[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3957-S3958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ISRAEL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, 50 years ago the State of Israel 
proclaimed its independence as a homeland and beacon of hope to Jews 
around the world. At 4:06 p.m. on April 30, 1948, David Ben-Gurion 
declared that the establishment of Israel would be effective at 
midnight the same day. Eleven minutes into the next day, the United 
States became the first country to extend recognition to the State of 
Israel when President Truman declared to the American people:

       This government has been informed that a Jewish State has 
     been proclaimed in Palestine and recognition has been 
     requested by the provisional government thereof. The United 
     States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto 
     authority of the new State of Israel.

  The ensuing rejection of Israel's appeal for peace expressed in its 
1948 Declaration of Independence represented a missed opportunity of 
historic proportions. The Declaration stated: ``We extend our hand to 
all neighboring states and their people in an offer of peace and unity 
and appeal to them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for 
the good of all.'' Yet for 50 years, the people of Israel have endured 
war and violent conflict, including a war of independence, the Six Day 
War, and the Yom Kippur War, weathered constant challenges to their 
survival, faced isolation, an economic boycott, and struggled against 
terrorism.
  To build an independent Jewish nation on a small piece of land would 
have been difficult even under the most ideal conditions. For Israel to 
have done so while the country's very existence was constantly being 
threatened is truly a tremendous accomplishment. In the face of 
hostility and adversity, Israel has persevered and developed into a 
thriving and diverse nation.
  The special relationship between the United States and Israel is 
fundamentally based on shared values and experiences. As a vibrant 
democracy like our own, and despite the heavy burdens imposed on the 
country by war, Israel is a land of immigrants and pioneers whose 
democratic achievements reflect the hard work, sacrifice, courage, 
devotion, and self-discipline of its people. Few societies have 
sustained such pressure and kept their commitment to a strong democracy 
as Israel has done. In just 50 years the Israeli people have built 
modern cities and prosperous farms, and established high quality 
educational and medical institutions. Israel has accomplished this 
while remaining a refuge for Jews fleeing oppression and persecution 
around the world, as earlier Israel offered a new life to the survivors 
of the Holocaust.
  In keeping with its earliest hopes, Israel has been successful in 
forging ties with some of its neighbors and former adversaries, and 
sought to strengthen its security by ending the cycle of conflict and 
violence marking its first 50 years. Israel's willingness to take risks 
for peace has been borne out

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in the Camp David Peace Accord which settled the state of war with 
Egypt, in Israel's recognition of a Palestinian Authority, and in the 
1994 agreement ending war between Israel and Jordan.
  Throughout these years, through good and difficult times, the United 
States and Israel have maintained an enduring strategic partnership 
which has served us well. The United States commitment to Irsael's 
strength and security remains firm. As President Clinton declared 
before the Knesset in 1994, ``The survival of Israel is important not 
only to our interests, but to every value we hold dear as a people. Our 
role in war has been to help you defend yourself by yourself. That is 
what you have asked. Now that you are taking risks for peace, our role 
is to help you to minimize the risks of peace.''
  Today, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Jewish state, we recognize 
the tremendous achievements of the Israeli people and commemorate the 
fruitful and enduring partnership between our two nations. We wish for 
Israel the lasting peace and stability its people have long sought and 
offer our congratulations on the inspiring example they have 
set.

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