[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1199-E1200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    JERUSALEM EMBASSY RELOCATION ACT

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 1997

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of moving America's 
Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and to require U.S. Government 
publications refer to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to urge the Palestinian 
Authority to increase its efforts to minimize the horrors of terrorism 
and encourage commerce between Israelis and Palestinians.
  My support for moving the embassy is not to say that I do not support 
the peace process, it is merely to state that I feel Jerusalem should 
be Israel's capital and our embassy should be located there.
  In every country in the world, in which the United States has 
diplomatic relations, we

[[Page E1200]]

have our embassy located in its capital, except Israel. How can America 
claim support for Israel, and support for its sovereignty over 
Jerusalem, and not have our embassy located there?
  As the peace process continues, it will be important for the 
Palestinian Authority and Israel to know where America stands. Mr. 
Speaker, Jerusalem is not negotiable. As Israel's closest ally, the 
United States has the responsibility to defend the permanent status of 
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
  Most Members of Congress support Israel's right to exist, and most 
recognize that Jerusalem is its capital. Therefore, it is time not only 
to express our support for Israel, but to prove it by moving our 
Embassy to Jerusalem.
  Mr. Speaker, this week Congress celebrated the 30th anniversary of 
the Six Days War. Israel was attacked by its neighbors on all sides. 
Yet, Israel's will to survive and establish itself as a young nation 
ruled the day. Now, 30 years later the time has come for America to 
recognize Israeli accomplishments and celebrate these accomplishments 
by declaring Jerusalem the true capital of Israel.
  On this historic occasion, I feel America has the opportunity to send 
a clear message to Israel, and her new found friends in the Middle 
East, as well as her enemies, that we will always support Jerusalem as 
the proper capital of Israel, and will prove our support by moving our 
embassy there by 1999.

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