[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 59 (Friday, May 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E765-E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 2, 2002

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor of the House of 
Representatives today in the name of democracy, in the name of hope, 
and in the name of peace.
  As long-standing supporters of Israel, we recognize and respect 
Israel's unquestioned right to self-defense.
  The United States has a long history of promoting and supporting 
democracies. It has long considered Israel its closest ally in the 
Middle East, because Israel is a democracy.
  It is because of our passion for democracy that we cast votes against 
the procedural steps needed to bring House Resolution 392 to the floor.
  These procedural steps prevented any amendments or any substitute 
resolutions to be considered by the Congress. We were not permitted to 
consider or debate either Senator Lieberman's or Congressman DeFazio's 
language.
  We were not given the opportunity to meet with our constituents and 
hear their thoughts and concerns on this divisive and complicated 
matter. Nor were there any hearings on this resolution. This is wrong 
and does not speak to debate that is central to our democratic process.
  While we support House Resolution 392 in its final form, we have 
concerns that this resolution presents a one-sided view of a many-sided 
reality.
  We cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people and the loss 
of innocent civilians.
  We cannot ignore the economic hardship the Palestinians have endured 
as they continue their attempts to create their own Democratic nation.
  And we cannot ignore the physical damage done to Palestinian 
infrastructure in Jenin, in Ramallah and other towns in the West Bank.
  Even with the Resolution's shortcomings, we believe it is critical to 
speak out against acts of terrorism that have claimed the lives of 
thousands of innocent Israeli civilians.
  The United States is scarred by its own September 11 experience and 
we have a new and somber national consciousness of terrorism on our 
soil.

[[Page E766]]

  We continue to hold out hope that the Israelis and the Palestinians 
will be able to achieve the peace of the brave that has proven so 
elusive. We are confident that the United States will be a true partner 
for peace and help bring a 21st Century Marshall Plan of resources and 
hope to those who today carry a rage of desperation.

                          ____________________