[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H262-H268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING PRIME MINISTER-ELECT OF ISRAEL, ARIEL SHARON

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 34) congratulating the Prime Minister-elect of 
Israel, Ariel Sharon, calling for an end to violence in the Middle 
East, reaffirming the friendship between the Governments of the United 
States and Israel, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 34

       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Israel are 
     close allies and share a deep and abiding friendship based on 
     a shared commitment to democratic values;
       Whereas since its establishment in 1948, Israel has 
     fulfilled the dreams of its founders, who envisioned a 
     vigorous, open, and stable democracy;
       Whereas the centerpiece of Israeli democracy is its system 
     of competitive, free, and open elections;
       Whereas on February 6, 2001, the people of Israel elected 
     Ariel Sharon as Prime Minister of Israel; and
       Whereas the election on February 6, 2001, is the most 
     recent example of the commitment of Israel to the democratic 
     ideals of freedom and pluralism, ideals that Israel shares 
     with the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Ariel Sharon on his election as Prime 
     Minister, and extends to him the best wishes of the people of 
     the United States;
       (2) commends the people of Israel for reaffirming, through 
     their participation in the election on February 6, 2001, 
     their dedication to democratic ideals;
       (3) urges Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser 
     Arafat to use his influence and resources to see that 
     violence in the Middle East is brought to an end;
       (4) calls upon the countries that neighbor Israel and upon 
     the international community to respect the freely expressed 
     will of the people of Israel and to be prepared to engage in 
     constructive relations with the new Government of Israel;
       (5) reaffirms the close bonds of friendship that have bound 
     the people of the United States and the people of Israel 
     together through turbulent times for more than half a 
     century; and
       (6) restates the commitment of the United States to a 
     secure peace for Israel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 34, the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 34, a measure 
which congratulates Prime Minister-elect, Ariel Sharon, of Israel, 
calls for an end to violence in the Middle East, and reaffirms the 
friendship between the United States and Israel.
  I am pleased to have sponsors of this resolution on behalf of myself 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democratic 
member of our Committee on International Relations; and the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), one of our freshmen Members; the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle 
East and South Asia; and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), 
the ranking Democratic member of that subcommittee; as well as several 
other Members.
  H. Res. 34 recalls the abiding alliance between Israel and the United 
States, which is grounded in our shared commitment to democratic 
values. In over 50 years of Israel's existence, it has stood as a 
beacon of democracy in a tension- and trouble-filled region.
  On February 6, 2001, the citizens of Israel once again went to the 
polls to elect a Prime Minister in a competitive, free, and open 
election. That election was decisively won by Ariel Sharon. 
Accordingly, this legislation congratulates him on his election as 
Prime Minister and extends to him the best wishes of the people of the 
United States.
  It also commends the people of Israel for reaffirming, through their 
participation in that election, their dedication to democratic ideals.
  Mr. Speaker, the violence that has wracked Israel and the disputed 
territories for months is indeed deplorable. While H. Res. 34 urges 
Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat to use his 
influence and resources to see that violence in the Middle East is 
brought to an end, the legislation also restates the U.S. commitment to 
a secure peace for Israel.
  Our measure calls upon the countries that neighbor Israel and upon 
the international community to respect the freely expressed will of the 
people of Israel and to be prepared to engage in constructive relations 
with the new government of Israel.
  The future will surely bring many new challenges to Israel, including 
the continued threat of terrorism and the

[[Page H263]]

added danger imposed by weapons of mass destruction. It is critical the 
United States and Israel maintain an unshakeable alliance to further 
our many mutual interests.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this important 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the first time that the distinguished chairman 
of the Committee on International Relations and I, as the new ranking 
member, jointly bring before this body an important resolution. And as 
we do so, I want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) 
for his work on this resolution; and I want to express the hope that we 
will be able to work on a bipartisan basis on a full spectrum of issues 
that benefit the national interests of the United States.
  I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of this resolution. The 
resolution has several aspects, and I would like to comment briefly on 
each of these.
  The resolution in the first place congratulates the Prime Minister-
elect of Israel, Mr. Ariel Sharon, who won the most recent election a 
few days ago with a landslide victory. This Congress has congratulated 
all previous Prime Ministers of the State of Israel, a fellow 
democracy; and I know that my colleagues will join the gentleman from 
Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and me in expressing our congratulations to 
the newly elected Prime Minister.
  Our two governments, the government of the United States and the 
government of Israel, are not only close allies and friends, but we 
share a deep and abiding commitment to democratic values. As a matter 
of fact, since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, that state 
has fulfilled the dreams of its founders who envisioned a vigorous, 
open and stable democracy; and the centerpiece of that democracy is its 
system of free, competitive, and open elections.

