[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E823-E824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SALUTING THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 1998

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
State of Israel on the 50th Anniversary of its establishment. It is an 
honor to salute Israel, our long-standing ally and to remember that the 
United States of America was the first nation to recognize officially 
the State of Israel fifty years ago.
  Recently, I had the opportunity to attend several events in the 11th 
Congressional District of great significance. One event to commemorate 
the 50th Anniversary of Israel was a joint celebration held by three 
synagogues in Morristown, New Jersey. The Congregation Ahavath Israel, 
the Morristown Jewish Center and Temple B'nai Or held a remarkable 
celebration on the grounds of the Vail Mansion which was both cultural 
and educational, and it highlighted the ``modern miracle that is 
Israel.''
  What was of special significance were the number of children present 
from Conservative, Orthodox and Reform congregations. It was a 
remarkable event that reinforced the need to remember and to never 
forget the Holocaust and that the struggle for true peace is never 
over.
  Another special event was the dedication of the Holocaust Memorial 
Garden and Study Center at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston.
  Mr. Speaker, the garden is a remarkable place. For some it will be a 
place for recollection, for others medication. Most importantly, the 
study center and garden is a place to teach the young. Like the 
Holocaust Museum in Washington, my hope is that this special Memorial 
Garden and Study Center will attract people of all faiths.
  Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, April 21, the House of Representatives 
passed a resolution expressing the sense of Congress on the 50th 
Anniversary of the State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of 
friendship between our two nations. I was pleased to both cosponsor and 
vote for this resolution, which recognized the accomplishments of the 
Jewish people who helped forge the modern state of Israel, and who make 
it the vibrant and dynamic country it is today. Mr. Speaker, I am 
including a copy of that important legislation at the end of my remarks 
today.
  The modern state of Israel is still tied to the ancient Kingdom of 
Israel, first established over three thousand years ago. The 
recognition of their history, and respect of tradition, has helped 
guide Israel's leaders for the past fifty years. David Ben-Gurion, the 
founding father and first prime minister of Israel, said in an 
broadcast to the Israelis on May 15, 1948, the day after Independence:

       Whatever we have achieved is the result of the efforts of 
     earlier generations no less than our own. It is also the 
     result of unwavering fidelity to our precious heritage, the 
     heritage of a small nation that has suffered much, but at the 
     same time has won for itself a special place in the history 
     of mankind because of its spirit, faith and vision.

  Mr. Speaker, my hope for the future of Israel, for the next fifty 
years and beyond, was best stated by Chaim Herzog, the fifth president 
of Israel, in his farewell address to the Knesset. To paraphrase him, I 
hope that Israel, as a flourishing, cohesive and progressive society, 
can continue to climb to the summits and reach the height from which 
they may be a beacon to the nations.

 Joint Resolution expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion 
 of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel 
  and reaffirming the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the 
                       United States and Israel.

       Whereas on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General 
     Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, 
     and through that vote, to create the State of Israel;
       Whereas on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed 
     the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of 
     Israel and the United States Government established full 
     diplomatic relations with Israel;
       Whereas the desire of the Jewish people to establish an 
     independent modern State of Israel is the outgrowth of the 
     existence of the historic Kingdom of Israel established three 
     thousand years ago in the city of Jerusalem and in the land 
     of Israel;
       Whereas one century ago at the First Zionist Congress on 
     August 29 to 31, 1897, in Basel, Switzerland, participants 
     under the leadership of Theodore Herzl affirmed the desire to 
     reestablish a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel;
       Whereas the establishment of the modern State of Israel as 
     a homeland for the Jews followed the slaughter of more than 
     six million European Jews during the Holocaust;
       Whereas since its establishment 50 years ago, the modern 
     State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and 
     dynamic society, and created a unique and vital economic, 
     political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy 
     cost of six wars, terrorism, international ostracism, and 
     economic boycotts;
       Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant and 
     functioning pluralistic democratic political system including 
     freedom of speech, a free press, free and fair and open 
     elections, the rule of law, and other democratic principles 
     and practices;
       Whereas, at great social and financial costs, Israel has 
     absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews from countries 
     throughout the World, many of them refugees from Arab 
     countries, and fully integrated them into Israeli society;
       Whereas for half a century the United States and Israel 
     have maintained a special

[[Page E824]]

     relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, 
     common strategic interests, and moral bonds of friendship and 
     mutual respect; and
       Whereas the American people have shared an affinity with 
     the people of Israel and regard Israel as a strong and 
     trusted ally and an important strategic partner: Now, 
     therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     United States--
       (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 50th 
     anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and 
     independent modern State of Israel;
       (2) commends the people of Israel for their remarkable 
     achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic 
     democratic society in the Middle East in the face of 
     terrorism, hostility and belligerence by many of her 
     neighbors;
       (3) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which 
     have existed between the United States and Israel for the 
     past half-century and which have been significant for both 
     countries; and
       (4) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to 
     the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful and 
     prosperous and successful future.

     

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