[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 113 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1817-E1818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FOR DISENGAGEMENT IN GAZA AND WEST 
                            BANK SETTLEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 2005

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in 
commending the Government of Israel for its bold action in disengaging 
from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in the past few 
weeks. At considerable political risk, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has 
demonstrated his resolve by following through on his commitment to 
withdraw the Israeli presence from these areas. His government has made 
an unprecedented and unilateral sacrifice in the name of peace, 
surrendering land on which Israelis have lived continuously for almost 
four decades--land won in a war that was thrust upon them.
  To be sure, the disengagement serves Israeli security interests, 
since it establishes a defensible line of separation that improves 
Israel's ability to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks. That is 
good news for both Israelis and Palestinians. Every day without 
bloodshed brings us one day closer to peace.
  Mr. Speaker, I would particularly like to commend Israeli military 
and government officials for implementing disengagement in a way that 
allowed as many settlers as possible to express their remorse or anger 
while still encouraging them to vacate the area without resorting to 
violence. Even when some individuals or groups sought to provoke 
confrontations, Israeli authorities wisely avoided being drawn into 
fighting and, in the end, successfully and patiently evacuated even the 
most determined of dissidents. I am full of admiration for the Israeli 
military's achievement.
  A significant majority of Israelis favored disengagement, and I think 
it is important for them to know that the American people are behind 
them, supporting them in their struggle against terrorism and in the 
search for peace.
  But the decision of Prime Minister Sharon and his government to 
relinquish the settlements also creates an unprecedented opportunity 
for Palestinians who seek a state of their own. After this historic 
Israeli gesture, the burden to act now rests with Palestinian Authority 
leaders, who must prove that they can take on the challenge of securing 
and administering the territory just now coming under their control.
  It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we will soon see a concerted effort 
on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to move against terrorist 
organizations. This means not only bringing to a halt the attacks 
against Israel, but disarming the terrorists as well. A lull in 
violence is simply not enough. Terrorist infrastructure must be 
dismantled if Gaza is not to become a permanent launching pad for 
attacks by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other murderous fanatics. And I 
would urge President Mahmoud Abbas to insist that any group that wishes 
to participate in the January elections for the Palestinian Legislative 
Council first renounce violence in word and deed and divest itself of 
all arms.
  President Bush recently noted in his first-ever interview with 
Israeli television that we are witnessing in Gaza ``an opportunity for 
the Palestinians to show leadership and self-government'' as well as 
``an opportunity for democracy to emerge.'' Mr. Speaker, I invite 
Palestinian leaders to make this vision a reality, building a Gaza that 
is democratic and peaceful, free and open.
  In the wake of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the international 
community should also do its part to assist the Palestinian Authority 
to move in the right direction, and Special Envoy James Wolfensohn is 
impressively leading the way. But there are additional responsibilities 
that fall squarely on the shoulders of Egypt and the Arab and Islamic 
nations.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the most dramatic but least publicized aspects of 
the disengagement was Israel's decision to underscore the completeness 
of its withdrawal by removing its forces from Gaza's border with Egypt 
and allowing Egypt to send 750 troops to guard that border. This 
effectively alters the longstanding arrangement, based on the 1979 
Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, which prohibited Egyptian troops from 
that region. Egypt has now assumed the major responsibility for 
ensuring that terrorists and arms do not penetrate that border. 
Terrorists seek to make a mockery of Israel's disengagement by making 
Gaza an unrestrained launching pad for terrorism into Israel--just as 
opponents of disengagement predicted they would. It is the 
responsibility of Egypt, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, 
to win the confidence of the Israeli people by keeping Gaza peaceful.
  The wider Arab and Islamic worlds also have a significant part to 
play. By pursuing normalization with Israel, they will demonstrate that 
steps toward peace will be met in kind. The very significant meeting 
last week between the Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers is 
encouraging in this regard, as are recent reports of stepped-up Israeli 
contact with the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Prime Minister Sharon and his government for 
taking this wise and exceptionally courageous step toward peace--a step 
that is fraught with more risks than the media have acknowledged. I 
encourage the Palestinians to capitalize on this unique opportunity to 
demonstrate their own competence in governance and commitment to peace. 
And I call on the Arab and Islamic world to assume responsibility for 
proving to Israel that unilateral steps toward peace are not only 
appreciated but reciprocated.