                              {time}  1415

  I find it particularly amusing that some of Israel's neighbors, who 
have never had free and open elections, now criticize the people of 
Israel for having participated yet again in free and open and 
democratic elections.
  Now our resolution urges Mr. Arafat to use his considerable influence 
and very significant resources to see that the violence in Israel and 
in the West Bank and Gaza come to an end. Mr. Arafat commands a so-
called ``police force'' of over 40,000 well-armed soldiers, and it 
defies belief that if he were to truly be determined to put an end to 
the violence he would be incapable of doing so. Forty thousand well-
armed men on that small territory are more than adequate to restore 
peace and stability in the region.
  Our resolution, Mr. Speaker, also calls on all the neighbors of the 
State of Israel and the international community to respect the freely 
expressed will of the people of Israel and to be prepared to engage in 
meaningful and constructive relations with the new government of 
Israel.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and I have just concluded a 
lunch with our Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who is about to leave 
on a journey to the region. I know I speak for all of us in wishing him 
good luck in this difficult undertaking. It is critical that Israel's 
neighbors and the countries in the region as a whole display a degree 
of responsibility, statesmanship, and commitment to move ahead with the 
peace process.
  Clearly, given the current climate, there will be no final resolution 
of this long-festering conflict; but it is critical for the benefit of 
all the people in the region--Arabs, Palestinians and Israelis--that 
peace and stability be restored and the process of sitting down around 
the negotiating table with the new Government of Israel commence. We 
here in this body will do our utmost to facilitate this process. I wish 
the new Government of Israel, yet to be formed, good luck as it 
attempts to carve out for the people of Israel a permanent, stable and 
peaceful place in the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), a new Member 
of the House and a new member of the committee, brought the idea of 
this resolution to me as well as to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) and to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). It was a 
helpful suggestion and one which demonstrates the leadership quality 
the gentleman's constituents have recognized by electing him to the 
House.
  Accordingly, I would like to accord him the responsibility for 
managing the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Cantor) be permitted to control the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) 
will control the time.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman emeritus of the Committee on 
International Relations and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Middle 
East and South Asia.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 34, a resolution congratulating 
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon of Israel upon his election victory 
and calling for an end to the violence in the region, underscoring the 
longstanding friendship between the United States and Israel. I commend 
the distinguished chairman of our House Committee on International 
Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of our committee, for 
cosponsoring this measure. I want to particularly commend the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), who initiated this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, few nations could prosper and grow while under siege, on 
an almost constant state of alert and under attack, as Israel has had 
to contend with over the past 50-some years. Yet despite the tension 
and the violence imposed by unrelenting forces led by PLO Chairman 
Yasser Arafat, the Israeli people went to the polls in a free, fair, 
and democratic election to choose a new Prime Minister. General Ariel 
Sharon won that election by a decisive 25 percent.
  We look forward to working with Prime Minister Sharon as he confronts 
the existential questions that Israel faces daily. We salute Israel and 
her citizens for their courage, their principled leadership and their 
commitment to democratic ideals and to peace with security. Support for 
Israel in the Congress reflects a friendship the American people feel 
for Israel. Those feelings are reflected in this legislative body's 
strong commitment to a secure and lasting peace for Israel.
  Accordingly, I am pleased and proud to lend my support and 
cosponsorship to H. Res. 34. I strongly urge my colleagues to support 
this measure.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Before yielding to my next colleague, I want to recognize publicly the 
6 years of distinguished service the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) spent as the distinguished chairman of our committee and 
welcome him in his new role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Middle 
East and South Asia.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Nadler).
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution, 
which celebrates the triumph of Israeli democracy. Israel has been our 
consistent strategic ally in one of the most important and volatile 
regions of the world.
  Surrounded by enemies, plagued by acts of vicious terrorism, which 
have claimed the lives of countless civilians, many specifically 
targeted at children and other noncombatants, Israel has nonetheless 
maintained its commitment to a free, open, and democratic society. 
Nations facing far fewer and less substantial threats have degenerated 
into repressive and despotic regimes.
  In the wake of the Israeli election, regardless of whether Members of 
this

[[Page H264]]

