[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20726-20728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BENJAMIN BLUSTEIN AND HEBREW UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2002

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, on July 31, 2002, a Palestinian terrorist 
left a 22-pound hate bomb hidden in a bag on a table at Hebrew 
University's Frank Sinatra International Student Center cafeteria. The 
bomber and those who assisted him had two objectives.
  By placing the bomb in an area popular with young people, students 
from around the world and renowned scholars in many disciplines of 
academic study, the terrorist hoped to kill and injure as many people 
as possible, without regard to their nationalities, religion or 
political persuasion. In this, those responsible for this heinous 
attack were successful. Ultimately, the blast killed nine people, 
including five Americans, and injured approximately 80 others.
  But the attackers had more far reaching motives. They wished to send 
a message that they had no interest in legitimate efforts to resolve 
Israel's conflicts with Palestinians. In addition, by selecting this 
particular university as their target, the terrorists also wanted to 
send the message that they believed that academic discourse, scientific 
research, and medical

[[Page 20727]]

care provided to people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are not 
legitimate endeavors in Israel.
  Let there be no mistake about this. On this second point, the 
terrorists are wrong. President George W. Bush immediately condemned 
this attack, and expressed his ``fury'' at the attack on this 
particular university that had killed five American students. He 
stated, ``I'm just as angry as Israel is right now. . . . I'm furious 
about innocent life lost. However, through my fury, even though I am 
mad, I still believe peace is possible.''
  I believe the President's words were exactly correct-to condemn this 
act of terrorism, just as he had condemned the over 70 homicide 
bombings aimed at Israel since September 2000. But, despite expressing 
anger and vowing to find and punish those responsible, the President 
also restated his quest for an eventual lasting peace between Israelis 
and Palestinians.
  While I am equally angry and upset at all such attacks, this one 
touched me personally in a way than none had before. One of the five 
American victims, Benjamin Blustein, was my constituent.
  Benjamin Blustein was only 25 years old when this bomb took his life. 
He came from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the heart of my Congressional 
district. At the time of his death, he was in a two-year study program 
designed so that he could earn a Master's degree from Hebrew 
University's Rothberg International School's Division of Graduate 
Studies and was also enrolled in the Educator's Program at the Pardes 
Institute for Jewish Studies.
  He had previously earned his B.A. in Religion and Judaic Studies from 
Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I mention this with pride, 
as Dickinson is also my alma mater.
  Benjamin was more than a good student. He enriched all those around 
him, both those who knew him well and those with whom he had only 
limited contacts. He had assisted the entire Jewish Community 
throughout Central Pennsylvania through his work with the United Jewish 
Communities. In Israel, he enlivened the lives of many as a disc jockey 
at local dance clubs.
  It is impossible to adequately verbalize the tragedy that occurred 
when Benjamin Blustein was randomly killed. I still find it hard to 
accept the loss of this vibrant, dedicated, passionate young man with 
such a wonderful sense of humor and caring for others.
  Immediately following this hateful attack I sent a letter to 
President Bush, supporting his condemnation of the attacks. A copy of 
that letter follows these remarks.
  As a result of Benjamin's death, I was motivated to learn more about 
the Hebrew University, the institution that drew Benjamin and so many 
others to study there.
  It is important for all Members of Congress, as well as all 
Americans, to know that Hebrew University is the oldest comprehensive 
institution of higher learning in Israel and is considered to be among 
the world's truly great universities. The Hebrew University of 
Jerusalem has stood for understanding, tolerance, open discourse and 
academic excellence since it opened its doors in 1925.
  Albert Einstein was one of its earliest supporters. From the very 
beginning, the university has carried on the dream of its founders, 
namely academic excellence, culture, science, learning and, most 
important, inclusion rather than exclusion of people from many 
religions, nations and ethnic backgrounds. Its students come from 
diverse cultural, religious, and geographic backgrounds with 10 percent 
of the student body of Arab descent. This diversity is what contributes 
to the university's strength and purpose.
  It is sad, and ironic, to note that the unconscionable acts of 
inhumanity that took place at Hebrew University marked the second time 
that this remarkable academic institution has been devastated by a 
violent attack. In 1948, Arabs massacred a group of doctors and nurses 
in a bus going to the Hebrew University Medical School Hospital campus, 
perhaps a half-mile away from where this most recent bombing occurred.
  Yet, despite the violence in 1948 and despite the fact that its 
original campus was cut off from the rest of Jerusalem until the city 
was united in 1967, the University continued to grow, to prosper and to 
gain international recognition for the high quality of its researches, 
teachers and physicians.
  One of the most remarkable aspects of this institution is its efforts 
to reach out to Israel's neighbors, including the Palestinians. It is 
important to stress Hebrew University's regional cooperative programs 
with Palestinians and Arab countries in health, agriculture, water, 
environment, marine sciences, and the search for peace.
  Rather than discuss its many programs, it would be symbolic to 
mention just one as the paradigm of the entire University.
  I thought it worthwhile to detail the Sanford Kuvin Center for the 
Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hebrew University's 
Medical School, because of my direct linkage to medical research 
through the many medical facilities located in Central Pennsylvania, 
especially the Penn State University Hershey Medical Center, and the 
Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, which I helped found and now 
co-chair.
  The Kuvin Center currently has more health programs with surrounding 
Arab countries then any other university in Israel. It addresses 
diseases that affect public health and its physicians and scientists 
are currently working with Arab scientists from Al-Quds, the 
Palestinian University in the eastern part of Jerusalem; Ain Shams 
University, in Cairo, as well as with scientists from universities in 
Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco.
  The Congress fully recognizes and supports these types of cooperative 
Israeli-Palestinian health initiatives. The Foreign Operations bill for 
fiscal year 2003, which has passed through the Appropriations Committee 
includes, language on the Kuvin Center/Al Quds cooperation. I am 
pleased that the Committee included the following paragraph in the 
report accompanying this bill:

