[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Israel

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, every year on this floor, a Senator 
reads George Washington's Farewell Address. This year, Senator Cardin, 
who is retiring from this body, was given the honor of reading the 
address. It is so that we in the Senate remember the lessons from 
George Washington.
  So let's reflect on what is in George Washington's Farewell Address, 
and it is this quote:

       Foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of 
     republican government.

  Well, the majority leader of the U.S. Senate certainly knows that 
because 4 years ago, he quoted these very same words. Yet he ignored 
them totally today in this body, when it comes to our ally Israel.

  Hours ago, the senior Senator from New York crossed the line by 
calling for a new government in Israel. Let's be clear: Israel is a 
democracy. It makes its own choice about who they want to lead them. It 
doesn't need to have a Senator from New York's interference.
  The Senator also made the outrageous statement that the Prime 
Minister of Israel--in the words of the Senator from New York--is an 
``obstacle to peace.''
  This is exactly backward. It is the terrorists, the rapists, the 
murderers of Hamas who are the obstacles to peace.
  Let us be clear: Demonizing our friends is not going to protect them 
from the brutality of Hamas. It only works to alienate our allies and 
puts our common goals of peace further out of reach.
  Israel deserves an ally that the people of Israel can trust, most 
especially when they are battling terrorism.
  The Senators on both sides of the aisle in this body have affirmed 
that Israel has every right to defend itself. We must also respect 
Israel's right as a democracy to choose its own destiny.