[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 148 (Friday, November 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2053-E2054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE LEGACY OF MARLA BENNETT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, in a region that has been racked with 
violence and acts of terror, the vicious bombing that took place on 
July 31, 2002 at Hebrew University stands out as a particularly heinous 
crime. This is a university that prides itself on its diversity, 
especially its ability to integrate students and faculty regardless of 
their ethnic or religious background. It is the oldest university in 
Israel and has established itself as one of the outstanding 
universities in the world, one that has gained renown for the quality 
of its students, teachers and researchers.
  I feel compelled to comment on this attack for many reasons, not the 
least of which is that it hit my community, my Congressional district 
and my friends so personally. The bomb that was detonated in Hebrew 
University's Frank Sinatra International Student Center cafeteria 
killed nine young people, including five Americans. Over eighty were 
injured.
  Marla Bennett, of San Diego, California, was one of the Americans 
killed in this senseless assault. Marla was only 24 when her life was 
taken. She had graduated in 2000 at the top of her class with a B.A. in 
Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. At the 
time of her death, she was studying for her M.A. in Jewish Education at 
Hebrew University's Rothberg International School's Division of 
Graduate Studies. She was also jointly enrolled at the Pardes Institute 
for Jewish Studies. Her ambition was to be a teacher.
  Marla was not new to Israel, nor even to the Hebrew University. She 
spent her junior year in college attending the Rothberg International 
School's One Year Program.
  She had lived in Israel for a year, during which time she sent home 
frequent letters brimming with idealism, especially in her ardent 
belief in Israeli-Palestinian peace. Last May, she wrote that ``At 
least if I am here I can take an active role in attempting to put back 
together all that has broken. I can volunteer in the homes of Israelis 
affected by terrorism, I can put food in collection baskets for 
Palestinian families.``
  Bennett, whose exams were over, had a flight back to San Diego that 
was scheduled to leave only hours after the time of the attack.
  Marla Bennett symbolized the goals and objectives of the university 
she grew to love. She symbolized the striving for academic excellence 
as well as the search for cooperation and peace that has typified this 
university since it opened its doors in the mid-1920's.
  The University's President, Menachem Magidor, summarized this when he 
wrote in a letter to the New York Times that this was ``an attack on 
understanding, tolerance and the quest for peace. [It] is a crime not 
only against Israel or the Jewish people, it is a crime against the 
free and enlightened world.''
  In the wake of this tragedy, President Magidor asked ``whether it 
still makes sense to strive for a peaceful society based on reason and 
understanding.'' He concluded that ``the answer came to me clearly, and 
it is summarized by the Hebrew word `davka'--`despite everything.' We 
must not let them kill our drive of peace.''
  In this spirit, it is important to stress that Hebrew University is 
continuing its fine academic traditions. Its researchers and scientists 
are continuing their cutting edge work on projects that are designed to 
benefit all peoples. It is not surprising that Hebrew University's 
scientists apply for and receive so many grants from American 
government agencies including USAID, NIST, NIH and DARPA. Many of these 
projects are done in cooperation with American universities and 
research centers.
  Other Members of Congress have complimented the high quality of 
research done at Hebrew University and I join in their commendations.
  Rather than go through a long litany of all of these projects, 
especially those that have an Israeli, Palestinian and American 
component, it might be useful to mention just one as typical of the 
ethos of this special university.
  The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases 
functions within the University's Medical School, which is a world 
class institution established over 75 years ago. The Kuvin Center has 
been a leader in infectious disease and parasitological research for 
over 30 years. Its researchers and physicians have published 
extensively in the professional literature and it has trained many 
active scientists in the field.
  For a number of years, the Kuvin Center has collaborated with Al-Quds 
University Medical School on a variety of scientific and medical 
projects. Al-Quds, the pre-eminent university in the West Bank, is 
located in Abudies,

[[Page E2054]]

which is near Jerusalem and close to Palestinian hospitals, clinics and 
laboratories.
  The two institutions are now proposing a joint project for ``Regional 
Cooperation on Infectious Diseases'' that will cover the study and 
control of diarrheal and respiratory diseases, brucellosis, 
tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, HIV infections and zoonotic diseases 
such as leishmaniasis, and rabies. Preventing and treating these 
diseases are of enormous importance to the welfare of the region as a 
whole.
  The Congress fully recognizes and supports these types of cooperative 
Israeli-Palestinian health initiatives.
  The Foreign Operations bill for Fiscal Year 2003, which has passed 
through the Appropriations Committee, includes language on the Kuvin 
Center/Al Quds cooperation. I am pleased that the Committee included 
the following paragraph in the report accompanying this bill:

       The Committee acknowledges that one of the primary 
     objectives of the West Bank and Gaza program is to create 
     viable infrastructure in Palestinian Authority-controlled 
     areas to ensure the health and welfare of the Palestinian 
     people. Al Quds University, in cooperation with the Kuvin 
     Center for Infectious Diseases of the Hebrew University of 
     Jerusalem, has proposed the establishment of a regional 
     health and disease program, which would work to build an 
     effective infrastructure to deal with serious health and 
     disease problems among the Palestinian people. The Committee 
     understands that cooperative programs of this nature are rare 
     in the current environment, and urges AID to work, though the 
     West Bank and Gaza program, to help Al Quds and the Kuvin 
     Center begin this initiative.

  This project is designed to enable the United States to provide $15 
million over five years to this cooperative effort to deal with 
infectious diseases.
  This program does not require any additional appropriations. The 
proposed expenditure of these funds is an indication of Congressional 
intent on just how American money that has already been allocated can 
best be used in a productive capacity for Israel, the West Bank and 
Gaza. Thus, the Kuvin Center-Hebrew University/Al Quds University 
cooperative effort will serve as a model of how the United States, 
Israel and the Palestinians can work together on projects that will 
benefit the entire region.
  While Marla Bennett and the four other Americans who were killed, 
together with four Israelis, cannot ever come back to life, it is 
important to preserve their memory by continuing with projects such as 
this one. It is the very least we can do for them, for their ideals and 
for their dreams. Even more important, it will serve as a step toward a 
better future for the entire region.

                          ____________________