Congressional Record, Volume 154 Issue 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)

[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3939-S3946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ISRAEL

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise to honor and celebrate Israel's
60th anniversary. On a sad note, this is the first year that we honor
Israel's anniversary without my friend and former colleague,
Congressman Tom Lantos, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. Mr. Lantos was the only Holocaust survivor to ever serve in
Congress, and his recent passing has left a hollow void for all of us.
Mr. President, on April 22 of this year, the Senate unanimously
adopted a resolution expressing our unwavering commitment to the
sovereign and independent State of Israel.
Sixty years after its founding, we now witness a strong nation, a
steadfast ally and strategic partner of the United States, a dynamic
democracy with a thriving economic, political, cultural, and
intellectual life, that survives despite the heavy costs of war,
terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and economic boycotts.
We now witness an innovative nation which has developed some of the
leading universities in the world and produced eight recipients of the
Nobel prize.
We now witness a compassionate nation, which regularly sends
humanitarian aid, search-and-rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other
emergency supplies to help victims of disasters around the world and
which has taken in millions of Jews from countries around the world,
often fleeing those countries and persecution. These accomplishments
have followed one of the most tragic events in human civilization: the
slaughter of more than 6 million European Jews during the Holocaust.

We are reminded that, as I have said many times before on this floor,
the events of the Holocaust are not distant and are not buried in the
past. Today, those who survived the camps live to tell us their story,
the stories of their families and their lives before the Holocaust.
Their children and grandchildren are here with us too. They are living
testimony to the strength, the courage, and optimism of their parents
and grandparents. But in their hearts and in their souls they feel the
pain and suffering of those who raised them. In them, too, the past is
present.
Echoes from that tragedy still rattle our world in other ways. Every
time a hateful slogan is spray-painted on a

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wall, every time a bigoted joke spreads like wildfire on the Internet,
every time a synagogue somewhere in the world has to station armed
guards outside so its members can pray in peace, and every time a
terrorist Qassam rocket attack from Gaza shatters a pane of glass at a
family's home or a school, we feel the dark shadows of history falling
upon our time.
It is a harsh reality that 60 years after its founding, the nation of
Israel continues to face mounting threats to its way of life and its
existence. Sixty years after the establishment of a homeland for the
Jewish people, antisemitism is very much alive.
So those who speak against the sovereignty of Israel or threaten its
obliteration or who believe that antisemitism is an attack that need
not be answered, do not recognize the consequences of history. In fact,
an attack against anyone simply because of race or religion is
ultimately the beginning of the unraveling of civilization. So it is in
our common interests to raise our voices against antisemitism.
By honoring and commemorating the 60th anniversary of Israel, we do
more than congratulate a nation. We take a stand against hatred and
discrimination everywhere. We recognize a triumph over fear and
achievement of industriousness, a victory of hope. We express our
sincere confidence that despite the challenges its people have faced,
despite the threats to their very existence, Israel has and it shall
overcome.
Israel and the Jewish people have held many commemorations and events
over the past week. Yesterday was a day to remember those who gave
their lives to protect the State of Israel and others who have fallen
victim to attacks from its enemies. Today is a day to celebrate the
nation's 60 years of life. It is a day for celebration and for strong
action.
On this day, we pause to commemorate all of those who have
contributed to make Israel such a strong nation, and we pledge to
continue to strengthen our bonds of close friendship and cooperation so
that as proud as this nation's history is, the future will be even
brighter still.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Connecticut is
recognized.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. I thank the Chair.
Mr. President, I thank my colleague from New Jersey for his powerful
and eloquent words. I am privileged now to stand to join him in giving
honor and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
modern State of Israel, which is a day truly to celebrate.
The 20th century witnessed unprecedented horrors inflicted by man
against his fellow man, from the trenches of World War I to the gulag
archipelago of the Soviet Union to the killing fields of Cambodia and
Rwanda and, of course, the genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany against
the Jews of Europe.
Against these acts of bloodshed and repression and violence, the
creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948 stands as a counterpoint
in human history, a soaring act of hope and faith in our capacity as
human beings to rise from the ashes of despair and to rebuild and
restore that which for so long had seemed hopelessly lost.
The modern history of the State of Israel goes back 60 years, but of
course the history of Israel goes back more than 4,000 years ago to the
first words that God spoke to Abraham as recorded in Genesis 1:21:

Now get thee unto the land that I will show thee, and I
will make thee a great Nation.

That was the covenant that God made with Abraham and which God
repeated to Isaac, to Jacob, and then to Moses who, with God's help,
delivered the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to Mount Sinai
where they received the Ten Commandments, their national statement of
purpose and destiny, and then after 40 years in the wilderness,
returned to the land that God had promised--the land of Israel.
It was there in the land of Israel more than 3,000 years ago that
King David entered Jerusalem and declared it to be the capital of the
Jewish people. And it was there in Jerusalem that David's son Solomon
built a holy temple to house the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten
Commandments. Thus in one place was established both the political
capital of the Jewish people and the religious center of that people's
faith.
It was also there almost 2,600 years ago on a dark day in history
that the temple that Solomon built was destroyed. The Jewish people
were forced into exile, returning just 40 years later to their homeland
to rebuild the temple. It was during the time of the second temple
under Roman rule that Jesus of Nazareth lived, preached, taught, and
healed the Jews of Israel. But the temple was to be destroyed once
more, and most, if not all, of the Jews were forced to flee the land.
For nearly two millennia, the Jewish people in the Diaspora prayed
every day that they could return to the promised land. For almost 1,900
years, the State of Israel was thus carried in the hearts of millions
of these Jewish exiles, and even more millions of Christians who prayed
some of those same prayers for Zion's restoration, particularly here in
America.
That collective yearning gave rise to a new political movement at the
end of the 19th century--the modern Zionist movement. It was led by
Theodore Herzl and a small band of followers, Jewish and Christian,
throughout the world. Many people said those early Zionists of the
modern era were naive dreamers, but Herzl replied: ``If you will it, it
is no dream.'' If you will it, it is no dream. Will it they did, and
work for it they did. In 1948, 60 years ago this month, their dream
became a reality.

