[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S3090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Jerusalem Day

  Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I rise today to mark a momentous day. 
Starting this evening, millions around the world will celebrate Yom 
Yerushalayim, also known as Jerusalem Day. I am proud to join our close 
ally, Israel, and the Jewish people in celebrating this historic 50th 
anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.
  Half a century ago, overcoming Arab armies intent on Israel's 
destruction, the Israel defense forces liberated the Old City of 
Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. They courageously and miraculously 
fought their way to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, the holiest 
sites in Judaism. The commander of the paratroopers, Mordechai Gur, 
unable to contain his emotion, exclaimed through his wireless radio: 
``The Temple Mount is in our hands!'' The army rabbi blew the shofar, 
and the eternal capital of Israel was reunited.
  This war was not the first time that Israel was threatened with 
annihilation. After the Jewish people established the modern State of 
Israel in their ancient homeland just 19 years earlier, neighboring 
Arab States responded to Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's 
declaration of independence with an invasion. The Arab armies failed to 
destroy the newly established Jewish State, but Jerusalem, the ancient 
and Holy City central to the identity of the Jewish people, was left 
divided and occupied by Jordan.
  Residents of the Old City were murdered or expelled. Jews were 
prohibited from visiting and praying at the Temple Mount and Western 
Wall. Their synagogues were destroyed, and their cemeteries, such as 
the Mount of Olives, were desecrated. Access for Christians to their 
holy sites was also severely restricted.
  Leading up to June of 1967, Arab leaders repeatedly and openly 
expressed their desire to wipe Israel off the map. Syria was engaging 
in attacks on Israel from the Golan Heights and soon started to 
mobilize its forces for battle. Egypt began moving troops into the 
Sinai Peninsula in a massive military buildup, demanded and achieved 
the withdrawal of the U.N. Emergency Force that had been stationed in 
the Sinai, and then closed the Straits of Tehran, imposing an illegal 
blockade on Israel and cutting off a vital shipping lane for the Jewish 
State. Jordan then signed a mutual defense agreement with Egypt.
  Outnumbered and outgunned and against all odds in the face of 
external pressure not to act first to ensure its survival, the Jewish 
State launched a successful, preemptive strike against its hostile 
neighbors and prevailed in a defensive war. When it was over, Jerusalem 
was liberated, reuniting the city and Judaism's holiest sites with the 
Jewish people and putting an end to almost two decades of exclusion 
from the Old City.
  Since coming under its sovereignty, Israel, the one true democracy in 
the Middle East that shares our values of freedom, has protected people 
of all faiths in Jerusalem and ensured their access to holy sites so 
that they might worship freely. They have protected the rights of Jews, 
of Christians, and of Muslims. This has occurred even while religious 
minorities are being targeted, persecuted, and attacked throughout the 
Middle East and religious and historical sites are being demolished 
today by radical Islamic terrorists.
  Today is a day where we must also reassert historical truth: The 
historical connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem and the 
land of Israel did not begin in 1967. These profound ties to Jerusalem 
have existed for thousands of years. They can be traced back and have 
been reaffirmed through numerous archeological excavations such as 
those in the city of David.
  In the past several years, I have traveled to Israel three times. 
There is something that stirs inside each time I am there. It is 
remarkable to observe the great successes and achievements of this 
small and yet mighty country that is one of America's strongest allies 
in the world.
  It is long past time that America do something it should have done 
two decades ago: Move the American Embassy to Jerusalem and formally 
recognize Jerusalem as Israel's eternal and undivided capital. In every 
nation on Earth our Embassy is in its capital city except for Israel. 
There is no reason Israel should be treated any worse when they are 
such a reliable and unshakeable ally.
  We should honor the promise that Democratic Presidents and Republican 
Presidents have made for decades and move our Embassy to Jerusalem. So 
I stand today to express my solidarity with Israel and with the Jewish 
people during this major celebration. Now, more than ever, America 
stands strong with our unshakeable friend and ally, the nation of 
Israel.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Rubio). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 
up to 15 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.