[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 41 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2659-S2660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PRO-ISRAEL RALLY

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to comment 
briefly about a rally which was held this afternoon on the west side of 
the Capitol, a pro-Israel rally. Some estimated the gathering at 
100,000. I believe the group was substantially larger than 100,000. 
There were many people of all denominations represented--all colors, 
creeds, and racial diversity.
  The purpose of the rally was to support Israel's right of self-
defense. The gathering was attended by many luminaries. I had not seen 
so many people wait so long to speak so briefly at any time that I 
could recall.
  I stood, as a matter of fact, with Governor Pataki. We waited an hour 
and a half in the blistering sun to make our presentations.
  The spirit of the gathering was very emotional, very strong. The 
essential issue at hand was Israel's right of self-defense.
  In the brief remarks that I made, I emphasized the basic point that 
the suicide bombers who are plaguing Israel today are identical with 
the suicide bombers who attacked the United States on September 11. The 
only difference was that the suicide bombers who attacked the United 
States were more sophisticated. They hijacked planes and they crashed 
them into the World Trade Center towers. One of the planes was, I 
think, headed for this very building, the Capitol, which went down in 
Somerset County, PA, my home State. It was speculative, to some extent, 
as to where it was headed, but many indicators say it was headed for 
the Capitol. The plane which struck the Pentagon, by many indicators, 
was headed for the White House.
  The people of the United States were outraged by that terrorist 
attack, just as the people of Israel are outraged by the suicide 
bombers that have attacked civilian populations. The United States 
responded, as is well-known, by mounting a powerful military offense, 
which went to Afghanistan and crushed the Taliban and al-Qaida in a 
matter of a few weeks--an undertaking that the Soviets could not 
accomplish in 10 years and the Brits could not accomplish many years 
before. Just as we

[[Page S2660]]

would not expect anybody to question our right to go after the al-Qaida 
terrorists who killed thousands of innocent American civilians, that 
was the theme today in raising Israel's right of self-defense.
  President Bush has said that there will not be any daylight between 
the United States and Israel and he has been a strong supporter of 
Israel. I applaud his decision to send Secretary of State Colin Powell 
to the Mideast. It is a very difficult assignment that the Secretary of 
State now has. It is my hope there may be some moderate Arab leaders 
who will come forward to be able to have meaningful negotiations. 
President Mubarak of Egypt has, for over the past two decades, been a 
tower of strength. Of course, he has been the recipient of 
approximately $2 billion a year for more than the past two decades, 
totaling close to $50 billion at this point.
  On a recent trip I made to the Mideast, I had the opportunity to 
visit with King Abdullah of Jordan, a vibrant young man in his late 
thirties, who is taking over the mantle of his father, King Hussein, 
and is ready, willing, and able to be a voice of reason in the Mideast. 
I also met with the King of Morocco, who is also in his late thirties. 
He also has promise. So there is a new generation of leadership in the 
Mideast.
  When I was in the Mideast on Tuesday, March 26, I had an opportunity 
to be briefed by General Anthony Zinni, our chief negotiator there, and 
then had an opportunity to meet with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel 
Sharon. Late that evening, I traveled to Ramallah to meet with Yasser 
Arafat. I carried forward the administration's message, and that is for 
Arafat to make a clear, unequivocal statement in Arabic to stop the 
suicide bombers. As usual, Chairman Arafat said he would. Of course, 
again, as usual, nothing has ever been done by him.
  Then the next day, Wednesday, March 27, there was the suicide bombing 
at the Passover seder in Netanya. Hundreds were wounded and 27 people 
were killed. It had been my hope that the Saudi peace plan would come 
to some fruition if the Saudis would stand up. I was really chagrined 
to see Saudi Arabia have a telethon for Palestinians and gather some 
$92 million. The thought on my mind was: When was Saudi Arabia going to 
have a telethon to raise money for the families of the thousands of 
victims who perished on September 11 in a terrorist attack, with 19 
terrorists, 15 of whom came from Saudi Arabia?
  So in the midst of these very difficult times, this was a large 
gathering assembled at the west end of the Capitol--a larger group than 
customarily meets for the inauguration of the American President. Here, 
the crowd went beyond the statue on horseback. The crowd was on all 
sides. It was very emotional, and a very enthusiastic showing of 
support for Israel.
  I thought it might be useful, in the absence of any other Senator, to 
make this brief report for those who may not have captured it on C-SPAN 
earlier, to get some of the flavor of the passion, emotion, and 
determination of this cavalry of more than 100,0000 people.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Alaska is recognized.

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