The story of Israel's rebirth is inextricably bound up in the story
of another extraordinary principal, purposeful nation with its own
special sense of destiny, and that is, of course, our own beloved
country--the United States of America.
From the earliest days of our Nation's history, there has been a link
between the promise of America and the promise of Israel. The early
settlers to America in fact believed they were founding here a new
Jerusalem. The first minister to step foot at Plymouth Rock uttered
words from the prophet Jeremiah. Many of our Nation's Founding Fathers
were themselves Zionists. The President of the Continental Congress,
Elias Boudinot, predicted that the mighty power of God would someday
return the Jews to their beloved land. And John Adams wrote:

I really wish to see the Jews again in Judea as an
independent Nation.

When the modern State of Israel declared its independence 60 years
ago this month, it was officially and most significantly recognized a
mere 11 minutes later by a great American President, Harry S. Truman.
Americans and Israelis alike are the children of freedom. We are both
devoted to our democratic ideals, our culture of economic opportunity,
and our political pluralism. These are the principles we cherish and
the principles that define not just who we are but who we aspire to be.
I think it is the main reason, when our two nations look at each other,
we so often see the best of ourselves. It is also why succeeding
Presidents of both parties since Harry Truman have given such steadfast
support to the State of Israel.
I have often said as Presidents come and go, some seem more
supportive of Israel, some somewhat less. The current President
obviously is one of those who has most steadfastly and significantly
supported Israel. But over the long term, the great guarantor of the
U.S.-Israel relationship has been the bipartisan, pro-Israel majorities
in both Houses of Congress.
Throughout her brief history, Israel has also courageously faced
enemies who have threatened her existence. Today we once again see the
rise of such threats to Israel, including some that are existential.
Those threats come from the same Islamist extremists and terrorists who
threaten America today and against whom we are fighting the global war
on terrorism. History has taught us that we cannot ignore or appease
these dangers, so let's never forget that Israel is a living symbol for
the ideals we as Americans treasure--the ideals of freedom and human
dignity.
It is sometimes said that nations do not have permanent friends, only
permanent interests. But I believe the United States of America has a
permanent interest in our permanent friendship with the State of Israel
because that friendship is based on eternal values. We pledge today on
the day of this

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60th anniversary of the modern State of Israel, and we pray with God's
help that those eternal values and permanent friendships will sustain
these two great democratic nations eternally.
I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate and to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of
Israel. I wish to commend my colleagues from Connecticut and New
Jersey, Senators Menendez and Lieberman, on their statements this
morning.
Since its independence in 1948, Israel's promotion of democratic
values has helped forge a thriving society and a bastion of freedom in
a region where that value is sadly all too scarce. The vision of a
permanent homeland for the Jewish people was centuries in the making
and was finally achieved in May of 1948. From its outset, Israel has
faced a myriad of challenges which it has navigated successfully
against all odds. A small state with few natural resources and residing
in a region decidedly unfriendly to its very existence, the odds
against Israel have always been high. Yet the nation of Israel has
endured.
Today, Israel is known for a vibrant, high-tech economy. It
successfully accommodates a significant Arab population inside its
borders, allowing Arab representatives to serve in the Knesset. It has
achieved broad universal recognition and has forged peace with previous
enemies, including Egypt and Jordan. This will to surmount adversity
time and time again comes from the tenacious spirit of its people and
represents the very reason we are able to celebrate their anniversary
today.
I was fortunate enough to visit Israel in November of 2005 and meet
with various people who make up the mosaic of that great nation. Today
I want to share with my colleagues two indelible experiences.
First, I toured a semiconductor plant, the Vishay plant near Tel
Aviv, a plant whose base company is located in Chester County, PA. What
made this plant so special outside of its Pennsylvania ties was that it
was started by a Holocaust survivor, Dr. Felix Zandman, and his son
Mark who led us on the tour.
We not only observed the factory processes and equipment but also,
and more importantly, the resiliency, I should say, of this brave
family. Dr. Zandman experienced the most horrific fate imaginable to
man. Yet out of his experience, he was able to pick up the pieces of
his life, begin participating in his community again, and to become a
very successful businessman, who now contributes to the global economy.
To me, his story reflects the strength and courage embodied in the
Jewish people.
The next experience occurred while attending a Saturday dinner in
Jerusalem after the end of the Sabbath. I was at the home of Rabbi
Daniel Gordis, who is well known in the United States. He went to
Israel from the United States. The rabbi had a 19-year-old daughter at
that time who was serving in the military. At dinner, Rabbi Gordis told
us the story about going very early in the morning to wake up his
daughter to take her back to where she was stationed in the army, only
to notice that, while she was soundly sleeping in her bed, next to her
automatic weapon was her Curious George stuffed animal from her
childhood. As the father of four daughters, I will never forget that
image--the image of a young Jewish woman, bravely serving her country,
but not that far removed from her own childhood. Rabbi Daniel Gordis,
like so many parents in Israel, was feeling the emotion, the human
emotion of love for his daughter and, at the same time, love for his
country. There is no better example of the profound sacrifices of the
Jewish people and what they have given to build and preserve the state
of Israel. The story of Rabbi Daniel Gordis and his daughter is
Israel's story.
I was reminded, when I was there, of a passage from Scripture. We
went by a school, and this part of scripture was inscribed on the
school, which, in many ways, represented the bright promise and future
of Israel. It is taken from the prophet Zechariah, chapter 8, and I
will quote it briefly. This is the prophet predicting thousands of
years into the future at that time:

There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets
of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for
every age.
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls
playing in the streets thereof.