[[Page E1818]]

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 may be found in 
the Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                              SEPTEMBER 14
     9:30 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To continue hearings to examine the nomination of John G. 
           Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the 
           United States.
                                                            SH-216
     10 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Aviation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the impact of Hurricane 
           Katrina on the aviation industry, focusing on jet fuel 
           markets, airport infrastructure, and Hurricane 
           Katrina's impact on the National Airspace System.
                                                            SD-562
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine issues relating to recovering 
           from Hurricane Katrina.
                                                            SD-342
       Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
         To hold hearings to examine the impact of Romania's newly 
           implemented ban on inter-country adoptions.
                                                         2237 RHOB
     10:30 a.m.
       Intelligence
         To receive a closed briefing regarding certain 
           intelligence matters.
                                                            SH-219

                              SEPTEMBER 15
     9:30 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To continue hearings to examine the nomination of John G. 
           Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the 
           United States.
                                                            SH-216
     10 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Keith E. 
           Gottfried, of California, to be General Counsel, Kim 
           Kendrick, of the District of Columbia, Keith A. Nelson, 
           of Texas, and Darlene F. Williams, of Texas, each to be 
           an Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of 
           Housing and Urban Development, and Israel Hernandez, of 
           Texas, to be Assistant Secretary and Director General 
           of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, 
           Darryl W. Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be 
           an Assistant Secretary, Franklin L. Lavin, of Ohio, to 
           be Under Secretary for International Trade, and David 
           H. McCormick, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary 
           for Export Administration, all of the Department of 
           Commerce.
                                                            SD-538
       Veterans' Affairs
         Business meeting to mark up pending VA health-related 
           proposals.
                                                            SR-418
     10:30 a.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Stewart A. 
           Baker, of Virginia, and Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, each 
           to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
                                                            SD-342
       Appropriations
       Legislative Branch Subcommittee
         To resume hearings to examine the progress of Capitol 
           Visitor Center construction.
                                                            SD-138
     2 p.m.
       Foreign Relations
       East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine U.S.-Indonesia relations.
                                                            SD-419
     2:30 p.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
       Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and 
           International Security Subcommittee
         To hold oversight hearings to examine housing-related 
           programs for the poor, focusing on existing challenges 
           in measuring improper rent subsidy payments in housing 
           assistance programs at HUD, as well as Federal 
           oversight of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
           Program.
                                                            SD-342
       Intelligence
         Closed business meeting to markup intelligence 
           authorization for fiscal year 2006.
                                                            SH-219

                              SEPTEMBER 20
     10 a.m.
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on 
           Veterans Affairs to examine the legislative 
           presentation of the American Legion.
                                                          345 CHOB
     2:30 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Disaster Prevention and Prediction Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the prediction of Hurricane 
           Katrina and the work of the National Hurricane Center.
                                                            SD-562

                              SEPTEMBER 21
     9 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To hold hearings to examine the status of the World Trade 
           Organization negotiations on agriculture.
                                                           SR-328A
     9:30 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings to examine able danger and intelligence 
           information sharing.
                                                            SD-226

                              SEPTEMBER 22
     10 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the financial services 
           industry's responsibilities and role in preventing 
           identity theft and protecting sensitive financial 
           information.
                                                            SD-538

                              SEPTEMBER 28
     2:30 p.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold an oversight hearing to examine Indian housing.
                                                            SR-485

                              SEPTEMBER 29
     10 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine proposed Duck Valley 
           Reservation, Shoshone Paiute Tribes, Water Rights 
           Settlement.
                                                            SR-485

                             POSTPONEMENTS

                              SEPTEMBER 14
     10 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         Business meeting to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-366

                              SEPTEMBER 21
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold an oversight hearing to examine Indian gaming.
                                                            SR-385
     2 p.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
       Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization 
           Subcommittee
         To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Forest and 
           Rangeland Research Program of the USDA Forest Service.
                                                           SR-328A