[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E67]]


              OBSERVING THE HISTORIC PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

                                 ______


                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the Arab-American Institute [AAI] January 
23, 1996 delegation, which I had the high honor to chair, traveled to 
Palestine to witness the first ever, historymaking free national 
elections in that country.
  I was accompanied by Dr. James Zogby, president of AAI, and by former 
Members of Congress Mary Rose Oakar (D-OH), Toby Moffett (D-CT), and by 
Ruth Joseph, mayor and State representative of Waterville, ME, Thomas 
Lazieh, former mayor Central Falls, RI, Teresa Isaac, vice mayor, 
Lexington, KY.
  Also present during the observation were Kenneth Handel, partner at 
Arnold and Porter law firm of New York with previous international 
electoral experience, and Dr. Najat Arafat Khelil, co-coordinator of 
the Palestinian Jewish Women's Dialogue Group.
  The delegation was coordinated by Zogby and Washington businessman 
Hani Masri with assistance from Hady Amr, a political consultant with 
electoral monitoring experience in South Africa. My special thanks and 
that of the delegation goes to Jim Zogby for making it possible, and to 
Hani Masri for all of his unstinting support that helped lead to this 
historic occasion and who shared his electoral monitoring skills with 
us during this important observance.
  Thanks goes also to Mr. Said Hamad, deputy director of the PLO office 
in Washington who did an excellent job of coordinating events on the 
ground in Palestine and smoothing our way there.
  We witnessed a professional, politically progressive, patriotic, and 
proud Palestine people parade to the polls for their historic first 
national elections.
  An excitement and enthusiasm permeated the air and ran in the veins 
of a people tasting and thirsting for freedom.
  Nothing can detract from the success of a people determined to regain 
control of their destiny--over their dreams and aspirations for their 
children.
  We witnessed Palestinians traveling to the polls via cars, trucks, 
buses, tractors, donkeys, horses, carts, hobbling on canes, and once 
arriving having to wait hours in long lines due to huge voter turnouts. 
But to many who have waited a lifetime to vote freely--a couple more 
hours' wait was very little.
  The International Community of Observers and former President Carter 
were encouraged and impressed and gave the Palestinians very high 
marks.
  The bottom line--these elections were free; these elections were 
fair. They were conducted in a highly professional manner.
  The President-elect, Yasir Arafat and his elected leadership team, 
many of whom were elected not as Arafat condidates but as independents, 
deserve our praise and congratulations. Tremendous duties have been 
bestowed by the people and they now embark upon a new journey as the 
freely elected representatives of Palestine.
  Our presence demonstrated clearly to the Palestinians that America 
and the world are strongly with them in their quest for democratic 
development and in their quest to quash disruption by extremists from 
all sides.
  The Israeli Government and Prime Minister Peres deserve commemdation 
for their support as well as of this electoral process and, with a few 
exceptions, allowed Palestinians to conduct themselves freely.
  From revolutionary to Ra'ees--Arabic for President--many in our 
delegation, like Representative Mary Rose Oakar and Toby Moffett, and 
Jim Zogby, have personally stood by President Arafat for a portion of 
his long, long, long journey to this point in history.
  From the bowels of Beirut in 1980 and 1982 to the palace of the 
President in Gaza last Friday, where the lights flickered from lack of 
sufficient power, we have conversed with, we have pleaded with, we have 
sought dialog, we have agonized with and we now celebrate a new-era 
President Arafat and the Palestinian people. He fully recognizes that 
with new legitimacy from the people comes new responsibilities.
  Israel Prime Minister Peres will now allow all PNC members to meet in 
Palestine so as to conduct the people's business and properly amend the 
PNC charters per the Oslo accords.
  As both men enter final status negotiations this coming May 4, may 
they enter with a greater strength within themselves and greater faith 
in each other, and a greater resolve to enhance and spread his peace of 
the brave among their people and among all mankind--two states, two 
peoples living side by side in peace--Israel and Palestine forever.

                          ____________________