[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF LOUISVILLE

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today in order to thank and 
honor the 50 members of the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville, 
Ky for participating in Monday's Pro-Israel rally held outside our 
Nation's Capitol. I truly believe these individuals along with the 
entire Jewish Community Federation of Louisville deserve to be honored 
for their commitment to Israel and all that it stands for.
  Monday's rally was quite a sight to see. Over 100,000 supporters 
gathered, including former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 
and former mayor of New York Rudy Guilani, to demonstrate support for 
Israel in its current struggle against terrorism. Since September 11, 
the citizens of the United States of America have unfortunately and 
tragically been forced to face the realities that accompany terrorism; 
the fear, the pain, and the struggle. The American people now have an 
understanding of what it means to live in fear of a cowardly and 
radical enemy.
  The terrorist threat and presence Americans currently fear and feel 
everyday has been a reality for the people of Israel since 1948, when 
the state of Israel was officially established and recognized. For 54 
years now, the Israeli people have fought for their freedom and right 
to exist. In recent weeks, the Israeli government has come under fire 
for their aggressive but necessary military actions in Palestinian-
controlled areas of the West Bank. While I pray for the innocent 
Palestinians who suffer the consequences of their leader's failures, I 
cannot find it in myself to condemn Israel, doing all it can to protect 
its families, future, and freedom.
  Since the time he was a 17-year old arms dealer in Cairo fighting to 
rid Palestine of all British and Jewish influence, Yasser Arafat has 
dedicated his time, thoughts, and efforts to bringing terrorism to the 
homes and streets of the Jewish people. In 1958, Arafat founded the Al-
Fatah movement, an underground network of terrorist cells working as 
one to bring about the demise of the Jewish state. Just one year after 
the organization was established, Al-Fatah was publishing a radical 
magazine advocating the armed struggle against Israel and its people. 
Since Al-Fatah, under the leadership of Arafat, took control of the PLO 
in 1969, both Jordan, for attempting to overthrow King Hussein, and 
Lebanon, for using Palestinian refugee camps as bases for cross-border 
attacks against Israel, have expelled Arafat and his terrorist group 
from their land. Even today, Arafat continues to support the terrorist 
activity of such barbaric groups as Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad 
by agreeing to compensate the families of their homicide bombers. These 
homicide bombers are no different from the 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists who 
piloted two planes into the World Trade Centers, and one into the 
Pentagon killing thousands of innocent American citizens. They are all 
willing to kill innocent civilians as well as themselves for fanatical 
leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Yasser Arafat.
  In 1988 at a special session of the UN, Arafat showed signs that he 
was willing to negotiate for peace. He renounced terrorism and vowed to 
prosecute those who took part in terrorist activities. This empty 
rhetoric however proved to be short-lived. In 1991, Arafat fully 
supported Saddam Hussein and Iraq in the Persian Gulf War just three 
short years after he gave his UN speech. He has also refused to take a 
tough stance on terrorism, failing to live up to his promise to 
prosecute those responsible for such horrific acts as we have seen in 
the past six months. Arafat has now had the opportunity to deal with 
multiple Israeli Prime Ministers and U.S. Presidents but to no avail. 
He has been offered land, statehood, and a peaceful existence with the 
state of Israel. In every instance, talks ended and violence ensued.
  I once again would like to thank the Jewish Community Federation for 
sending 50 of its most devoted individuals to the rally. Israel has 
always been a good friend to both the U.S. and to democracy, and it 
always will be. I finally ask that my colleagues join me in praying 
that this situation ends as quickly and as peacefully as possible. I 
know that we all would like to see this conflict resolved without any 
further bloodshed, but we must be willing to stand by our in friends in 
Israel in our fight to eradicate terrorism from the globe.

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