[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2005

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 57th 
anniversary of Israel's independence.
  Today we celebrate the realization of a two thousand year old Jewish 
dream to return to the ancient kingdom of Israel. Centuries of 
persecution and propaganda gave this dream a sense of urgency and, at 
the end of the Nineteenth Century, Theodor Herzl and other Jewish 
leaders throughout the world mobilized to establish a new Jewish state. 
Their dream inspired persecuted Jews throughout the world to 
courageously find refuge in Palestine in search of a better life for 
themselves and their children. Without their bravery and determination, 
the rebirth of Israel never would have been possible. The unspeakable 
horrors of the Holocaust further cemented the necessity of a Jewish 
state, and Israel was finally established as a sovereign and 
independent nation on May 14, 1948.
  The State of Israel was founded on the ideals of pluralism, freedom, 
and human rights and has maintained these democratic ideals in the face 
of war, terrorism, and frequent diplomatic isolation. Israel has served 
as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East and its shared values with 
the United States has led to a natural kinship between the two nations. 
We have maintained a strong alliance with Israel based on friendship, 
principles, strategy, and a commitment to defeat terror.
  Israel's determination to maintain its democratic principles in the 
face of relentless threats to its citizens has been admirable. We 
salute this accomplishment and we must work with Israel to defeat 
terrorist threats to the institutions that nurture democracy and 
prosperity in our two countries and throughout the world.
  Since we celebrated this day a year ago, Israel has experienced an 
increased sense of optimism for the achievement of a full and lasting 
peace. The newly elected leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud 
Abbas, has publicly denounced terrorism and has vowed to both crack 
down on militants and to root out corruption in the Palestinian 
Authority. Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has 
demonstrated his commitment to peace by preparing for the withdrawal of 
Israeli settlers from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four in the West 
Bank. Although the realization of a full and lasting peace in Israel 
remains distant, we must embrace these developments as a reflection of 
the cautious optimism embodied in Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah, 
which means ``the hope.'' We hope that Israel will continue to serve as 
the ``light unto the nations'' that Herzl envisioned more than a 
century ago and that Israel's 58th year will be a time of peace 
throughout the region.

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