[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE MIDDLE EAST

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, I have about only 5 minutes to speak 
on an issue that is important for all of us in our country and in the 
world. That is the Middle East. There is much to say, and 5 minutes is 
just a beginning.
  We were not in session on Friday so today I will briefly present my 
analysis of Secretary Powell's trip. There was a lot of discussion in 
some of the media that Secretary Powell was unsuccessful in his 
endeavor. I actually choose to view his effort as but a first step. It 
is extremely important--I know the Chair believes as well--that our 
Government be engaged, even more so now.
  Secretary Powell's trip was an important first step. There are now 
discussions under way, very tough discussions, about security measures. 
Ultimately, the question is, how do we get from where we are right now 
to where we all hope we can be so that there can be peace for Israel 
and for her neighbors? That is the question. The emotion people feel, 
the sentiment people feel, that I feel, that all of us feel, is very 
vivid.
  When Israelis were murdered at a seder meal, as a first-generation 
American of a Jewish immigrant who fled persecution from Russia, it 
sent chills down my spine. When I read about the rise of anti-Semitism 
in Europe, some of what has happened in France, the targeting of Jewish 
teenagers, the physical attacks, the hatred, it is frightening. Inside, 
you feel the indignation, and you say to yourself: We will not let 
people do this to Jews anywhere in the world.
  I called Assistant Secretary Wolfowitz, who spoke at the rally, and 
said: We also have to be concerned about the loss of life of innocent 
Palestinians--not terrorists, innocent Palestinians. He is right. I 
called him and said: I believe, based upon my own background, when I 
think about my mother and father, who are no longer here, what you said 
should have been said. I think it was important to say that. It is a 
very Jewish thing to say in terms of my sense of Jewish justice. I 
can't imagine my mother and father not saying exactly the same.
  I thank Secretary Powell for his trip. Clearly, it takes courage to 
do what he did. He is out there. Frankly, he is doing the right thing. 
I believe now, however, we have to come forward with some very creative 
political ideas about how we can move to some kind of framework. It 
seems as if the present course will result in a deeper river of blood. 
How can we get to some kind of a framework that makes some sense so 
that we can get to where we want to get, which is people living in 
dignity side by side, with secure borders, and an end to the killing. 
That is, how do we get there?
  I wish I had the answer. Secretary Powell needs to go back. I don't 
know whether he thinks I should be saying this in the Senate, but we 
will need him to go back. Our government has to stay engaged in these 
negotiations.
  Over the next couple of days, I will try to talk about some of the 
discussions I have had with people about ways in which we can move to a 
different framework--not the present course but a different course. It 
is terribly important. I am not naive about this. It is very 
complicated, and it is very difficult.
  Since we were not in session Friday, I didn't want to let some of the 
interpretation of Secretary Powell's work be the only interpretation. 
Again, the emotion we feel and the indignation that many of us have is 
quite understandable. The real question is, how can we be constructive? 
What can we do gestaltwise that makes sense? What kind of proposals can 
we propose that are credible, that somehow will result in a place and 
time when Israel lives in peace and Israel's neighbors also live in 
peace. That is the question.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam 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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