That prophecy of long ago has indeed come to pass for the great state
of Israel. So today, and every day, when we celebrate their bold
entrepreneurial spirit, a strong sense of community, a commitment to
national service and, obviously, a commitment to liberty, all these
values, combined with the democratic ideal that permeates their
society, all these make Israel what it is today and demonstrates why it
is such a strong ally of the United States of America. Our two nations
share a deep and unshakable bond, and that alliance, I believe, will
endure for the next 60 years, and for all of our tomorrows, as it has
for the previous six decades.
As the world community continues to deal with conflicts in the
region, the Jewish people must know that the United States will always
extend our assistance to our indispensable ally as it moves forward on
the road toward peace and stability.
Once again, I extend my warmest congratulations to the state of
Israel on its 60th anniversary.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Maryland is
recognized.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, first, let me thank my colleague Senator
Casey for his comments about the state of Israel. He has captured the
special nature of Israel, which one gets when they have an opportunity
to visit the country and see the faces of the people of Israel and what
they have been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time,
in a very small country.
Today, we in the Senate pause to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary.
To the strongest ally of the United States in the Middle East, we wish
Israel continued success.
There is good reason that Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle
East. It is a nation that has been built upon democratic principles, a
trusted ally in our war against terror. It shares our values in a
critically important part of the world to the United States.
President Lyndon Johnson said, ``The U.S. and Israel share many
common objectives, chief of which is the building of a better world in
which every nation can develop its resources, and develop them in
freedom and peace.''
Israel today is a vibrant oasis of democracy in a region of the world
replete with secular and religious dictators.
For 60 years, there have been near constant military and terrorist
threats, economic boycotts, and diplomatic hostility. Yet it still
stands as a thriving, pluralistic democracy, with the rule of law, and
an independent judiciary that works to protect freedom of speech,
association, religion, a free press, and fair and open elections.
Israel has become not only a regional power but international leader
in agriculture, health, science, medicine, high tech, and security. It
has used that expertise to reach out and help so many other countries
in the world deal with its challenges. Although it is a very small
country, eight of its citizens have been acknowledged as Nobel
laureates. In homeland security, it has helped the United States in
dealing with our war against terror in the post-9/11 era.
Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport is a model for airport security. Our
Nation has benefited by learning how the Israelis protected their
airports, and we are using many of those procedures here in the United
States to protect our own citizens.
I can tell you how the Israelis have helped Maryland deal with
homeland security issues. They have come and looked at one of our urban
hospitals to make sure we take every precaution to protect the citizens
of Maryland.
Israel is a safe haven for Jews--from the Soviet Union, to Ethiopia,
or any country where Jews are threatened. As David Ben-Gurion said 60
years ago, ``The land of Israel was the birth place of the Jewish
people. Here their spiritual, religious, and political identity was
shaped. Here they first attained statehood, created cultural values of
national and universal significance and gave the world the eternal Book
of Books.''

[[Page S3942]]

Ben-Gurion went on to say that the State of Israel ``will be based on
freedom, justice, and peace, as envisioned by the prophets of Israel;
it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all
of its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race, or sex; it will
guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and
culture; it will safeguard the holy places of all religions.''
Since its first days as a modern state, it has sought peace with its
Arab neighbors. During the declaration of independence, Israel stated:

We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their
peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness and
appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual
help with its sovereign Jewish people settled in its own
lands. The state of Israel is prepared to do its share in a
common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.

It has had success, with the help of the United States, as peace
agreements were entered into with Egypt and Jordan. But to those who
continue to challenge Israel's sovereignty and security, let me caution
them with the words of President John F. Kennedy when he said:

Israel was not created in order to disappear. Israel will
endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and the hope of
the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor
demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy
and it honors the sword of freedom.