  The Committee acknowledges that one of the primary objectives of the 
West Bank and Gaza program is to create viable infrastructure in 
Palestinian Authority-controlled areas to ensure the health and welfare 
of the Palestinian people. Al Quds University, in cooperation with the 
Kuvin Center for Infectious Diseases of the Hebrew University of 
Jerusalem, has proposed the establishment of a regional health and 
disease program, which would work to build an effective infrastructure 
to deal with serious health and disease problems among the Palestinian 
people. The Committee understands that cooperative programs of this 
nature are rare in the current environment, and urges AID to work, 
through the West Bank and Gaza program, to help Al Quds and the Kuvin 
Center begin this initiative.

  This project is designed to enable the United States to provide $15 
million over five years to this cooperative effort to deal with 
infectious diseases.
  Let me add that this program does not require any additional 
appropriations. The proposed expenditure of these funds is an 
indication of Congressional intent on just how American money that has 
already been allocated can best be used in a productive capacity for 
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Thus, the Kuvin Center-Hebrew 
University/Al Quds University cooperative effort will serve as a model 
of how the United States, Israel and the Palestinians can work together 
on projects that will benefit the entire region.
  It is key to mention that such efforts will absolutely continue 
despite the terrorists' murderous intent, and, in fact, it underscores 
both Israel's and America's conviction not to let the terrorists 
succeed.
  The murders on the Hebrew University campus shocked all decent 
people.
  This is not a University problem, nor is it a Jewish problem or a 
territorial problem. This is a threat to all civilization. These events 
cannot be allowed to go on, and can only be dealt with when good people 
stand up and speak out against this inhumanity.
  We must not only remember those who were killed and injured, but we 
must all be proactive in favor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as 
a beacon of light unto all nations, peoples and universities around the 
world.
  Hebrew University sets a standard of excellence for the nation of 
Israel of the Jewish people all over the world. The clouds of hatred 
and violence against Israel, the Jewish people and the West are clearly 
spreading. Certainly those who want to prevent discourse and 
coexistence at the Hebrew University will not and must not succeed.
  In the aftermath of the murders at Hebrew University, the school's 
President, Menachem Magidor, said, ``We must not let them kill our 
dream of peace''. This same sentiment was stated by President Bush in 
his response to this attack when he concluded that ``we must keep the 
vision of peace in mind.''

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, August 2, 2002.
     President George W. Bush,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: We sadly learned recently that a valued 
     member of a community in my congressional district was taken 
     from us. Benjamin Blustein, of Susquehanna Township, 
     Pennsylvania, a young scholar studying abroad in Israel, was 
     killed in the latest homicide bombing in Israel. Benjamin was 
     in the midst of a two year course in Jewish studies at Hebrew 
     University. Benjamin died along with other Americans and 
     several

[[Page 20728]]

     other people when Hamas brutally targeted another group of 
     innocent victims in Israel.
       Benjamin was a dedicated, passionate young man with a sense 
     of humor that all who knew him will greatly miss. He was 
     active at school, my old alma mater, Dickinson College, and 
     at his synagogue. With great commitment he assisted the 
     United Jewish Communities to advance their good work 
     throughout Central Pennsylvania. Benjamin enriched many lives 
     during his life. All those who were touched by him will count 
     themselves fortunate for sharing in his life.
       I commend you for your strong condemnation of this latest 
     homicide bombing. I support your decision to list Hamas and 
     Hizbollah as terrorist organizations, and your firm support 
     of Israel. Since September 2000, there have been 70 homicide 
     bombings aimed at Israelis, taking the lives of countless 
     innocent people. These attacks are unjustifiable and clearly 
     unproductive. Israelis, free peoples living in a democracy, 
     have not been cowed by the last two years of extremist acts 
     of terror. Peace can only come to the Holy Land through 
     dialogue and mutual understanding. I join with you in your 
     quest for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
           Very truly yours,
                                                  George W. Gekas,
                                               Member of Congress.

     

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