House or, indeed, average Americans may have had a preference for one 
candidate, party or another, we must continue as we always have to 
respect the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. 
It is the people of Israel who must live under the guns of hostile 
neighbors and terrorists, and it is their sons and daughters who must 
wear the uniform of IDF and bear the risks.
  As friends of Israel, we hope for peace; but we remain committed 
above all to Israel's security. And for that reason we must continue to 
work with the democratically elected government of Israel. It is only 
when Israel's neighbors understand that they cannot achieve their goals 
through violence that they may be willing to talk peace sincerely. As 
we have unfortunately witnessed, even when offered 95 percent of their 
stated goals, a Palestinian state, 100 percent of Gaza, and 95 percent 
of the West Bank, including even sovereignty over sites holy to Judaism 
as well as to Islam, the Palestinians responded with violence, refusing 
even to make a counteroffer; violence that continues to this day.
  Israel was willing to make substantive and wrenching concessions in 
the form of land and control, for which in return she asked only the 
intangible promises of peace. Yasser Arafat could not even bring 
himself to mouth the words. Instead, he schooled Palestinian children 
in hate and violence; he placed young children in front of armed 
terrorists as human shields and offered their parents money to secure 
those children, practices that have drawn criticism from international 
human rights organizations.
  The members of the world community have now clearly been shown, and 
we hope they have seen, that the honest and real efforts of Israel and 
of the United States to secure peace in that region have been rebuffed 
by the Palestinians, who continue to initiate violence and to proclaim 
as a condition for the end of that violence demands that, if accepted, 
would mean the end of the suicide of the Israeli state.
  Even under these heavy burdens, Israel remains a strong and vital 
democracy. I congratulate the people of Israel on their commitment to 
peace and a free society; and I urge the administration to make clear 
that we will stand behind Israel 100 percent.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg).
  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, and I appreciate very much the opportunity to speak on this 
resolution.
  I rise today to offer my support for House Resolution 34, 
congratulating Israel on a fair, democratic election and encouraging 
long-lasting peace in the Middle East. Both the United States and 
Israel share a deep commitment to democracy and free elections. This 
commitment provides a foundation for the great successes our countries 
have enjoyed. I join my colleagues today in commending the people of 
Israel for their dedication to democratic values and a system of 
competitive, free, and open elections.
  This resolution also reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
pursuing a secure peace for Israel and all the people of the Middle 
East. Given the events in and around Israel in recent months, and its 
relationship with the U.S., I believe supporting Israel is essential to 
our national interest. I am pleased that this resolution reconfirms our 
commitment to supporting Israel, and I am hopeful the parties involved 
in the current turmoil will find a way to bring lasting peace to the 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors for bringing this timely resolution 
to the floor today, and I encourage all Members to join in supporting 
its passage.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Weiner).
  Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, and I 
thank the sponsors of this resolution, especially the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cantor), our new colleague, who has shown such leadership 
on this issue.
  We have once again been reminded of a lesson about the nation of 
Israel: That she is alone in an ocean of monarchies and dictatorships; 
that she is a democracy. And we congratulate Ariel Sharon on his 
election. But we have also been reminded of some valuable lessons that 
we should keep in mind and remember about the Palestinians. The fact of 
the matter is that Yasser Arafat and his people have shown time and 
time again in recent months that they simply do not care about finding 
peace. They have shown no interest.
  As my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), pointed 
out, they were offered everything and then some and said no, and 
offered no proposals of their own. Instead, they turned to violence of 
the worst sort, the type of violence that showed not only the images we 
were led to believe about Israeli forces holding them down, pinned 
down; but, in fact, much of the violence that happened was outside of 
area A, outside of area B where Palestinians were looking for violence 
anywhere they could find it.
  And just to make a good graphic image, the Palestinians have been 
using children as the stones of their war against Israel. This is the 
button they choose to press at every alternative. When there is a 
button for peace or a button for war, the Palestinians have pressed the 
one for war.
  If there is any question about the truth of these things, we need 
only listen to what Yasser Arafat says not to the CNN audience, not to 
us, but what he says in Arabic to his own people, continually, again 
and again, preaching the notion of violence, preaching the voices of 
hate.
  When we hold this in stark contrast to the voice King Hussein used 
when he was trying to get his people to embrace peace, and what Anwar 
Sadat did at the same time in Egypt to try to get his people ready for 
peace, we see that Arafat is no peacemaker.
  This is also a time for us to be sending a message to the other Arab 
nations of the world, particularly Syria. We are not unaware that at 
this time the new president of Syria has within his control the ability 
to release the hostages that are being held.

                              {time}  1430

  I refer to Binyamin Avraham, Adi Avitan, Omer Souad, Elchanan 
Tannenbaum, Zachary Baumel, Zvi Feldman, Ron Arad and Yehuda Katz. We 
must never forget these men who are held hostage by Syria and by 
Hezbollah.
  I would hope that President Bush, at the same time that he welcomes 
the new Prime Minister of Israel, presses for the release of these 
prisoners of war.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Israel on its 
free and fair elections and congratulate Prime Minister-elect Ariel 
Sharon. He is now our partner in peace with this new administration, 
our President, and a new Congress that must restart the peace process.
  Elections are the cornerstones of democracies, and Israel is the 
preeminent democracy in the Middle East. The United States, as Israel's 
most important and steadfast ally, honors this election and the new 
government of Prime Minister Sharon. Secretary of State Colin Powell 
recently said that Congress must continue to support Israel and her 
true partners in peace. And I am sure that we will do that. And this 
will be for Israel's long-term security.
  We must finish to respect Israel's right to fight against terrorism 
and work to uphold and strengthen the security of her people.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member, for their initiative on 
this; the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), my freshman colleague; 
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), my former boss and 
colleague.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. KIRK. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kirk), a freshman Member of Congress, who served on our 
Committee on International Relations and who was very supportive of 
Israel in that role, and now is even more supportive in his new role of 
congressman. I thank the gentleman for his comments.

