[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9421-S9422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MAINTAINING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ISRAEL

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to 
comment on our nation's continued support with its chief ally in the 
Middle East, Israel. Last week, the Senate completed action on the 
Fiscal Year 1997 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. The final 
legislation soon will be brought before us. This legislation represents 
the annual opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its clear support 
for the people of Israel.
  This year is no exception. Both House and Senate bills would continue 
last year's investment levels to Israel--$1.2 billion for economic 
assistance and $1.8 billion in military aid. I commend the House and 
Senate Chairmen of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee--
Senator McConnell and Congressman Callahan for their efforts to 
maintain our full commitment to the people of Israel.
  I have been a strong critique of foreign aid excess. However, I 
firmly believe that one of the wisest investments we can make is to the 
economic viability and national security of Israel. Failure to maintain 
that commitment could pose even greater costs in the future--costs in 
lost jobs, lost opportunities and far worse, even lost lives.
  I have been concerned of late with the proliferation of advanced 
weapons to nations that traditionally have been hostile to Israel's 
existence. In the past year, Iran has acquired advanced cruise missiles 
from China, and has engaged in an aggressive campaign to develop a 
nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. It also recently was 
reported that Syria may have obtained advanced ballistic missile 
technology from China. It is no secret that Syria is seeking to develop 
a far more capable ballistic missile than the Scud missiles that rained 
down on Israel during the Gulf War. Given these developments, it is 
crucial that Israel maintains a technological edge in its defense 
systems. Our continued support of Israel's defense, therefore, is 
vital.
  Mr. President, as we all know, just a few weeks ago, a joint session 
of Congress was held in order to hear an address by the newly elected 
Prime Minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu. We witnessed a stirring 
speech. Prime Minister Netanyahu deserves our congratulations for 
articulating a thoughtful vision for the people of his country.
  Perhaps most important, the people of Israel deserve our 
congratulations for demonstrating their commitment to democratic 
values. For nearly a half century, the people of Israel have built and 
preserved a democracy despite constant hardship and hostility. The 
recent elections are proof that the people of Israel are determined to 
withstand pressures from without and within to maintain a democracy, 
build a vibrant economy and achieve peace and security in the entire 
region.
  Prime Minister Netanyahu came to Washington as Israel's first 
popularly elected Prime Minister. Rather than be the choice of a 
governing coalition, Prime Minister Netanyahu is the people's choice. 
The people chose him to lead the Israeli government, rather than the 
government itself.

  The Prime Minister's speech to Congress demonstrated his appreciation 
and understanding of the American-Israeli partnership--a partnership 
that

[[Page S9422]]

goes beyond common political and strategic bonds. Both nations share a 
common set of values --values of freedom, individual responsibility, 
and hope and opportunity. The Prime Minister noted that it was no 
coincidence that the birth of Israel coincided with the rise of the 
United States as the world's preeminent power. He is right.
  I also was particularly heartened with the Prime Minister's 
assurances that he is committed to establishing real peace in the 
region. Indeed, he articulated a clear, commonsense vision of how peace 
can be established. He called this vision the ``three pillars of 
peace.'' The pillars being security, reciprocity, and democracy and 
human rights. Americans should understand and appreciate each one of 
these pillars.
  It was Ronald Reagan who popularized the maxim ``peace through 
strength.'' Actually, as Prime Minister Netanyahu reminded us, that 
maxim has its origin in Hebrew verse, which when translated, reads as 
follows: ``God will give strength to His people; God will bless His 
people with peace.'' We are a nation long blessed with peace because we 
always made the defense of this nation a high priority. America's 
combined economic and military power provided the strength needed to 
secure a peaceful victory in the Cold War. Similarly, we cannot 
undermine Israel's security in the name of peace. That, in essence, was 
what the Israeli elections were all about.
  Therefore, we should not question Israel's commitment to peace if it 
demands as a prerequisite an end to terrorist aggression, or state-
sponsored attacks against Israeli citizens and cities. We should not 
second guess Israel's desire to move the peace process forward if it 
demands as a prerequisite that existing peace agreements be respected 
by all sides. We should embrace these conditions for they have at their 
core the values of any true democracy--the values of personal freedom 
and the rule of law. In essence, that is what Israel is seeking from 
its neighbors. American know peace cannot exist without respect for 
individual rights and the rule of law. The people of Israel should 
expect no less.
  I applaud Prime Minister Netanyahu for being unwilling to believe 
that Israel will remain the Middle East's one lone democracy. There is 
no reason that the shared traditions of our two countries--human 
rights, democracy, free speech, religious tolerance--cannot be the 
growing traditions in any part of the world. Democracy has seen 
advances in Asia and Africa. The Middle East should not be immune to 
its benefits, one of them being a lasting peace.
  Prime Minister Netanyahu understood and demonstrated to all of us 
that democracy is the ultimate method to achieve peace. After all, as 
he correctly pointed out, ``modern democracies do not initiate 
aggression.'' That being the clear case, and understanding the values 
inherent in democracies, there should be no question in the minds of 
those who seek peace, that the Middle East's lone democracy should be 
the sole sovereign of the city of Jerusalem. I am pleased that Congress 
took a stand for one, unified city of Jerusalem by voting to move our 
Embassy there. Is it no surprise that under a unified democratic 
system, Jerusalem has witnessed peace and protection to members of all 
nationalities that have come to worship there? Certainly, it is no 
surprise to Americans. We know, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, that 
a city divided is not a city at peace or tolerant of its diversity.

  Mr. President, let me conclude my remarks with the subject I started 
with--our continued support for Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has 
vowed that he would like to take Israel down the road of less reliance 
on U.S. economic assistance, and greater reliance on the powerful 
forces of capitalism and free markets. I commend him for setting his 
nation on this course of economic independence. This decision 
demonstrates his confidence with his fellow citizens of Israel to build 
a vibrant, strong, self-reliant nation. That being the course he has 
set, the best we in the United States can do is help him and the people 
of Israel achieve that admirable goal.
  As a U.S. Senator, I have watched and admired a brave and determined 
people build a democracy under brutal circumstances that more than 
tested their resolve. This past year was no exception. It has been a 
year that witnessed the assassination of Israel's great leader, Yitzhak 
Rabin, repeated terrorist attacks, and a very contentious election. 
Through it all, the people of Israel stood strong, holding to its 
values and its belief that their home, their country, will stand 
strong, prosperous and at peace. The people of the United States cannot 
help but admire that determination. The people of the United States 
stand ready to help the people of Israel as they move down a road of 
peace, security and economic self-reliance.

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