[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, today is the 50th 
anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. I would like to 
take a moment to reflect upon the significance of this historic event.
  For the nearly two millennia that preceded the founding of Israel, 
Jews across the globe had experienced unrelenting persecution, 
culminating in the previously unimaginable apocalypse of the Holocaust. 
In the wake of Adolph Hitler's effort to exterminate all of the Jews of 
Europe, and his success murdering six million of them, the moral 
imperative of establishing a Jewish state became clear. And so the 
Jewish people battled to create that which had only been dreamed of for 
19 centuries: a nation of their own.
  Their triumph marked the beginning of one of the most inspiring 
stories of the 20th century. That Israel would survive to see today's 
anniversary was far from certain. It's founding brought about the first 
of four wars in which outnumbered Israeli forces somehow managed to 
defeat or hold off the armies of its hostile neighbors. Israel's 
courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds is, quite 
simply, unparalleled in the modern world.
  Despite the constant threat to its security, out of the desert, 
Israel has created a flourishing, democratic society, home to 
innovative science, cutting-edge technology, and rich culture. Today, 
its economy rivals that of Western Europe in terms of per capita 
wealth.
  I am proud of the role that the United States has played in helping 
to keep this brave nation alive. To this day, the preservation and 
maintenance of Israel's national security remains the foundation upon 
which U.S. policy in the Middle East rests. Israel remains one of 
America's most trusted allies--a nation with which we have cooperated 
to resolve a variety of regional and global issues. Time and again over 
the last 50 years, Israel and the United States have demonstrated that 
we share a special relationship that transcends parochial and short-
term policy objectives.
  I have always believed that there can be no real peace in the Middle 
East unless Israel's security is guaranteed. That is why, throughout my 
career, I have supported strong U.S. economic and military support for 
Israel. As the greatest democratic nation on the planet, I believe that 
the United States must do everything in its power to ensure that 
Israel--the only multi-party democracy in the Middle East--survives.
  Currently, the best way for the United States to ensure the future 
security and prosperity not only of Israel but of the entire region is 
for it to play a strong role in keeping the Middle East Peace Process 
alive. If further strife and sorrow in the region is to be avoided, 
dialogue between Israel and her historic enemies must be maintained. 
Although the Peace Process has stalled recently, I believe that it can 
be revived if the United States remains committed to serving as an 
honest intermediary between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Key 
to the effort to see the participants through this difficult period is 
President Clinton's commitment to provide financial and technical 
assistance to Israel to help fight terrorism and to monitor the 
Palestinian Authority's compliance with the Oslo Accords.
  Mr. President, the Israeli people have demonstrated countless times 
that they are willing to take risks for peace. That is why I am 
confident that they will face the challenges of implementing the Oslo 
Accords and the Declaration of Principles with fortitude and 
creativity. The United States must stand shoulder to shoulder with them 
as they make this effort. Working together, I am confident that we can 
forge a peace that will guarantee that Israel will live to celebrate 
its centennial in 2048.

                          ____________________