[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H4078-H4079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUNICH VICTIMS
(Mr. ISRAEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, several weeks ago, my friend from New
York, Congressman Hanna, and I sent a bipartisan letter to the
International Olympic Committee, asking them to hold a moment of
silence during the opening ceremonies of this year's Olympic Games in
commemoration of the victims of the 1972 Munich massacre.
On September 5, 1972, 2 weeks after the start of the Olympic games in
Munich, members of a Palestinian terrorist group, Black September,
broke into the Olympic Village. Eleven Israelis were killed in that
massacre. Now, 40 years later, in London, we are convening another
Olympic ceremony. We asked the International Olympic Committee to
recognize this 40-year anniversary, and the response we got was, No.
That is the wrong response, Madam Speaker. We, again, on a bipartisan
basis, appealed to the International Olympic Committee in London, when
these Olympics begin, to commemorate those Israelis who were massacred,
which fits the ideals of the Olympics and, that is, international
friendship and fraternity.
Eleven lives were lost. We should remember them in London when the
Olympics convene.
[[Page H4079]]
____________________