On the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel, we wish it continued
success and peace, as the bond between our two countries continues to
strengthen.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Delaware is
recognized.
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in
morning business for up to 10 minutes.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, 60 years ago, on May 8--or May 14, under
our western calendar--Israel declared its independence. On this special
day, when Jews and Christians, heads of state, and others around the
world celebrate the founding of Israel, I rise for a few minutes to
reaffirm our Nation's commitment to Israel's security and the pursuit
of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East.
That is one of the reasons I cosponsored the resolution recognizing
Israel's 60th birthday, and reaffirming the close ties between our
country and Israel, a nation I have been privileged to visit as a
Congressman, as a Governor, as a Senator, and maybe most importantly as
a father with a teenage son.
Current events threaten to overshadow the importance, though, of this
independence day: Prime Minister Omert is again being investigated.
Another round of peace talks appears to have stalled once more. Hamas
continues to launch Qassam rockets at Sderot and other towns near Gaza.
Suicide bombings continue. Hezbollah has increased military capability,
with support from Syria and Iran. The leaders of Iran--the most active
state sponsor of terrorism in the world--continue to call for Israel's
destruction, while denying that the Holocaust ever occurred.
These are enormous, complex challenges. But after 7 wars in only 60
years, Israel somehow has achieved remarkable--some would say
miraculous--success, all the while having to fight for its existence
almost every single day.
Today is the day to express our fundamental pride in a number of
their successes. For example, Israel's population today is 7.3 million
people, more than 9 times the 800,000 who lived there in 1948. Since
its founding, over 3 million immigrants have been successfully
absorbed.
While Israel is the world capital of Torah learning, it is among the
world's leaders in high-tech, medical, and scientific advances. In
1948, there were only two universities; today there are eight. On a per
capita basis, Israel's GDP places it in the top tier of all nations.
Democratic institutions flourish there. Both Jews and Arabs serve in
Israel's Parliament, the Kennesset. Additionally, Israel has an
independent, effective judiciary and a free press.
So today I rise to join many of my colleagues in reaffirming the
commitment of the United States to Israel's security.
For the people of Israel, to its citizens, our message is simple and
clear: We will continue to stand in solidarity with you. We are proud
of what you have become.
As I said earlier, I have had the privilege of visiting Israel a
number of times--when I served in the House, as a Governor leading a
trade delegation, as a Member of the Senate, and perhaps the most
special and memorable visit for me was with my teenage son, roughly 3
years ago. We were in Israel on Easter weekend. We actually had the
privilege of being on Golgotha, where Christ was believed to have been
crucified, and we were there on Easter Sunday. We were privileged to be
at the tomb where Christ's body was believed to have been lain, and we
placed our hands there on Easter Sunday. What an unforgettable memory.
I had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Shamir, Ehud Barak, Ariel
Sharon, Netanyahu, and Shimon Peres, among others. I will never forget
being at the home of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel on July 4, roughly
10 years ago--being there and meeting what seemed like half of the
leadership of Israel, and any number of prominent Israeli citizens as
our guests that day celebrating our independence, our Nation's
birthday.
Today, some 10 years later, as we prepare to celebrate Israel's
birthday with the Israelis and people all over the world, I want to
close with the words of Israeli President Shimon Peres spoken only a
few days ago. I know the Presiding Officer has met Shimon Peres before
in the number of roles he has played. I have been fortunate to do that
as well. I have never met anyone who has a greater gift with the
English language than this man.
I want to share these words he said a couple days ago:

Over the past 60 years, we have something that previous
generations of Jews, those who were trampled in the pogroms
and who were burned in the crematoria, did not have. The
soldiers who fell created a miracle unparalleled in history:
the miracle of the state of Israel. . . . For 60 years, they
fought in seven wars that were forced upon us, and that we
won. They enabled us to establish an exemplary society, to be
trailblazers in the world in . . . agriculture, medicine and
defense, to be a peace-seeking people, a democratic state,
and a state that seeks justice.

To that I would only add, may it be so for a millennium or more.
Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I join my colleagues who have come to
the floor today to recognize and salute the 60th anniversary of the
founding of the modern state of Israel.
Today is a great milestone for the people of Israel--and for all
Americans. Ever since President Truman recognized Israel minutes after
its birth on May 14, 1948, the United States and Israel have enjoyed a
friendship based on values rooted in democracy and mutual strategic
goals.
Israel's survival and success are a remarkable testimony to the
vision that inspired its creation six decades ago and to the Israeli
people who have made that vision a reality .
On this day of celebration, we must reflect on the course charted by
the great leaders over the last six decades that have made this
milestone possible. Though the journey has not always been along a
straight and smooth path, each step along the way has been paved with
the two fundamental and complementary tenets of the Israeli nation:
resilience and faith.``
The existence of Israel across these six decades--the way it has
grown and flourished--has provided security and opportunity for its
citizens. It has strengthened and enhanced Jewish life around the
world. And it has been a beacon of democracy that makes the entire
world a safer, more hopeful place.
I had the honor of traveling to Israel 2 years ago and seeing first-
hand the strength and vitality of the country. I still remember the
warm welcome I received from the Israeli people, as well as the courage
and pride they bring to everyday life. I was honored to meet with Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon just a few weeks before his tragic stroke, and I
will value forever the lessons I learned from our conversation.
Today, America's and Israel's interests in the Middle East and around
the world have never been more closely aligned. Our common values and
objectives continue to drive us to meet the challenges we face, and to
pursue opportunities for greater peace and prosperity.

[[Page S3943]]

