[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13731]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, today is a day of history and opportunity for 
the world and for the war-torn region known as the Middle East. I pray 
for the peace of Jerusalem and was yesterday greatly encouraged when 
five Arab leaders pledged to actively fight what they called the 
culture of extremism and violence in the region. I am also encouraged 
by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas who has called for an end to violence 
against Israeli citizens. But I was astounded this morning when the 
network television shows were all stressing what our President today in 
Jordan must demand of our ally, Israel.
  The truth is, as we welcome this day of history and opportunity, we 
must be clear that any progress toward peace must require that 
Palestinians first recognize Israel; second, renounce terrorism; and, 
third, dismantle the infrastructure of murder within their midst. Then 
and only then can our Nation ask our ally Israel to make the 
concessions necessary for the advancement of peace.

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