[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        URGING PRESIDENT CLINTON TO RETRACT ULTIMATUM TO ISRAEL

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, the reason I rise at this time is because 
certain matters have come to my attention and they are disturbing. 
Today, I have sent a letter to the President of the United States in 
regard to this.
  Mr. President, Israel is our closest ally, it is our most trusted 
friend among the nations of the Middle East. We have a long history of 
working together and supporting one another for the benefit of both 
nations and all of our people.
  Now as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Israel's independence, we 
should reaffirm our commitment to their peace and security and our 
support for their continuation as a strong, reliable, independent 
nation.
  I am proud of what Israel has accomplished over 50 years. I am proud 
of their commitment to freedom and justice. Israel should be praised 
for what it has accomplished and for doing so over a very long period 
of time in which it has faced terrorism from within and without its own 
borders.
  Israel has always fought its own battles. Its young have shed much 
blood to protect their freedom and they continue to this day to defend 
their right to exist. And their very right to exist is being 
threatened. Nations hostile to Israel throughout the region are a 
continuing threat to Israel's existence. And the Palestinian Authority 
to this day has yet to recognize Israel's legitimate right to exist.
  It is wrong for the Clinton administration to pressure Israel to 
forgo its own security needs at this critical time. It is just wrong. 
It is counterproductive. It is dangerous to a legitimate peace effort. 
The brave Israeli citizens who stand ready to defend their nation 
should be supported by us in every fashion. To place an ultimatum on 
Israel at this time undermines the peace process and it denies a good 
friend the right to determine its own security needs. It is not just 
bad policy; it is wrong.
  I urge President Clinton in the strongest terms to retract his 
ultimatum to Israel and to return America to our proper role as a 
friendly mediator in the search for peace and security for all nations 
in the Middle East.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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