We are in the midst of turbulent times, with. instability threatening
to spread across the Middle East. But the people of Israel must know
that wherever forces of intolerance gather to endanger their safety or
security, the United States will stand beside them in defying and
defeating these foes.
By continuing to support Israel, we support stability and democracy
and we can make further progress toward peace in the region.
I ask that my colleagues join with me in congratulating and
celebrating with the people of Israel on the 60th anniversary of the
founding of their nation, and that we renew our commitment to ensuring
that we will continue to celebrate each successive anniversary for
decades to come.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, Israel's first Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion, on May 14, 1948, proclaimed the establishment of the
state of Israel, and 60 years later now, we celebrate this momentous
time in Israel's history. I congratulate, along with all of the other
Senators, Israel on its 60th anniversary, and the close relationship
the United States and Israel have. It serves as an important purpose of
promoting peace in the Middle East.
Helping Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while maintaining its
security strengthens both of our strategic interests. We must do
everything we can to end the bloodshed and bring the parties together.
We must resume those positive measures.
We must, as the Good Book says: Come, let us reason together. Most of
us out here support two states living side by side in peace and
security for both. That was outlined by the President in a speech on
June 24, 6 years ago.
To achieve that, the Palestinians need to reform their institutions
and cease those continued terrorist activities against all the
innocents. Continued engagement by our country is required to help us
get to that goal of peace in the Middle East. I look forward to the
continued cooperation of Israel and the United States toward that goal.
My hearty congratulations to Israel on its 60th anniversary.
Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the State of Israel
on the 60th anniversary of its independence.
The story of the tribes of Judea began, as we know, in the Old
Testament. The Israelites fled from Pharaoh's slavery, wandering for 40
years in the desert before coming to their land. It is a familiar
narrative--and not only to those who study Scripture--for those early
trials of the Jewish people bespoke an awe-inspiring destiny, both
glorious and tragic. No other people on earth have survived and
prospered in the face of so much hardship. The Jewish community has
been contemporaries of the Assyrians and Babylon, Crusaders and Rome,
the Hapsburgs and the Soviet Kremlin. They have faced injustice,
persecution, expropriation, pogroms, and genocide; and they have
persevered.
The return of the Jews to the Holy Land is perhaps the greatest
historical event of our time. The Jewish community emerged from the
greatest tragedy the Diaspora had ever known, and in its aftermath
built the greatest triumph. The authors of that triumph encompass the
whole of the early Israeli community. The great David Ben-Gurion
declared Israel a state but he could not have without the thousands of
brave Israelis willing to fight for it. Chaim Weizman secured
international support for Israel but he could not have without the
hundreds of thousands of Jews willing to immigrate to the Holy Land.
And of all these heroes, the famous and the anonymous, none have given
more than the 22,437 Israeli soldiers who have fallen in battle since
1860. It is no coincidence in Israel that Independence Day is preceded
by Remembrance Day, to honor the fallen Zahal warriors. On this 60th
anniversary of Israel's independence, I know that wherever they are,
those sons and daughters of Judea are proud indeed.
I am also proud that America has stood with Israel in her times of
need. It is only fitting that the two great democratic nations forged
by immigrants and pioneers be close allies, in the ongoing struggle
against the forces of fanaticism. For Israel, this fight is as familiar
as existence; for America, it is an old enemy in a new guise. During my
time in the Senate, I have worked tirelessly to strengthen the bond
between our two countries. I believe the bonds our two countries share
are as everlasting as they are many-layered. Together, they will ensure
that Israel faces down the next threat, and the one after that, and
after that, and so on until her 120th anniversary, when I pray there
will at last be peace.
The past three have been littered with many enemies, from Titus to
the Nazis, each with their own dream of destroying the Jews. Some came
perilously close. But today we know that the destruction of the Second
Temple, and the Inquisition, and the pogroms, and the Holocaust were
not in fact the end of the story. The legend did not end. In 1948, the
new chapter of the tribes of Israel began, always glorious and always
tragic, animating the pages of history until the final chapter of Man.
May Israel ever be with us, and us ever by her side.
Mr. WYDEN. It is a great honor to come to the floor in celebration of
the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. The
creation of an independent Israeli State was truly one of the most
significant events of the 20th century. Following the horrific events
of the Holocaust, the founding of the State of Israel symbolized a
recognition of the right and the need of the Jewish people to have a
homeland--a place of sanctuary and security after the senseless
annihilation of 6 million Jews. The Holocaust was not the first or the
last genocide. It was the culmination of centuries during which Jews
were ostracized, persecuted, and purged from country after country. The
Jewish people struggled to maintain their heritage, their traditions,
and did so in the midst of other cultures, after the fall of Jerusalem
and enslavement by many other societies.
For over 2000 years, Jews faced discrimination, including
restrictions of their rights, religious practices, and even
professional occupation. Yet even as Jews were able to prosper and
establish themselves as an integral part of society in Europe, this
progress was wiped out by the Nazi regime. Thousands upon thousands of
Jewish families, including my own, were uprooted from their homes and
forced to flee for their lives for no other reason than the fact that
they were Jewish. Not all of our family was able to get out. We lost
family at Krystalnacht. We lost family at Theresienstadt. My family
came to this country knowing they were coming to the best and freest
place on Earth. But not all were able to come here. Many European Jews
were not allowed entry into other countries, including the land that is
now Israel.
Upon the conclusion of World War II, the United States joined with
other countries in the United Nations to recognize the right and need
of the Jewish people to have the security of being able to live in
their own state. The United States was, in fact, the very first country
to recognize the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. After thousands of
years, Jews had established in their historic homeland a sovereign
country of their own, Israel. Yet Israel is much more than a sanctuary
for the Jewish people. Israel's importance transcends the Jewish
religion. Israel is a place of enormous historic significance. It is a
sacred land not only for Jews but for Christians and Muslims as well.
All three of the world's major monotheistic faiths honor Jerusalem and
other surrounding sites as holy places that hold unique importance to
the development of their religions. Israel has worked to protect the
interests and rights not just of Jews but those of all faiths.
The Israeli Government provides access to historic and religiously
significant sites and allows clergy, scholars, historian,
archeologists, and others to pursue their studies of this very
historic, very special land. Israel is also of enormous importance to
our country. Israel is America's strongest and most reliable ally in
the Middle East. In a region that has been plagued by instability but
is of enormous strategic significance, Israel is a stable democracy and
a stalwart ally.
As a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, I follow these
issues closely and would say from the Camp David accords to the current
peace talks, Israel has consistently demonstrated a willingness to work