[[Page H265]]

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his comments.
  As a new member of the Committee on Armed Services, I look forward to 
working with the Committee on International Relations to support this 
alliance.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my 
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch).
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, this is really an exciting day, I think a 
great day, for our Congress; and I thank the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Cantor) for bringing this resolution in front of us. It is clearly 
a bipartisan effort from both sides of the aisle, but it is also an 
opportunity for the world's greatest and oldest democracy, the United 
States of America, through our Chamber, to express our thanks that 
another democracy exists in a region of the world with too few 
democracies.
  One thing that I think about often in this Chamber is literally right 
above us is, there is a series of law-givers that look down upon us in 
this Chamber. And there is only one that has a full frontal relief, and 
it is Moses literally right in front of us in this Chamber, and it is a 
part of the world that we are linked to as Americans in many direct 
ways.
  To put in perspective, though, for just a couple of seconds what 
Israel has gone through in the last several months, over 500 Israelis 
have died through acts of terrorism since the Oslo Agreements. Over 500 
people have died in the most horrendous and horrific circumstance that 
we have seen and we read about over that period of months.
  What would that mean if it happened, God forbid, in the United States 
of America? What would the equivalent number be? It would be 25,000, 
25,000 Americans in our society being killed through acts of terrorism. 
I do not even think we can contemplate what that would mean as 
individuals and as a society.
  I think many of us understand what the battle is still going on and 
we thought the battle had ended really of the right of Israel to exist. 
That is really unfortunately what it seems the battle is still about. 
It is a battle that is, in a sense, literally not hundreds but 
thousands of years old. And it is a real question that is there an 
acceptance of Israel's right to exist from the Palestinian people, or 
is the thought that this is still a group of people who are like the 
Crusaders, who are going to last several decades and then leave.
  I do not think anyone here believes that. I do not think anyone here 
thinks that. I do not think there is a soul in Israel that believes 
that or thinks that. But until that acceptance is there, I think the 
possibility for peace is more problematic and difficult.
  We praise the democracy of Israel, and I think all of us look forward 
to the opportunity that Ariel Sharon has in this moment of time, that 
all of us know historically, there is a moment in time that he can 
reach out in terms of a hand of peace and a clear hand of peace that 
others have not been able to do. And I think the words of this Congress 
and the deeds of this Congress to offer our assistance in that effort 
are complete, united, and 100 percent.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 34 and 
would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), the 
gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) for their leadership on this issue.
  On February 6, the Israeli people went to voting booths. What they 
said was loud and clear. They said, enough, enough violence, enough of 
the policy of peace, enough conceding of land and security. And if we 
listen closely, we will hear something else, we will hear the people 
say they do not want peace at any cost but peace with security.
  It is appropriate today that we congratulate the people of Israel in 
completing a successful and peaceful transition of power through a 
democratic election. The election of Ariel Sharon as Israel's Prime 
Minister, coupled with the new Bush administration, signals a new era 
for the U.S.-Israel relationship and a new era for the Middle East.
  Peace will not be sought for the sake of a legacy. I believe very 
strongly that the United States must maintain its commitment to 
Israel's security as a fundamental basis of its involvement in the 
peace process. Any peace deal must come through direct negotiations 
between Israel and its neighbors without any prerequisites or forced 
solutions.
  As President Bush's National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice has 
said, ``We should not think of American involvement for the sake of 
American involvement.'' American involvement should occur when we can 
advance the cause of peace.
  We must not impose an artificial deadline on the players in the 
Middle East. Peace must come on their terms, not ours. Peace must come 
with security, not in spite of it.
  Israel has always made a sincere commitment to peace in the region. 
Many times their commitment to peace has caused the loss of lives and 
land. We need to make sure we stand with and support our only 
Democratic ally in the region.
  I join my colleagues today in congratulating Ariel Sharon on his 
election and welcome a continued dialogue about how to best stop the 
violence and bring about peace and stability in this vitally important 
region.
  Both the United States and Israel are off on the right foot in this 
new era, and I look forward to working toward a solution that brings 
peace with security.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, as one of America's staunchest allies and 
the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel continues to set a 
shining example of free and fair elections, the peaceful transition of 
power, and vibrant political discourse.
  I congratulate Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon on his victory and 
wish him well. I share the Prime Minister's conviction that Palestinian 
Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat must bring an end to the violence and 
reign in terrorism.
  The Israeli election on February 6 once again demonstrated why the 
strong bond between the United States and Israel is continually 
reinforced by our shared values and shared goals. This is the 
foundation for America's firm solidarity with the State of Israel.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, as a co-sponsor, I rise in strong support 
of this resolution, which commends the people of Israel for conducting 
a free and fair election, and reaffirms the important bonds between the 
United States and Israel.
  On February 6, 2001, the people of Israel elected a new Prime 
Minister, Likud Party Leader Ariel Sharon. At this time of transition 
in Israel, I believe it is appropriate to commend the leadership and 
vision of Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Less than two years ago, Israelis 
elected Mr. Barak as their Prime Minister, after he aggressively 
campaigned to pursue lasting peace agreements with the Palestinians and 
their Arab neighbors. It's fair to say that Mr. Barak delivered on his 
promise to go the extra mile in the name of peace. During his tenure, 
Prime Minister Barak withdrew Israeli forces from Lebanon, expressed a 
willingness to negotiate the return of the Golan Heights to Syria, and 
offered the Palestinians statehood and control over sections of 
Jerusalem. Regrettably, after offering more in the name of peace than 
any of his predecessors, the Palestinian leadership left Mr. Barak's 
offers at Camp David's negotiating table, favoring instead a return to 
terror and violence, as witnessed over the past four months in the West 
Bank and Gaza. Despite the tireless efforts of Mr. Barak and the 
personal involvement of President Clinton, a peace agreement was not 
realized. With the far-reaching proposals offered by Mr. Barak now off 
the table, and with a new Administration in the United States, the 
future of the peace process remains unclear.
  Despite these developments, there is room for optimism. Since his 
election, Prime Minister-elect Sharon has displayed a willingness to 
embrace a coalition government, with his overtures to Mr. Barak to join 
his cabinet as Defense Minister, and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres 
as Foreign Minister. Yes, some may say that these moves are calculated 
to meet the statutory 45-day requirement to form a coalition 
government. But more importantly, these initial gestures may display 
Mr. Sharon's pragmatic intentions to continue the peace efforts 
initiated by his predecessors. I hope that is the case. I have also 
been encouraged by the actions of Secretary of State Colen Powell, who 
recently announced his intention to travel to the Middle East later 
this month, and has remained in regular contact with the leaders of 
Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
  The resolution we are considering today expresses strong support for 
the State of Israel, and for its commitment to the democratic ideals of 
freedom and pluralism. Importantly,

