the region expands, 
Israel will find itself well-placed to be a major regional economic 
power.
  Israel has renewed itself as the homeland of the Jewish people by 
successfully managing its latest ``aliyah,'' the absorption of Jews 
from the Soviet Union and its successor states. Both the infusion of 
new blood, and the national effort to welcome and absorb over half a 
million new citizens has reinvigorated the nation, while educating a 
new generation on the special responsibilities and benefits of life in 
Israel.
  Among the greatest of those responsibilities and benefits is the 
nurturing of a democracy that is the envy, not only of the Middle East, 
but of the world. To an extent perhaps matched only by the United 
States, Israel has welded diverse peoples into a democratic society. 
Israel understands the lesson so eloquently taught by former Jerusalem 
mayor Teddy Kollek that democracy is more than elections. Democracy is 
a way of thinking, a way of acting and, most of all, a way of treating 
one's neighbor. The world has much to learn from Israel's successful 
experiment in representative democracy in an often harsh environment.
  Israel marks its 47th birthday closer to lasting peace than ever 
before. As a result of the warm peace with Jordan, Israelis are finally 
visiting the legendary red rocks at Petra. As a result of the 
multilateral peace negotiations, Israel is normalizing relations with 
Arab states in North Africa and the Persian Gulf.
  Israel is also inching closer to peace with its Palestinian and 
Syrian neighbors. However, as Israelis above all peoples understand, 
peace never comes cheaply, and Israel is facing a historic challenge as 
it tries to conclude genuine peace in the face of terrorism.
  All of us grieve with Israel every time another terrorist atrocity is 
perpetrated. All of us pray with Israel that the leaders and peoples of 
the Middle East, and those of us who support them, will find the wisdom 
to steer a path through the shoals of violence to a lasting peace.
  The United States Government and individual Americans have an 
important role to play in supporting Israel, its people, and its 
leadership, in making the hard decisions necessary for peace. I am 
proud of the record of the United States Senate in providing unstinting 
support of Israel, and I will be proud to continue that record.
  I am particularly proud of the contributions of citizens of my own 
State of New Jersey to Israel's development. These are people like 
Miles Lerman, active in fundraising and philanthropy for Israel, and 
the man most responsible for the Holocaust Museum in Washington, who 
form the unshakable foundation of America's unwavering support for 
Israel.
  Israel today is 47 years strong. I know I speak for the people of New 
Jersey, and the United States, when I wish her peace and continued 
prosperity.

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