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along with the United States to engage its neighbors in difficult
negotiations. Despite constant attacks and threats to its very
existence, Israel has given up land and made very significant
conciliatory offers in the interest of achieving lasting peace and
stability in the Middle East.
Finally, beyond the religious, historic, cultural, diplomatic, and
strategic significance, it is important to recognize the impact Israel
has had at the human level for its citizens and for people around the
globe. Israel has established a thriving economy, a world-class
education system, and has advanced scientific and technological
innovation on numerous fronts. The distinguished Senator from Minnesota
and I have talked many times about the issue of health care. It is
striking to see the Israelis in such an innovative, focused kind of way
look to health care improvements that are going to be of great use, not
just to the people of Israel but to many around the world. In 60 years,
Israel has truly established itself as a global leader and a vital
partner in the international community.
It is a great honor to be able to stand today on the Senate floor to
recognize the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel. I look forward
to continuing the close and indispensable partnership between our
country and Israel. Today I wish the people of Israel the greatest
success, the greatest happiness, and especially peace for the next 60
years and beyond.
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, a birthday is an occasion that allows a
family to focus on one of its members and celebrate what is unique and
special about that person. It is time to reflect on major challenges
met and major fulfillments achieved. The same is true when we celebrate
the birth of a nation, or perhaps more appropriately today, its
rebirth.
The modern State of Israel is 60 years old today. But the idea of
Israel was born at the dawn of recorded history. Students of the Bible
know that Israel was originally a person--the father of 12 children who
became the Twelve Tribes. Israel became a nation as the progeny of
those patriarchs grew in population of more than 1 million. And Israel
has become a revered concept, a union of spiritual ideas that has
benefited many cultures far from the Middle East.
That is what our second President, John Adams, meant when he wrote:

The Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other
nation. If I were an atheist and believed blind eternal fate,
I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be
the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.

We in the United States have enjoyed that civilizing influence. Much
of what we believe and assert in our founding documents was drawn from
ancient Jewish roots. The belief in individuals having ultimate value
is because they are made in the likeness and image of God; respect of
the rule of law as the foundation of a just society, not just the power
of men; and a commitment to the cause of liberation because the rights
of the people are an inalienable gift from their Creator.
So this celebration is not just a milestone for the Jewish people but
for all humanity. It is a celebration of the perseverance and faith of
the Jewish people, those who have resisted oppression for thousands of
years. The story of Israel is a passionate history of the capacity of
human beings to remain true to ideals, to overcome the longest odds, to
realize a dream in the midst of those who wish to deny it.
Over a century ago, Theodore Herzl put into writing his vision for a
free Jewish state. His immortal words: ``If you will it, it is no
legend,'' personified the deep faith of the Jewish people and their
heritage and their role on this planet. Both the United States and
Israel were founded on the hope and promise of being ``a light unto
nations,'' and this is a principle that defines us and binds us
together.
For this reason, I believe the anniversary of the State of Israel
encompasses much more than the rebirth of a nation. As a person of
Jewish heritage and a public servant, this milestone has special
significance for me. It reminds me not just of the added sense of
responsibility to work for justice and peace, but of the lesson to
never give up in my pursuit of those ideals, no matter the size of the
obstacle.
But in Israel's existence, there is also a lesson of what we are
called to pursue. The Jewish people have withstood much persecution
through the years and endured some of the most horrific crimes against
humanity that the world has ever seen. It is our responsibility to
remind the world what humanity is capable of if we do not remain
vigilant and fight ignorance and injustice wherever it emerges.
Even today, after 60 years of independence and 7 wars fought to
preserve it, Israel continues to face grave threats. Iran and its
regional proxies--Hamas and Hezbollah--continue not only to reject a
peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, but also to undermine
the very existence of Israel as a democratic and Jewish State.
The Iranian President continues to blatantly deny the Holocaust of
the Jewish people while vowing to create another one. Iran's pursuit of
a nuclear weapon is very real and must not be allowed to succeed. A
nuclear Iran would dramatically alter the fragile balance in that
volatile region and would pose an existential threat to the State of
Israel.
In 1948, the United States under President Harry Truman made an
unconditional commitment to the State of Israel. That commitment was
not based on the price of gas, economic policy, or partisan politics.
It was a moral covenant made in response to generations of mistreatment
of the Jewish people and a desire for them to have a secure homeland
founded upon democratic principles. We believed then, as we do now,
that democracy is, in Lincoln's words, ``the last best hope of Earth.''
From such a commitment there is no out. To deny our support of Israel
would be to deny everything America holds sacred and vital. We not only
have to hold to our commitment, but we must use our influence around
the world to encourage other nations to move in that direction.
This commitment dictates that we remain vigilant and watchful over
these Iranian threats. I expect the United States to lead the way and
use its influence over other countries that may undermine these
nonproliferation efforts. For this reason I was very disappointed by
the administration's insistence in signing a nuclear cooperation
agreement with Russia. I have written, along with Senator Bayh, a
letter to the President signed by 32 Senators from both parties in
which we state that taken together, Russia's opposition to effective
U.N. sanctions against Iran's nuclear weapons program, its ongoing
assistance to Iran's ballistic missile programs, its exports of fuel to
Iran's Bushehr reactor, and its increasingly abrasive foreign policy,
all give us cause for concern without finalizing such an agreement.
Submitting a 123 agreement with Russia to Congress at this time could
severely undermine our policy with respect to Iran at a critical
juncture. Iran's testing of advanced centrifuges could significantly
reduce the time it would take to reduce highly enriched uranium for a
nuclear weapon. We urged the President not to send the agreement to
Congress until Russia has ended support for Iran's ballistic missile
program and stopped providing advanced conventional weapons and
assistance to Iran's nuclear fuel cycle program. Russia must also
cooperate with us to increase meaningful economic pressure on Iran to
end its defiance of the United Nations Security Council's mandatory
resolutions to suspend its enrichment of uranium.
Improving our commercial ties to Russia may be a national interest.
It may be good economically for the United States and for Russia, but
preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a national interest
of greater importance on which we cannot compromise.
When I reflect on Israel at 60, I am excited about Israel's future,
despite the ever-present challenges. As David Ben-Gurion said in the
early days of the modern Israeli nation, ``Around here, if you don't
believe in miracles, you're not a realist.''
The Jewish people truly understand this concept, as there are many
miracles that have come together to preserve the Jewish people
throughout history, including the one that brought the modern State of
Israel into existence. The anniversary of this miracle should be a
joyous one, and the fact that Israel has now stood firm for 60 years
should be celebrated.

