[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REGARDING AMERICA'S STRONG BONDS WITH ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to reaffirm the strong bonds 
between Israel and the United States. Israel is the only democracy in 
the Middle East. We share the same values, the same commitment to 
education, the same commitment to development, the same commitment to 
helping others.
  Israel is situated in a dangerous neighborhood, with many of its 
neighbors overtly calling for its destruction. I was pleased to hear 
both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton reaffirm America's 
close ties to Israel and our commitment to Israel's security in recent 
days. And I hope that this signals a desire to reduce the appearance of 
a rift.
  During Vice President Biden's recent trip to the Middle East, 
Palestinian leaders participated in naming a public square for Dalal 
Mughrabi, the terrorist who led the most devastating attack in Israel's 
history. In 1978, Mughrabi and her cohorts hijacked a bus and murdered 
37 innocent civilians, including 13 children and an American citizen.
  Further, during Vice President Biden's visit, senior Fatah leaders, 
including Mahmud Dahlan, called on Muslims to protect the Temple Mount 
from the Jews, during the dedication of the reconstructed historic 
Hurva Synagogue located in the Jewish quarter 500 yards from the 
Western Wall and not on Temple Mount. President Obama has condemned the 
rioting that resulted, as was appropriate. I hope America will also 
take a strong stance against Palestinian leaders who foment violence.
  As long as Israelis fear a third intifada and worry about the safety 
of their families, they will be far less likely to participate in peace 
talks in which they know they will be asked to take risks for peace. 
Israelis have already taken risks for peace--they withdrew from 
Lebanon, they withdrew from the Gaza Strip, they signed peace treaties 
with Jordon and Egypt, they abandoned the city Yamit in the Sinai 
desert, and they have released hundreds of terrorists, many of whom 
have had blood on their hands and many of whom have returned to their 
terrorist activities.
  I believe very strongly that both the Palestinians and the Israelis 
would benefit from a real, lasting peace agreement and I hope talks 
will soon resume. But they will not resume if the Palestinians believe 
they will gain more by not talking. And they cannot resume if Israel 
feels that its existence or its people are being threatened. In 
previous administrations, there were direct talks. Today, the best we 
can hope for are proximity talks. I urge the administration to take 
every possible action to quell the tensions between the U.S. and our 
great friend, Israel, and to create an atmosphere in which both the 
Palestinians and the Israelis feel comfortable about resolving their 
differences.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the importance of maintaining a warm relationship with 
Israel, our strong ally and good friend.

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