[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 16, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2680-S2681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ISRAEL'S 65TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to express my congratulations 
to Israel on the 65th anniversary of its independence.
  Today, America's closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, 
commemorates its Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut--one day after its 
Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, and one week after Holocaust Remembrance 
Day, Yom HaShoah.
  While Independence Day is a celebration for the people of Israel, 
this Memorial Day was marked by somber ceremonies and national grief 
over the loss of their soldiers. Nationwide sirens and moments of 
silence emphasize the sacrifices Israelis have made to protect their 
thriving, free and democratic state. These intensely personal losses in 
such a small country underscore the continuing threats faced by 
Israelis, the scale of their efforts and the importance of a Jewish 
homeland. And Yom HaShoah reminds Israelis of the terrible devastation 
of the Holocaust that happened to the Jewish people in a time before 
they could celebrate the existence of the modern State of Israel.
  As we celebrate Israel's Independence Day, we must continue to reduce 
the key threats to Israel's security. We must focus on opportunities 
for peace in the Middle East. Israel has always been prepared to pursue 
those opportunities and make peace with its neighbors. Over the past 
six decades, despite diplomatic gestures, multiple Arab countries have 
repeatedly attacked Israel. We should not forget that it was 
Palestinian, not Israeli, leaders who walked away from the negotiation 
table at Camp David in 2000, on the eve of what would have been a 
historic breakthrough for peace.
  Today, it is Israel who continues to acknowledge the necessary 
framework for any peace agreement--a two state solution. While Israel 
has shown willingness for direct negotiations, the Palestinians 
continue to be an unreliable partner in moving toward peace. It is 
vitally important to stress the importance of the Palestinian 
Authority's close security cooperation with Israel. If peace is to be 
possible, the Palestinian Authority also needs to confront the recent 
surge in violence in the

[[Page S2681]]

West Bank, cease all anti-Israel incitement and renounce Hamas until it 
unequivocally meets the three Quartet requirements.
  I am proud to have joined with 78 of my colleagues in reminding 
President Obama in a letter on the eve of his visit to Israel that the 
U.S. and Israel share common values and interests, and that Israel 
stands ready for peace. Top among these interests is restarting the 
peace process and preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state.
  This is precisely why the role of the United States in this process 
must be one of an honest broker. President Obama must make clear that 
the pathway for peace is through unconditional direct negotiations 
between both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the United States 
vigorously opposes any Palestinian efforts to circumvent direct 
negotiations. I commend President Obama for pursuing peace during his 
recent trip to the Middle East, and for working on policy solutions to 
address the urgent and important threats facing Israel and the United 
States today.
  Since Israel's founding 65 years ago, every American administration 
has worked to strengthen the bonds between our two nations. This 
support has been vital for Israel, as the nation is under the constant 
threat of military and terrorist attacks, economic boycotts and 
diplomatic hostility--often merely due to the fact of its very 
existence. At this critical moment, when Iran is moving forward with 
its nuclear program and simultaneously strengthening Hezbollah's 
capacity to attack Israel, it is imperative that the Obama 
administration say in clear and unambiguous language that we stand with 
the people of Israel and will do all in our power to protect our shared 
values and national bonds.
  As Israel celebrates its 65th anniversary, let us all proclaim that 
the U.S. continues to value its unbreakable alliance with our closest 
ally in the Middle East.

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