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America should thank God for the heritage of freedom Israel has given
us. On this day, America should reaffirm its resolve to protect and
sustain the place and the people who have given us so much. The gift
Israel needs from us on its birthday is our gratitude, to be sure, but
also our renewed, unshakable commitment to keeping those ancient dreams
and ideals that we share alive.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, it is an honor to come to the floor today to
celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's 60th Independence Day.
Today, on its 60th birthday, we recognize that Israel remains an
island of openness. Its success belongs to all the Israeli people and
is more lasting than anything that ever happened on a battlefield.
With politics that are open and vibrant, markets that are free and
fair, and laws that hold for weak and strong alike, for six decades,
America has been a good friend to Israel. Indeed, it only took us but
11 minutes to recognize this new state, this new ally, in May 1948.
This is a matter imbued with great personal meaning to me, Mr.
President. As my colleagues are aware, my father, Tom Dodd, spent over
a year as executive trial counsel in one of the most remarkable court
cases the world has ever seen--the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war
criminals. He stood face-to-face with men who committed the most
terrible atrocities imaginable. Indeed, they were so horrible many were
convinced they had could not have taken place--that is, until my father
set out meticulously proving that they had.
It would have been impossible to be unchanged through that
confrontation with evil, and my father was no different. I know how
often he spoke of it to me. And I think it was impossible for anyone to
go through the Nuremberg Trials without wondering, at some point or
another:
What if those 6 million had someplace to go; what if there had been a
country to take them in--no questions asked; what if there had been a
nation willing to stand up for them when no one else did?
Only 2 years after my father came back from Nuremberg, 60 years ago
today, that nation was born. So in a small way, I share some of my past
with Israel, because my father had his part in the events that proved--
at the price of tremendous pain--the necessity of a Jewish state. My
father learned that necessity, and I learned it through him. In the
years since, nothing has dampened the force of that lesson. How could I
forget?
For nearly 60 years America and Israel have been two nations that can
look across the gulf of history and space and language, and still see,
in each other, themselves. That enduring bond is what we celebrate
today, Mr. President.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to speak on the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, and to congratulate
the Israeli people on this historic occasion.
It is also an appropriate occasion to note the close and unwavering
friendship our two countries have enjoyed over the past 60 years.
President Harry Truman formally recognized Israel just 11 minutes
after the new country's independence proclamation. Eleven minutes. That
is perhaps the fastest that anything has ever occurred in this city.
Fast doesn't necessarily mean easy, though, and President Truman was
under a great deal of pressure, including from his own State
Department, not to support the creation of a Jewish state.
But Harry Truman did the right and courageous thing, and for the past
60 years, Israel has been one of America's closest friends and allies
That friendship has persevered, in part because of our dedication to
many common values.
Israel has a strong and vibrant democratic tradition, and a
prosperous and innovative free-market economy.
In fact, Israel's economy grew faster last year than that of the
United States, Europe, the U.K. or Japan. Such growth stems in part
from more than 3,000 hi-tech companies now operating in Israel.
And, I believe, Israel is committed to achieving peace with its
neighbors. But peace requires security, and the United States still has
a very important role to play to make both of these a reality.
The late Congressman Tom Lantos--whom we lost at the beginning of
this year--understood this perhaps better than anyone.
As the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the Congress, Tom knew
what Israel's existence meant for Jews the world over, and no one
advocated more strongly than he did for continued U.S. support for
Israel.
The fact that the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, spoke at his
memorial service here in the Capitol speaks not only to Tom Lantos's
personal commitment to Israel, but also to the broader commitment of
Israel and the United States to each other as nations and as people.
It is a commitment that we must not abandon.
The United States must remain engaged diplomatically to ensure that
the process begun last fall in Annapolis, the most recent in a string
of U.S.-led Middle East peace initiatives stretching back over 30
years, continues to move forward.
We must work with other countries and the United Nations to prevent
Iran from gaining the ability to develop nuclear weapons that could
threaten Israel's security.
We must provide appropriate assistance to the Palestinian Authority
to enable it to secure its own territory and strengthen its democratic
institutions.
And we must find a way to stop weapons from making their way into the
Gaza Strip and the hands of those who seek to do Israel harm.
Such continued U.S. engagement is imperative if there is any hope for
long-term peace between Israel and its neighbors.
But hope is the foundation on which Israel was built.
It is what enabled people of so many backgrounds and languages to
speak with a common voice.
It is what enabled them to bring water to a desert and grow crops
where there had only been sand.
It is what continues to lead the Israeli people forward, 60 years
after its founding.
I share that hope for a brighter future--for Israel, for the United
States, and for our enduring friendship.
Congratulations to Israel on its 60th birthday.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to mark the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel. On this
momentous occasion, we celebrate a vibrant nation that has thrived
since its founding in 1948 under the most difficult circumstances.
Founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust as a home for Jews around the
world, Israel continues to be a beacon and a rare outpost of freedom
and democracy in a region that knows too little of either. As we take
the time to acknowledge the importance of this anniversary, we should
also remember those who lost their lives in the fighting that coincided
with the birth of this nation. Few, if any, nations have had such
difficult births and have overcome such tremendous challenges.
As we celebrate the anniversary of one of our strongest allies, the
struggle for peace and stability throughout the Middle East continues.
Peacemaking in this region is no easy task, but we need to nurture the
progress developed during the Annapolis Summit and keep working toward
a two-state solution that resolves the decades of turmoil Israel and
its neighbors have endured. I am hopeful that through a continuing
dialogue and diligent efforts, we will see a breakthrough that improves
trust and cooperation between all actors and provides a framework for a
lasting peace.
The United States and Israel have a unique relationship that both
Americans and Israelis cherish. Today, we should celebrate that
relationship, which is as strong and deep as ever.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in recognizing
Israel's Independence Day--the day Jewish people around the world
rejoiced after generations of political and religious persecution.
Exactly 11 minutes after Israel's first Prime Minister, David-Ben
Gurion, announced the nation's independence, the United States became
the first nation in the world to recognize it.
Since that time, Israel and the United States have forged a
friendship based on shared ideals and common values--a commitment to
political and

