[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E669-E670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2010

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 62nd anniversary 
of the independence of the State of Israel.
  Sixty-two years ago, a brave group of Jews living in the Middle East 
made the audacious claim that a Jewish State could be successfully re-
invented in their ancient homeland. More than 2,000 years after the 
last independent Jewish government had come to an end, they believed 
they could somehow re-establish a Jewish state, almost from scratch, in 
a way that had never happened before, anywhere in the world.
  These daring Jews came from all around the globe: from Yemen, from 
Russia, from France, from the United States, and, in many cases, from 
the very land that was about to become the State of Israel. They shared 
a common heritage, but it remained to be seen whether these disparate 
peoples could unify to develop a country or a common culture. Could 
they even agree on what kind of government to form? Or what laws to 
pass?
  Their claim was particularly bold, given that seven Arab neighbors 
stood ready to destroy this state in its infancy. Armed with some of 
the most advanced weaponry known to man, these Arab countries were 
determined never to allow a Jewish state in their neighborhood. But, in 
what can only be described as a miracle, this tiny Jewish state 
survived those initial days and fought to victory in 1948. They did it 
again in 1956, 1967 and 1973. In fact, every time Arab countries sought 
to destroy Israel, they found the Israelis stronger and more determined 
than ever to survive.
  Seeing that the military option wasn't successful, the Arab nations 
turned toward a different method to try to destroy Israel: terrorism. 
Through rockets, bus bombings, suicide attacks, hostage crises and the 
murders of countless innocent civilians, Israel has continued to 
survive, determined that life will go on, as usual, no matter what the 
obstacle or challenge.
  Israel's enemies have also tried to use the United Nations, UN, to 
delegitimize it. They have passed resolutions in the UN equating 
Zionism with racism. They have created entire agencies at the UN to 
highlight Israel's alleged ``war crimes.'' And they have hijacked the 
UN Human Rights Council to push their own racist, anti-Semitic agenda.
  And despite all of these enemies, Israel has demonstrated over and 
over its desire and yearning to live in peace. They willingly gave up 
the Sinai to make peace with Egypt, and signed a peace agreement with 
Jordan in 1994. They withdrew from Lebanon a decade ago and pulled out 
of Gaza in 2005, all in hopes they would find a peace partner on the 
other side.
  But instead, Israel's offers have been spurned, and their adversaries 
have refused to negotiate. Their so-called ``partners'' say that Israel 
must make unreasonable concessions before they will even sit down and 
negotiate with them. When Arab leaders were invited to attend a peace 
conference with Israel, in 2007, they even refused to walk through the 
same door as Israel's leaders.
  Through all this, the United States has stood by Israel, even in 
these darkest of times. We provided Israel with weapons, with technical 
expertise and a friendship that has endured through generation after 
generation of American leadership. The American people demand no less: 
we believe in the Jewish people's right to a homeland, and their right 
to live in peace, as our democratic ally. This position does not win us 
friends in the Muslim world, but we stand by this position because we 
know it is right. The people of Israel, I know, are eternally grateful 
for this friendship and have repaid it with their loyalty throughout 
the years of its existence.
  I am extremely proud of the strong U.S.-Israel relationship and I 
call on the Obama Administration to continue this tradition of strong 
U.S. support for Israel. We must focus our attention not on minor 
irritants in our bilateral relationship, but on bringing the parties 
together to meet face-to-face for negotiations. We cannot impose any 
solution on them; only they can come up with a negotiated solution that 
strengthens the security for both sides and brings about a state for 
the Palestinian people. Only they can bring peace to this region.
  Mr. Speaker, the idea of the State of Israel is as audacious today as 
it was 62 years ago. It shows that a group of determined individuals 
can successfully band together and triumph in the most difficult of 
circumstances. It shows

[[Page E670]]

that David can defeat Goliath, with the proper planning, courage and 
determination.
  I honor and stand in awe of the State of Israel on its 62nd birthday. 
It is an achievement many people thought would never be possible. On 
this historic day, I call on my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Israel on this milestone and in assuring them of U.S. support for 
generations to come.

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