[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 67 (Friday, April 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MODERN STATE OF 
                                 ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, six decades ago, on May 14, 1948, David Ben-
Gurion declared the independence of the modern State of Israel--the 
resurrection of a nation that had been scattered and persecuted for 
nearly two millennia.
  Ben Gurion's declaration was followed, 11 minutes later, by American 
recognition of the new state. Within hours, five Arab armies attacked 
the nascent country. These two elements--the deep friendship with the 
United States and conflict with its Arab neighbors--would remain 
dominant threads in the saga of Israel from 1948 to today.
  In many respects, modern Israel has fulfilled the early Zionists' 
goal of creating a ``normal'' nation--one that would take its place 
alongside the world's other states. The country's booming high-tech 
economy, its modern infrastructure, its global leadership in science 
and medicine, its laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle and its vibrant 
democracy are testament to more than a century of effort by Israelis 
and the Jewish pioneers who preceded them. Two of its Arab neighbors, 
Egypt and Jordan, have had the courage to sign peace treaties with 
Israel.

  Unfortunately, Israel's successes have been undermined by the 
continued hostility of many of its Arab neighbors and by the 
unjustified vilification of Israel at the United Nations and in much of 
the world's media. The singling out of Israel for unjust condemnation 
has bolstered the hands of Israel's implacable foes and has been a 
tragic impediment to the realization of progress, prosperity and 
security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
  America has long enjoyed a unique bond with Israel--in fact Americans 
were leading advocates for the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in 
the Holy Land as far back as the early 19th Century. American support 
was critical to Israel's survival in its early years and, following the 
1967 Six-Day War, the two countries forged a strategic alliance that 
endures to this day.
  Our bond with Israel is strong because it encompasses a number of 
dimensions: it is built on mutual security interests, shared values and 
a commitment to the rule of law. In its democracy and free press, 
Israel stands as a beacon to its neighbors, and its openness is all the 
more remarkable given the security threats that have shaped the country 
since its founding. As Americans, we should acknowledge these 
achievements and support Israel as it works toward a durable peace.
  Mr. Speaker, in the spring of 1948, there were many who predicted 
that the State of Israel would not even survive a month, much less 60 
years. That it has--with its values and vision intact--is a miracle and 
one worth celebrating.

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