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religious freedom, the rule of law, democratic governance, and the
preservation of individual rights. During my first official trip abroad
as Senator, I traveled to Israel and saw firsthand the sacrifices
Israeli people make to protect these principles. This visit helped me
better understand the urgent need for sustainable peace in the Middle
East and Israel's vulnerability within the region.
The United States shares Israel's desire to protect their thriving
democracy, and we honor our commitment by supporting security efforts
in Israel. Since 1948, Israel has been a reliable and steadfast ally to
the United States, and our support helps to ensure the security of its
territory and citizens. A strong and healthy relationship with Israel
is critical to the endurance of democracy in the greater Middle East
and the United States will continue to stand with Israel to ensure its
survival, peace and prosperity.
I extend my greetings to all those taking part in celebrations to
mark this historic week for Israel. In my home State of Florida, the
home to thousands of individuals of Jewish descent, today is especially
important. It marks the day a permanent home was established for a
people who suffered tremendously for generations because of their
ethnicity and religious beliefs.
So during this momentous time, I offer the people of Israel and its
many friends around the world my best wishes and the hope for continued
prosperity.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the 2000 year search for a Jewish homeland
concluded on May 14, 1948, with the declaration of an independent State
of Israel. But, the birth of Israel on that day was far from easy.
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion made his first radio broadcast the
following day from an air raid shelter as the precarious new nation
came under attack.
Even as a war was being launched against their young nation, Israel's
founding father took the time to remind the first citizens of Israel
what had been accomplished and what it would take to defend their
dream. Ben-Gurion said, ``whatever we have achieved is the result of
the efforts of earlier generations no less than our own. It is also the
result of an unwavering fidelity to our precious heritage, the heritage
of a small nation that has suffered much, but at the same time has won
for itself a special place in the history of mankind because of its
spirit, faith, and vision.''
The United States has played a critical role in the development of
Israel over the past 60 years. President Harry S. Truman, the first
head of state to grant Israel diplomatic recognition, expressed its
special place in the hearts of Americans as he declared, ``I had faith
in Israel before it was established, and I have faith in it now. I
believe it has a glorious future before it--not just another sovereign
nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.''
This special partnership which began with Israel's creation has been
repeatedly tested since 1948. The United States has been steadfast in
our commitment to helping the people of Israel develop their own
economy and secure their own peace. We have helped give them the time
that their founding fathers knew was needed to secure their future.
A decade ago, in celebration of Israel's 50th anniversary, I traveled
there for an international conference of Jewish legislators from around
the world. In our discussions, I saw then that the philosophy that was
embraced by Ben-Gurion and other visionary leaders helped Israel become
a dynamic democracy with a thriving economy. In the decade since that
conference, Israel has come within a few breaths of a peace agreement
and also experienced episode after episode of violence carried out
against its civilians. Still, Israel's faith and fortitude remain as
strong today as they were when the dream was realized six decades ago.
In recognition of Israel's remarkable history, I was pleased to be a
cosponsor of S. Res. 522, which the Senate unanimously passed late last
month. The resolution acknowledges the 60th anniversary of the founding
of the State of Israel and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and
cooperation between the United States and Israel. This is a fitting
tribute to Israel's past, and we all hope that our nations' mutual
goodwill augurs well for future positive and peaceful developments in
Israel, in the Middle East and around the world.
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today joining my colleagues in
congratulating our friends in Israel as they celebrate the 60th
anniversary of their independence and modern-day founding.
Sixty years ago, Missouri's own President Harry S. Truman signed the
telegram making the United States the first Nation on the Earth to
recognize officially the State of Israel. Since that time, Israel and
the United States have stood side by side on many issues and have
shared common bonds and values that unite us still today.
I daresay that no country has faced such adversity and strife during
such a short period of time. Our staunchest ally in the region has
persevered against enemy invasions, random terror attacks, and saber
rattling throughout its short existence and has grown stronger as a
result.
As a Member of this body, I have been proud to support joint U.S. and
Israeli programs aimed at strengthening our mutual defense and
cooperation. We are engaged in a war against a common enemy that seeks
to further its agenda through suicide bombings, the targeting of
innocents, and the destruction of the civilized world. The United
States and Israel recognize that without freedom, respect for human
rights, and liberty, we are lost.
Today, I congratulate and offer my sincere thanks to the people of
Israel for being our ally during trying times and a friend upon whom we
can always count.
Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a
quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, may I inquire what is the business before
the Senate?

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