[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4777-S4778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, as a long-time supporter of Israel and 
her security, and as a fierce advocate of the Middle East peace 
process, I commend President Clinton, Secretary Albright, Ambassador 
Ross, and Assistant Secretary Indyk for their ongoing efforts to 
preserve and even reinvigorate the stalled peace process. As a member 
of the Foreign Relations Committee, as a Jewish Senator, as someone who 
loves Israel, I have followed this latest round of negotiations 
carefully. I care fiercely about what happens. And I thank the 
administration for staying engaged and for making a commitment to a 
peace process that Prime Minister Rabin gave his life for. I will never 
forget my visit to Israel for his funeral service. It was so moving to 
hear his granddaughter speak about him. I really hope and pray that we 
will have a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. I think it will be 
important for the Israeli children and the Palestinian children, and 
the children of other Middle Eastern countries as well.
  I have watched with growing concern, over the past several weeks, as 
some critics of the administration's policy toward Israel here in the 
Congress have launched fierce partisan attacks on the policy. Speaker 
Gingrich last week was even quoted as saying, in a press conference in 
which he criticized the administration's recent handling of the peace 
process, ``America's strong-arm tactics would send a clear signal to 
the supporters of terrorism that their murderous actions are an 
effective tool in forcing concessions from Israel.''
  Mr. President, I think that is a demagogic accusation leveled at the 
President. I believe that the administration is trying to do the right 
thing. I point out that public opinion polls show that the majority of 
the people in our country believe that the administration is doing the 
right thing by continuing to put proposals out there, by trying to get 
this peace process going.
  The administration has presented no ultimatums. It cannot force 
either party to do what it has no intention of doing. But I think this 
is courageous on the part of the administration. Quite often I am 
critical of this President, but I believe they are doing the right 
thing. The majority of the people

[[Page S4778]]

in the country believe so, and the majority of the American-Jewish 
community, of which I am proud to be a member, also believe they are 
doing the right thing.
  President Netanyahu is meeting with Secretary Albright. It is my hope 
that they will have fruitful discussions. I think it is terribly 
important that this happen.
  Let me make three points by way of conclusion: First of all, the 
administration, as I mentioned a moment ago, is not issuing threats. 
However, the Bush administration--and I don't mean this as a partisan 
point, but the Bush administration in connection with policy on 
settlements did threaten to cut off aid to Israel. There have been no 
conditions of this kind, putting aside whether the Bush administration 
was right or wrong to do that.
  I also remind colleagues that this peace process is critically 
important, that it is important that we bridge the gaps, that the 
United States be a neutral mediator, that we continue to be a third 
party to which both parties can speak.
  Finally, I will simply say that all of us ought to contemplate for a 
moment what will happen if the administration does not press to 
preserve this process and if this peace process collapses. I think the 
alternative scenario, which I shudder to think about, would be an 
escalation of terrorist attacks, with Israel facing newly hostile Arab 
neighbors on all sides and increased pressure from the Arab street for 
violent action against her. It is frightening to consider. I don't 
think that stalemate or the status quo is acceptable--I believe it is 
unthinkable. I think it is terribly important the United States 
continues to show leadership in this process.
  Mr. President, this recent crisis in the peace negotiations coincides 
with Israel's celebration of her 50-year jubilee, an occasion of great 
joy for all of us who love Israel.
  With the founding of modern Israel, the children of Abraham and 
Sarah, survivors of over 2,000 years of persecution and exile, were 
home at last and they were free at last. But the dream of Israel's 
founder, David Ben-Gurion, and that of his allies was not simply to 
provide a safe haven from centuries of Jewish suffering, it was also 
about fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of making Israel ``a light unto the 
nations,'' a powerful sign and symbol of justice and compassion to all 
people of the world.
  Although it is fitting to pause to celebrate what all the people of 
Israel have accomplished over the last 50 years, we must also look 
forward to the tasks which face her in the next millennium, chief among 
them the task of building a just, secure and lasting peace.
  It is my deepest prayer that our children and grandchildren, 50 years 
from this year, will be able to say with gratitude that we were the 
generation which overcame ancient hatreds and enabled them to achieve a 
just and lasting peace which has by then embraced the entire region and 
all the peoples. That is a vision worthy of Israel's founder and of all 
of us who come after. It is a vision for which we should and we must be 
willing to struggle, to fight for and for which all of us must take 
risks.
  I come to the floor to say that I do not believe there would be 
anything more important than to forge a just and lasting peace for the 
region. This would truly be worthy of the dream of Israel's founder.
  Mr. President, I speak out on the Middle East peace process, again, 
because I think there has been entirely too much personal attack and I 
believe it is terribly important that all of us who are committed to 
the peace process not be silent.
  (The remarks of Mr. Wellstone pertaining to the introduction of S. 
2074 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, how much time do I have left?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has approximately 2 minutes left.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. In the 2 minutes I have left, I am going to take 
advantage of being on the floor of the Senate. After all, I always say 
to my family, you know, I get to speak on the floor of the Senate. That 
is a huge honor.

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