[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CONDOLENCES TO ISRAEL

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to add my 
voice to those that have been raised all over the world to say how sad 
we are today to have lost a great leader in the peace process in the 
Middle East. I, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, have met 
with Prime Minister Rabin, and I, like so many others who have spoken 
for the last few days, had great respect for him.
  I want to say at a time like this, you look to your friendships for 
support and comfort. Clearly, America is there for the support and 
comfort of our friend, our ally, and our strong, strong compatriot, the 
State of Israel. We are there to make sure that we get through this 
testing period strong in body together.
  Mr. President, I think as I look back on the events of the last few 
days, what struck me the most is how far the leadership of Prime 
Minister Rabin, along with his predecessors, brought us. The funeral 
itself would never have happened in our dreams. We would never have 
seen the President of Egypt, the King of Jordan, and even the good 
wishes of the PLO chief, coming together to say we are able to speak in 
one voice that this should not have happened, that we want to seek 
peace. I think now everyone believes that peace is achievable in the 
Middle East. That could not have happened 10 years ago.
  Just seeing what we saw at the funeral yesterday makes us realize how 
far we have come. It makes us miss all the more the leadership that 
Prime Minister Rabin has given in this country for so long, first as a 
military spokesman, a military strategist, a hard-liner, if you will.
  The Prime Minister saw how the strength of Israel was one and how the 
strength of Israel could be made to continue and endure into the future 
generations. I think he saw that peace was the answer that they had 
come to where they were by sheer grit and sheer determination. But he 
saw that it took more to have a lasting place in the Middle East, and 
he was coming around to bringing the people of Israel with him.
  So I add my voice and say that my condolences go to the people of 
Israel, to Prime Minister Rabin's widow, and just say that the comfort 
that is there in seeing the funeral for the fallen leader of Israel and 
the diversity of people from around the world, leaders of country, who 
came to pay their respects, said more than anything else, that we are 
at the cusp of a time when we will see peace in the Middle East.
  I just want to reiterate this Senator's strong position, that America 
will be there, hand-in-hand with our friends, to make sure that Prime 
Minister Rabin's dreams will not die. They will be carried on by his 
successors in office and by the future generations of leaders of 
Israel.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Chair will inform the Senator we are scheduled, under previous 
consent, to be in recess at 12:30.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be yielded 5 
minutes or a short period of time thereafter, and under that unanimous-
consent request the 12:30 hour for recess be set aside temporarily, so 
that I might finish my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Nebraska.

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