[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 37 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SUPPORT ISRAEL

  (Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, one of our best friends in the 
Middle East, if not the best friend, is Israel. Israel has been 
criticized by our State Department last week because they were going to 
build some additional housing in Jerusalem. They have accepted the 
premise that they shouldn't right now be building housing outside 
Jerusalem. They have a moratorium on that. I think that was worked out 
with our government.
  But as far as building in Jerusalem is concerned, they have always 
built in Jerusalem, and they have allowed Christians and Muslims and 
other groups to build in Jerusalem. So I can't understand why the 
Secretary of State criticized Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime 
Minister, for allowing the construction of new housing in Jerusalem, 
because it's always been done and there's never been a prohibition 
against it.
  At a time when we should be worrying about what is going on in Iran, 
a nuclear development program that threatens the entire Middle East and 
energy supplies that we need in this country to keep our economy going, 
we certainly should not be criticizing our best friend, Israel. Israel 
is a best friend. They stuck with us through thick and thin, and we 
should support them in every way possible.

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