[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE 44TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIX DAY WAR

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                           HON. ALLEN B. WEST

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. WEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 44th 
Anniversary of the Six Day War, in which Israel--our greatest ally in 
the Middle East--turned a massive buildup and aggression by Egypt, 
Syria, and Jordan into a tremendous victory in just six days.
  After months of continued aggression against it, Israel launched a 
preemptive attack against the massive Egyptian buildup in the Sinai, 
destroying most of the Egyptian Air Force and Army in a number of 
hours. After repeated air and artillery attacks by Jordan and Syria, 
Israel liberated all of Jerusalem two days later on June 7, 1967, 
including the Western Wall and Jewish Quarter in the Old City. For the 
first time in decades, Jerusalem was unified and the Jewish people 
could visit their holiest site, the Western Wall.
  By June 10, just six days after it began, war was over. Israel's 
superior fighting force had destroyed the armies and air forces of 
their Arab aggressors, and had captured the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, 
the Golan Heights, Mas'ada, and the Sinai Peninsula to the Suez Canal.
  However, this victory came at a great cost to the Israeli people. 
Nearly 1,000 Israelis were killed, and over 4,500 were wounded. Last 
weekend Americans celebrated Memorial Day with cookouts and a day off 
of work. However, when Israel commemorated their Memorial Day--Yom 
Hazikaron--a few weeks ago, they honored the memory of the tens of 
thousands of Israeli soldiers who gave their life in defense of their 
country by sounding a siren that can be heard all over the country.
  During this one minute sounding of the siren, Israelis stop whatever 
they are doing and stand in silence to commemorate those who were 
lost--traffic stops in its tracks, throughout the country, people pray. 
The names of those who gave what President Abraham Lincoln called the 
last full measure of devotion for their homeland are displayed on 
television screens throughout the day.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, there has always been a Nation of 
Israel and Jerusalem has been and must always be recognized as its 
rightful capital.
  As a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I believe 
the United States Congress has a solemn duty to ensure that the 
homeland of the Jewish people remains as such. The State of Israel is 
the one bright light shining in a dark ocean of tyranny and oppression.
  Israel must be allowed to defend itself from external and internal 
aggression; the Israeli people must be allowed to continue to build 
within their borders, and Jerusalem must be recognized as the nation's 
only capital.
  Furthermore, the United States must stand by Israel's side in the 
face of a United Nations who clearly views the State of Israel through 
the lens of anti-Semitism and hatred. Anything less than full support 
for Israel and its citizens at the United Nations by the United States 
government is simply unacceptable.
  The United States and Israel share the common bonds of freedom, 
liberty, democracy, and the right to worship in the name of any 
religion you see fit. We share a common enemy in radical Islam, and 
have both seen our citizens murdered and maimed by terrorist thugs who 
kill women and children in the name of religion. We are indeed each 
other's greatest ally--without the United States, Israel would not 
exist; without Israel, the United States would soon fall.
  Next week, Israel will mark the 44th anniversary of the Six Day War. 
It will be a time of reflection and remembrance, and will undoubtedly 
render memories of when Jews--from Israel, the United States, or 
anywhere around the world--were not allowed to pray at their holiest of 
sites.
  At this time of great challenge for our strong and loyal ally, 
America must take a stand and show not only Israel, but the rest of the 
world, that Jerusalem--an undivided Jerusalem--is the capital of the 
Jewish State, and that security will always come before a two state 
solution.

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