[[Page H266]]

the resolution also urges Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat 
to use his influence to end the violence in the Middle East, and 
reaffirms the historical bond of cooperation between the United States 
and Israel, and our nation's commitment to help secure peace in the 
Middle East. I believe the U.S. is right to press the Palestinian 
leadership to abide by the terms of the Oslo Accords, which called for 
renunciation of violence, and the settlement of all disputes through 
negotiation.
  I believe passage of this legislation is an important gesture, 
because Israel is our only democratic ally in the Middle East. 
Regardless of how we may view the results of the Israeli elections, it 
is important for the U.S. to maintain its solidarity with the State of 
Israel. With the election of a new Israeli Prime Minister, I am hopeful 
that the Palestinians will choose dialogue over violence, and that 
Israel can continue its strong relationship with the U.S. to advance 
peace and stability in the Middle East.
  I encourage my colleagues to stand with the State of Israel and 
support passage of this important resolution.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as a brand new member of the House 
International Relations Committee, it is my pleasure to rise today to 
extend my congratulations to Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon on his 
victory in last week's elections, as well as to the people of Israel 
for their commitment to democratic principles of government. I join my 
colleagues in assuring Prime Minister-elect Sharon of our country's 
unwavering support and commitment to the State of Israel. We remain 
steadfast in our commitment to Israel's security and look forward to 
working with him in pursuing regional peace and stability, as well as 
working to further strengthen U.S.-Israel relations.
  It is imperative that we continue the dialogue for peace in the 
Middle East, and to this end, I call upon Palestinian Authority 
Chairman Yasser Arafat to demonstrate a commitment to the peace process 
by calling for an immediate end to the violence.
  I also want to acknowledge the work of the House International 
Relations Committee Chairman, Mr. Henry Hyde, and the lead sponsors of 
this resolution, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Ackerman, and Mr. Cantor, 
for their work on this resolution. I look forward to working with them 
in the House International Relations Committee on this and other issues 
of importance to our national interests and foreign policy.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a fair, free, and open 
election took place in Israel on February 6, 2001, to determine the 
next Prime Minister of that nation. I rise today to support House 
Resolution 34, which congratulates Prime Minister-Elect Ariel Sharon as 
the elected leader of the people of Israel. I am a cosponsor of this 
measure.
  The measure commends the people of Israel for reaffirming, through 
participation in the election, their dedication to democratic ideals; 
urges Palestinian Liberation Organization Yasser Arafat to use his 
influence and resources to see that violence in the Middle East is 
brought to an end; and calls upon Israel's neighbors and the 
international community to respect the will of the Israeli people and 
engage in constructive relations with the Israeli government.
  Naturally, the resolution also reaffirms the close bonds of 
friendship that have developed between the peoples of the United States 
and Israel and restates the commitment of the United States to a secure 
peace for Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, peace is never easy to broker. Prime Minister-Elect 
Sharon has a formidable task ahead of him, and we need to forge ahead 
as an international community to help bring further stability to the 
Middle East. As a result, I am pleased to learn that Prime Minister-
Elect Sharon is looking to build some consensus within the considerably 
wide political spectrum in Israel to bridge differences and gain some 
momentum for the peace process. It is encouraging that in forming a 
government, Prime Minister-Elect Sharon has called upon Prime Minister 
Ehud Barak--he is still leading caretaker government in Israel--and 
former Prime Minister Shimon Peres to join his coalition government. 
Hopefully, some arrangement can be made for these distinguished 
individuals to serve together within an Israeli cabinet.
  The larger question of peace in the region is predicated on continued 
negotiations with the Palestinians. I will always be a strong supporter 
of the Middle East peace process because we can never stop trying. We 
struggle for peace, Mr. Speaker, because the current wave of violence 
is unacceptable. It undermines the very basis for peace, the notion 
that Palestinians and Israelis can trust each other and live together.
  Last year, we edged a little closer to establishing a permanent 
blueprint for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians at Wye River. 
The principals involved did their best. While a peace agreement did not 
come to fruition, the Israelis and Palestinians conducted an 
unprecedented level of negotiations in the pursuit of a permanent 
peace. They discussed issues and exchanged viewpoints on pivotal 
matters of dire meaning to the Israeli people and the Palestinian 
people.

