[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23806]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     ISRAEL ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today after a harrowing set of days, 
explosions, fire, innocent civilians running in panic through the 
streets; and I do not refer to life in America, New York City, or in 
the environs of the Pentagon on September 11; but I speak of Jerusalem 
and Israel. I speak of a nation that in the last week and past several 
days has grievously lost husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, sons 
and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters to the scourge of political 
terror.
  I rise today humbly to speak of Israel and of the precious 
relationship that does and must continue to exist between the 
Government of the United States and the government of that great and 
historic people. As an American, a Christian, and a Hoosier, it is my 
firm belief now more than ever that it is my duty to insist that the 
United States of America never waver in protecting and defending the 
interests of the State of Israel in its battle for survival in this 
dangerous part of the world, and in its efforts now to open up, as the 
President's press secretary spoke yesterday, of the second front of the 
war on terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, many of these things may seem obvious, but many in the 
media are having a hard time figuring out who is right in the current 
conflict and how to best stop, we are told, the cycle of violence in 
order to help the parties get back to the negotiating table so they can 
iron out differences and misunderstandings. While I will say I am the 
first to admit that I know less than most of my colleagues do about 
Israel and its importance to America, let me say what I think this 
conflict is about and see whether my colleagues might agree.
  Mr. Speaker, first I want to assert that I do not think that there is 
anything current about this conflict. I believe it is part of a 
continuing struggle being waged by many in the Arab world of 
extremists' views to do nothing other than to destroy the State of 
Israel, period. It is the historic aim of many in the terrorist 
organizations of Palestine and elsewhere, and the conflict today is 
simply an extension of that.
  As to the question of who is right, that is simple. Mr. Speaker, it 
has ever been the policy of the United States of America and the people 
of this country since 1948 that Israel is right, believing as I do, as 
millions of Americans do, that He will still bless those who bless 
Israel, and so we stand with her.
  A cycle of violence, I reject the term. When terrorists blow up a 
school bus or explode bombs in a mall killing children and innocent men 
and women, this is their aim. When Israel defense forces strike back, 
as they are at this hour and have in the last 24 hours, killing known 
terrorists and neutralizing terrorist assets, Mr. Speaker, this is not 
a cycle of violence; it is Israel performing her own self-defense.
  As to returning to negotiations, one might ask what is there left to 
negotiate. Last summer at Camp David former Prime Minister Barak 
offered Yasser Arafat virtually everything. And how did Arafat respond? 
By launching a 9-month guerrilla war culminating this weekend, 
targeting women and children, some of whom were born in this country, 
and even in my State of Indiana. No, Yasser Arafat is not an effective 
negotiating partner. He is a terrorist, and it is time America stood 
strongly by Israel and said to Yasser Arafat, it is time that the 
terrorists and their capabilities are secured within the Palestinian 
Authority or else.
  Mr. Speaker, the Bible tells us of another time when a man of God 
stood alone with his servant and hostile forces were arrayed against 
him. His servant was frightened, and so he prayed that God might open 
the eyes of his servant, that he would see more of those who are with 
us than those that are with them. It is my prayer, Mr. Speaker, that 
Israel's eyes would be opened, to know that though her enemies are 
ruthless, her friends in this country and this government are many, 
many more.

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