[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3954-S3955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO ISRAEL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
50th anniversary of the State of Israel, and the enduring, unshakable 
friendship that has been built between the United States and Israel 
during those 50 years.
  Fifty years ago today, according to the Hebrew calendar, David Ben-
Gurion told the world that the State of Israel was born. In that 
moment, one of the greatest events in the life of the Jewish people 
took place. Since the Jewish people were expelled from their ancient 
homeland nearly 2,000 years ago, the desire to return had remained in 
the hearts and prayers of Jews throughout the world.
  In the early decades of this century, the Zionist movement brought 
thousands of young, idealist Jews back to Palestine, which was at the 
time controlled by the Turks, and then the British. They returned to 
the land, establishing kibbutzim and agricultural settlements, and 
reinvigorated ancient cities. They built the foundations for a state, 
joined during and after the Holocaust by other Jewish immigrants, 
fleeing unprecedented persecution.
  Supported by Jewish communities around the world, their efforts, and 
the burning need for a Jewish homeland, were recognized by the United 
Nations in the Partition Plan of November 29, 1947, which called for 
the creation of a Jewish and an Arab state in Palestine. Six months, 
later, on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was formally established.
  Much like the United States, Israel is a nation of immigrants. The 
establishment of Israel has provided a home and refuge for more than 
2.6 million immigrants since its inception. They came to escape 
persecution, to build a better life, or simply to participate in the 
rebuilding of a nation.
  Jews from every continent and dozens of countries, speaking nearly 
every language on earth, have returned to their ancient homeland: from 
Russia fleeing first pogroms and then Communism; from Germany, Austria, 
Poland, Hungry, Romania, and Czechoslovakia fleeing the Holocaust; from 
Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and North Africa fleeing Arab anti-Zionism; from 
Iran fleeing the Ayatollahs; and from Latin America fleeing cruel 
military regimes.
  In the 1990's Israel has seen the largest wave of immigration in its 
history. 757,000 immigrants, some 700,000 of them leaving behind the 
chaos of the former Soviet Union, and 14,000 of whom were rescued in 
one day in a daring airlift from Ethiopia. Israel has served as a model 
for ethnic diversity as Jews from all parts of the world have ascended 
to the highest levels of the public and the private sector.
  Within minutes of Israel's founding in 1948, President Harry Truman 
recognized the new state. But there was little time for celebration, 
because within 24 hours, Israel was attacked by Arab forces from all 
sides. Immigrants who had just fled the horrors of the Holocaust were 
given guns and instructions to fight, in languages they did not 
understand.
  In that desperate War of Independence, Israel lost nearly 1% of its 
population defending itself. But the military acumen and spirit of 
sacrifice that made that victory possible presaged the building of the 
Israel Defense Forces--a true citizen army--into one of the world's 
most respected militaries. In subsequent wars when Israel's survival 
was threatened--in 1956, 1967, and 1973, Israel fought off seemingly 
insurmountable odds to retain its statehood.

  As spelled out in its Declaration of Independence, the state was 
formed adhering to democratic and Jewish values, recognizing the 
freedom of all individuals who reside within it. Israel's vibrant 
democratic system embodies many of the same values that America holds 
so dear, including: the separation of powers; concern for human rights; 
an independent judiciary; a representative parliament (the Knesset) 
with 11 political parties representing Jews, Arabs, Christians, Druze, 
men and women; a free press with the highest percentage of newspapers 
and readers per capita in the world; an average of 80% voter turnout in 
national elections; and, guaranteed civil liberties.
  Over the years, the United States and Israel have built a deep and 
multi-faceted friendship. Based on common values of democracy and 
peace, and backed by the United States' ironclad commitment to help 
Israel safeguard its security, the U.S.-Israel relationship is poised 
to develop into an even more intimate one in Israel's next 50 years.
  In science and technology, trade, culture, and of course, security 
cooperation, the ties grow deeper every year. Most recently Israel and 
the U.S. have moved to deepen their defense cooperation by expanding 
the Arrow anti-missile program, developing the Theater High Energy 
Laser designed to defend

[[Page S3955]]

against Katyusha rockets, and by the U.S. providing $25 million for 
anti-terrorism assistance.
  Thanks to the industriousness of its people, and with the help of 
American financial assistance and free trade agreements with both the 
United States and the European Union, Israel has transformed itself 
from a small, agriculturally-based economy in a largely desert climate 
into a modern, successful, high-tech economy.
  Israel's industrial exports are today 1,380 times what they were 47 
years ago. Its Gross Domestic Product has risen from $2.5 billion in 
the 1960s to $90.6 billion last year. Its computer industry and 
agricultural technology are some of the most successful and innovative 
in the world.
  Israel has also seen phenomenal growth in health care and education. 
More than 33% of Israelis have formal schooling of 13 years compared 
from 6% in the 1960's and the life expectancy of Israelis is among the 
longest in the world. It is a sign of Israel's economic maturation that 
in January of this year, Israel and the United States began to discuss 
proposals to reduce and phase out U.S. economic aid to Israel.
  For Israel's long-term security and economic success, there is no 
higher priority than the achievement of a permanent peace settlement 
with all of its neighbors. The peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and 
Jordan in 1994 were the first steps in that process. The United States 
has stood by Israel in its desire to achieve peace with its neighbors, 
and will continue to work to help Israel achieve peace with Syria, 
Lebanon, other Arab nations, and, perhaps most urgently, to fulfill the 
promise of the handshake between the late Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser 
Arafat on the White House lawn in 1993 by achieving a final peace 
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
  For all of us who care so deeply for Israel's security, who long to 
see Israel achieve peace with its neighbors, the current peace process 
has reached a critical juncture. Since Israel's security can best be 
guaranteed by peace between it and its neighbors, the United States 
must remain prepared to do everything we can to help reach a successful 
conclusion to this peace process. That is the best 50th birthday 
present we can give the people of Israel.
  On this historic occasion, I would like to offer my utmost 
congratulations to President Weizman, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the 
people they represent, and express my deep admiration for the 
accomplishments of the State and people of Israel, a nation that has 
risen from the darkest moments of history to rebuild itself as an 
example of the capabilities of the human spirit, the unbreakable ties 
that exist among a people, and the great justice of democracy. May 
Israel's next 50 years bring it even greater success.

                          ____________________