  Mr. Speaker, we don't really know when all parties to this ongoing 
conflict will find everlasting peace and reconciliation. We do know, 
however, that Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Liberation 
Organization and Prime Minister-Elect Sharon of Israel have an acute 
sense of the high stakes involved. Prime Minister-Elect Sharon is 
currently looking into various confidence-building measures between 
Israel and the Palestinians in order to improve the atmosphere and 
proceed towards peace. This is a common sense idea. We have no other 
alternative.
  The recent violence in the Middle East underscores the need to get 
the peace process back on track. We must do so expeditiously. I urge my 
colleagues to adopt House Resolution 34.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I reluctantly rise in opposition to H. 
Res. 34. This resolution is unclear and, hence, leaves the ability for 
much mischief. As the resolution's introductory sentence makes clear, 
this legislation is considered for ``other purposes,'' which is to say, 
unspecified purposes.
  Certainly Israel has been a longstanding friend to the United States, 
sharing many of our interests including peace, open trade, and free 
movement across international borders. It is equally clear that the 
people of Israel and the Middle East have long been torn by violence 
and, as such, share our desire to seek peace. We should, in fact, call 
for an end to the violence and hope all parties will see why this must 
be achieved. We are also right to congratulate Mr. Sharon, as is 
customary to be done with the victor of any election. We have all 
fought those battles ourselves and rightly understand the commitment 
needed to succeed in that arena.
  What then is the problem with this resolution? In fact, there are two 
problems and they are closely related. The substantive problem here is 
summed up in that last clause which ``restates the commitment of the 
United States to a secure peace for Israel.'' Certainly we wish peace 
upon all the people of the world, and in this sense, we are committed 
to peace. However, we must ask what other sorts of commitments are 
implied here. The vagary of this resolution leaves open the possibility 
that those who support it are endorsing unwise and constitutionally-
suspect financial and military commitments abroad. Moreover, peace will 
not best be secured for Israel by the further injection of the United 
States into regional affairs; rather, it will come when Israel has the 
unfettered sovereignty necessary to protect its own security.
  As written, this resolution can be interpreted as an endorsement of 
unconstitutional acts of aggression upon Israel's sovereignty. In this 
I cannot engage. Thus, it is the less-than-clear nature of the 
resolution upon which we are voting that makes it necessary for me to 
object.
  This brings me to the second problem, the procedural laxity involved 
here. This resolution was submitted by a number of distinguished 
members and referred to the Committee on International Relations. The 
highly-regarded chairman of that committee is the primary sponsor of 
this legislation and a number of other committee members are among its 
original cosponsors. Nonetheless, a number of other members of the 
committee and I were not included in the process. Perhaps, had this 
bill traveled through the commonly established processes of this 
institution we would have had the ability to clarify the 
``commitments'' and ``other purposes'' to which this bill refers. In 
short, had the committee held a hearing and mark-up, the vagaries 
could've been removed in the markup process. In such an instance it 
would be likely that we could achieve the kind of unanimous support for 
these resolutions, for which I often hear personal appeals. In the 
future, those who are interested in gaining such unanimous support 
might consider these procedural concerns if they seek unanimity on this 
floor. In the instant case, however I must vote ``no'' for the reasons 
I have here expressed.
  Hopefully these reasons will be considered so that in future 
instances the opportunity to make clarifications will be offered to 
those duly-elected members of the committees of this House.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join in strong support 
of House Concurrent Resolution 45, congratulating the people and the 
Prime Minister-elect of Israel on the success of the February 6, 2001 
election.
  I also want to commend the authors of this resolution, the 
distinguished Chairman of the International Relations Committee (Mr. 
Hyde), the distinguished ranking Democrat on the International 
Relations Committee and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Human Rights 
Caucus (Mr. Lantos), as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Ackerman) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

