[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING JUDGE A. JAY CRISTOL ON USS ``LIBERTY'' RESEARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 2003

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge A. Jay 
Cristol of the Southern District of Florida on the completion of his 
invaluable research on the USS Liberty incident. In 1987, Judge Cristol 
began researching the tragedy that befell the United States Navy ship 
Liberty and her crew on June 8, 1967. Judge Cristol completed a 
doctoral dissertation on the subject in 1997 and published his book, 
The Liberty Incident, in 2002.
  In his continued quest for the truth, Judge Cristol pressed and 
finally convinced the National Security Agency to release classified 
transcripts proving that Israel's attack on the USS Liberty during the 
Six Day War was, in fact, accidental.
  On June 8, 1967, Israeli troops detected large explosions along the 
Sinai shore. The United States had announced two days earlier that it 
had no warships in the combat zone, and Israeli troops believed that 
they were experiencing an Egyptian naval bombardment. In response, the 
Israelis attacked the USS Liberty, which they mistook for being an 
Egyptian warship, killing 34 American crewmen and wounding 171.
  For 35 years, conspiracy theories have raged and critics have 
insisted that Israel attacked the American ship deliberately. Finally, 
just last month, the NSA, under pressure by Judge Cristol, released 
transcripts of transmissions from two Israeli helicopter pilots that 
participated in the 1967 attack. These tapes, which have until now 
remained classified, serve to conclude the evidence that the tragic 
event was, in fact, a case of mistaken identity.
  Judge Cristol's diligent efforts and persistence for the truth over 
the past sixteen years are to be commended. Through his work, he has 
helped restore faith in the special relationship that the United States 
and Israel share. Mr. Speaker, I hope the entire House joins me 
congratulating Florida Judge Jay Cristol on his achievement.

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