[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14565-14566]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ELECTION OF EHUD BARAK

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the election 
of Ehud Barak to Prime Minister of Israel and his efforts to form a new 
government. I congratulate him, not only on his most impressive 
victory, but also for his commitment to reinvigorate the Middle East 
peace process. As Mr. Barak enters the critical stage in his efforts to 
forge a coalition government, I wish him luck. And I applaud his 
initial steps of talking with Egyptian President Mubarak and declaring 
his intent to form a ``peace administration'' of three negotiating 
teams, one each for Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians, reporting 
directly to him. We must not risk losing momentum toward achieving a 
lasting peace.
  As Israel continues to take risks for peace, it is all the more 
important that America's commitment toward Israel be unquestioned. Our 
strong commitment helps Israel take risks and makes it clear to 
Israel's neighbors that Israel is a permanent reality that must be 
dealt with directly. Our dedication to Israel must take many shapes. We 
must continue aid to Israel. We must help Israel militarily. We must 
actively support the peace process. We must maintain our support for 
Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
  America's support for the peace process, for the security of this 
region, and for Israel itself must be unwavering. Israel, the only 
pluralistic democracy in the Middle East, deserves our continued strong 
support. Helping Israel survive and thrive is the right thing to do. In 
a particularly volatile part of the world, Israel is strategically 
important to America's interests. We cannot help but benefit by 
strengthened economic, political, military and cultural ties with 
Israel.
  I have the greatest respect for Israel, its citizens, and its 
founders. The creation of the state of Israel is a remarkable story of 
a great people who overcame the Holocaust, rebuffed repeated foreign 
hostility, and created an industrialized democracy in a desert. The 
story of Israel appeals to me because it is a story of faith and it is 
a story of justice. I respect all who stand up to powerful forces 
against great odds for a just cause.

[[Page 14566]]

  No issue is more important to our relationship than aid to Israel. It 
is one of America's most cost-effective foreign policy investments. The 
economic and military aid that America provides Israel serves the 
interests of both countries by promoting peace, security, and trade. 
Israel recently initiated an agreement with the United States under 
which the United States will gradually reduce the amount of economic 
aid in the coming years while ensuring an adequate amount of military 
assistance. I commend Israel for this initiative, and I believe that 
the United States should stand by it.
  The Middle East's unstable mixture of unconventional weaponry, 
advanced military technology, political instability, and radical 
fundamentalism threatens both Israel's security and America's vital 
interests in the region and around the world. I am committed to the 
expansion of the United States-Israel strategic cooperation that was 
formalized in 1983.
  In addition, it is our national interest to help ensure that Israel 
maintains her qualitative military edge. Furthermore, the Unites States 
should not sell sophisticated weaponry that could erode that edge to 
nations hostile toward Israel. And, of course, the United States must 
do all it can to stop the development or acquisition of nuclear, 
chemical, and biological weapons by rogue states such as Libya, Iraq 
and Iran.
  True and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors can be 
achieved only through direct negotiations between the parties. 
Nevertheless, the United States has played a critical role with Israel 
and her neighbors in helping bridge the differences between them. We 
must continue to invest the time and energy necessary to help continue 
this very complex series of negotiations.
  Israel's capital of Jerusalem is important to Jews, Christian, and 
Muslims. I commend Israel for allowing all three faiths open access to 
worship at their holy places. Jerusalem is and ought to remain a united 
city under Israeli sovereignty.
  Israel is the only country where the United States chooses not to 
locate our embassy in that country's capital city. I support the 
Jerusalem Embassy Act that recognizes the united city of Jerusalem as 
Israel's capital and mandates the moving of our embassy from Tel Aviv 
to Jerusalem.
  Finally, I want to discuss Israel's special relationship with my home 
state of North Carolina. Since 1993, North Carolina and Israel have had 
one of the most comprehensive official exchange programs in the 
country. Both North Carolina and Israel have economies that depend on 
high technology, agriculture, and education. Both states benefit from 
their ongoing economic, social, and cultural exchanges. I look forward 
to doing all I can to promote this valuable relationship between Israel 
and the great state of North Carolina.
  Mr. President, I look forward to working with Israel's soon-to-be 
formed government to pursue our nations' many mutual interests. I wish 
Mr. Barak and his government the best as he pursues peace, security, 
and prosperity in the twenty-first century.

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