[[Page H267]]

These individuals should be commended for their leadership and I 
appreciate their working to bring the important measure to the floor.
  On behalf of myself and my constituents in the 9th Congressional 
District of Illinois, I Congratulate the people of Israel and the Prime 
Minister-elect of Israel, Ariel Sharon, for the successful February 6 
election which further demonstrates Israel's commitment to democracy.
  This resolution also reaffirms the policy of the United States that 
there must be an end to the violence in the Middle East, that we in 
this nation value our close friendship with Israel and are committed to 
Israel's security. Furthermore, it calls on Israel's neighbors and the 
international community to respect the outcome of this election, and 
urges the entire international community to help foster peace in the 
Middle East.
  The ongoing violence that threatens the people of Israel is troubling 
to me and it is important that the United States be clearly on record 
in support of Israel and in support of peace.
  I remain committed to bring whatever I can to guarantee a bright 
future for Israel and continuing United States support for efforts to 
bring peace and stability to Israel and the Middle East region. Again, 
I thank my distinguished colleagues for introducing this resolution and 
urge all member to vote in support.
  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise as an enthusiastic cosponsor of House 
Resolution 34. I want to join with my colleagues here in the House in 
offering my sincere congratulations to Prime Minister-elect Ariel 
Sharon as he sets out to lead his country and our close ally, Israel, 
during this very important moment in our history.
  Prime Minister Sharon is faced with many challenges. He must work to 
form a solid coalition and working government. I join with many others 
in the hope to see a Unity Coalition form in support of Prime Minister 
Sharon and his plan for both the internal domestic progress of the 
Israeli state as well as his vision for the achievement of peace. We 
must believe that a lasting resolution to the violence and division 
that has existed between the Israelis and Palestinians for far too long 
is possible. I am confident of this and mindful that major issues 
remain to be resolved.
  The Peace Progress is of central importance to the region. I want to 
applaud Prime Minister Sharon's strong commitment to the absolute 
cessation of violence in the Middle East. Violence has plagued the 
Peace Process and it simply must stop. I believe it is importance that 
Congress go on record today with a clear message that we support the 
decision of the Israeli people, we support Prime Minister Sharon, and 
that we are vitally interested in continuing the close and prosperous 
relationship that our two countries have worked to foster over these 
many years. Much work and many monumental decisions remain.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the sponsors of this bill and House Leadership 
for bringing it to the floor. I ask my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Prime Minister-
elect Ariel Sharon for his recent victory over Prime Minister Ehud 
Barak.
  Israel is facing a very difficult situation in trying to pursue peace 
with the Palestinians while at the same time trying to protect the 
people of Israel from the forces seeking their destruction. I am 
hopeful that Prime Minister-elect Sharon will continue to explore 
options for peace with Chairman Arafat, but there must be a secession 
of hostilities before any new peace negotiations can commence.
  The Middle East peace process is at a crossroads. As we saw by the 
election returns, the Israeli people do not feel secure in their own 
homes and communities. Chairman Arafat is responsible for this feeling 
because it is his followers who are pursuing the course of violence. 
Prime Minister-elect Sharon will have to confront this violence with 
whatever means necessary to restore some semblance of order. However, 
it is my hope that more violence will not be necessary to move the 
peace process.
  Both the Palestinians and the Israelis have the ability to inflict 
serious damage on one another, but what would that accomplish? I 
believe Prime Minister-elect Sharon knows this and is willing to 
restrain his forces if Chairman Arafat will do the same. At this point, 
the Middle East needs to remember what was accomplished in Oslo and try 
to rebuild the trust and respect developed there.
  To Mr. Sharon, I wish him the best of luck as he moves forward trying 
to form his coalition government.
  To Mr. Arafat, the ball is in his court. He will never achieve 
anything for his people pursuing the path of violence and terror. There 
has to be a compromise and I hope what Chairman Arafat was not able to 
reach with Prime Minister Barak, he can bridge with Prime Minister-
elect Sharon.
  The United States stands with the people of Israel as they struggle 
forward to make peace with all their Arab neighbors.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the principles 
embodied in House Resolution 34. Introduced by my esteemed colleagues, 
Mr. Hyde, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Gilman and Mr. Ackerman, the 
resolution emphasizes how important it is for the United States to 
remain engaged in the Middle East and establish a good working 
relationship with the new government in Israel. I join my colleagues in 
commending the people of Israel for reaffirming their dedication to the 
democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism and express my sincere 
congratulations to Ariel Sharon on his recent election to the position 
of Prime Minister.
  We have reached a critical juncture in the Middle East region. It is 
imperative for the international community to support and encourage all 
who seek peace and who wish to end the decades of violence. Killings 
have become too commonplace. Congress must emphasize peace rather than 
partisanship and hesitate to lay blame.
  In this ongoing and arduous process, it is crucial that the United 
States maintain its involvement in the peace process and continue to 
work diligently with the international community and with the new 
Government in Israel. Real peace must be achieved and the United States 
must remain an active partner in the process.
  I extend my sincerest congratulations to Mr. Sharon and wish him and 
his colleagues good fortune in the coming months.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
34 introduced by my distinguished colleagues from the International 
Relations Committee, Chairman Hyde, our Ranking Member, Mr. Lantos, Mr. 
Gilman, Mr. Ackerman, and Mr. Cantor.
  On February 6th, the State of Israel held free and fair elections for 
the 16th time in its 52 year history. In a region more familiar with 
long-standing monarchies and dictatorships than democratic 
institutions, Israel should be commended for setting an example to be 
emulated by others in the Middle East.
  On behalf of the residents of the 7th Congressional District of the 
great state of New York, I would like to congratulate Ariel Sharon on 
his election victory.
  Since its creation in 1948, Israel has made tremendous strides in an 
effort to co-exist peacefully with its neighbors. It is my hope, that 
Mr. Sharon will take the torch once held by Rabin and Ben-Gurion, and 
lead the people of Israel to a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow.
  The United States will continue to stand alongside the State of 
Israel in its quest for such a future.
  I commend my colleagues for spearheading this resolution, and I 
proudly stand with the men and women of this chamber in support of the 
new administration in Israel.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for H. Res. 34, congratulating the Prime Minister-elect of Israel, 
Ariel Sharon. Mr. Sharon's election in a time of crisis speaks volumes 
about him and the State of Israel. I would add that this resolution 
says something important about the United States that many countries in 
the Middle East need to know: Whoever the Prime Minister of Israel may 
be, that person and the government of Israel will enjoy the friendship 
and full support of this House and the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I have great confidence in Ariel Sharon, a man who I 
believe can bring both peace and security to the people of Israel. The 
people of Israel--the only genuine democracy in the Middle East--have 
spoken and the results of their election must be respected. Anyone who 
believes Prime Minister-elect Sharon's election can be used to heighten 
tension, or to drive a wedge between the United States and Israel, is 
badly mistaken.
  The bond between the United States and Israel, our longstanding 
friend and ally, is absolutely unshakable. Whether the prime minister 
is Ehud Barak or Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, or Benjamin Netanyahu, it 
is absolutely critical that all nations know that Israel will have the 
full support of the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, Ariel Sharon's election sends a powerful message that we 
would be well-advised to heed: Yasir Arafat can't be a negotiator for 
the ``peace of the brave'' by day and a coordinator of cowardly 
terrorist acts by night. The people of Israel will not tolerate 
terrorism as a tool of diplomacy, or as an acceptable response when 
Palestinians believe that Israel's diplomatic offers are inadequate.
  It seems to me that in giving this mandate to Ariel Sharon, the 
people of Israel are saying, in a very clear way, that peace 
initiatives will be met with peaceful responses, and that acts of 
violence will be met with appropriate responses, rather than further 
concessions.
  Mr. Speaker, the Palestinians should be cautioned not to misread 
Sharon's hardline reputation to mean he is intransigent. This prime 
minister-elect represents a real opportunity. The Palestinians would be 
well advised

[[Page H268]]

not to try to wait out Sharon's government until the next election; 
they may lose more than they gain.
  As an original cosponsor of the resolution, I want to commend and 
thank Mr. Hyde and Mr. Lantos, the Chairman and the Ranking Minority 
Member on the House International Relations Committee, for their 
dedication and effort in getting this bill before the House today.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 34, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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