[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD L. SCHROCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2003

  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share the following article 
written by a constituent, Rabbi Israel Zoberman. Today is the 55th 
Anniversary of the State of Israel.


                              Israel at 55

       The 55th anniversary of the State of Israel is not an 
     ordinary occasion even under normal circumstances. So much 
     more so as the small Jewish state is challenged in a way no 
     other nation is by forces of terrorism begrudging its very 
     survival even prior to its 1948 rebirth and ever since.
       Israel is a remnant of and collective address of a 
     historical people suffering untold persecution as a powerless 
     minority, which culminated in the consuming Holocaust's vast 
     tragedy. It sought security through the normalcy of returning 
     to its geographic and religious roots reflected in the unique 
     Biblical heritage, only to be rejected by a hostile 
     neighborhood alien to both its Jewish message and Western 
     mindset.
       Miraculously returning to the soil from which it was driven 
     by the power of the Roman sword, Israel proved the superior 
     quality of the soul. Taking into long exile and dispersion 
     the cherished memory of Zion and Jerusalem, it faithfully 
     incorporated it into its spiritual life enabling an 
     unparalleled homecoming. The national revival and cultural 
     renewal in a vibrant democratic context was accompanied by 
     giant strides, turning a country poor in natural resources 
     and devastated by past trouble into an oasis of a highly 
     developed technological society in a sea of Arab feudalism 
     and neglect. All that while defending against a relentless 
     enemy and absorbing millions of displaced Jewish refugees, 
     unlike the refusal of its neighbors to welcome as equals the 
     Palestinians in their midst.
       Its tenacious will to live at last convinced Egypt, the 
     leading Arab country, and Jordan, of the futility of fighting 
     Israel as well as the wisdom of making peace with it, 
     providing instead for their internal front begging 
     transformation. Of course, the rewards of the Israeli willing 
     evacuation of the Sinai and its oil fields along with 
     American support packages were added incentives. While Syria, 
     a terrorist state, is still holding out, Chairman Arafat of 
     the Palestinian Authority tragically proved that he lacks the 
     conviction and courage of martyred President Sadat and Prime 
     Minister Rabin, and the late Prime Minister Begin and King 
     Hussein. In a moment of truth on July 2000 at Camp David 
     Arafat dashed the dreams of so many, turning his back to most 
     forthcoming Prime Minister Barak with President Clinton's 
     risked prestige, converting vision into violence with 
     suicide-homicide bombings lowering inhumanity's bar.
       First Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen will hopefully 
     demonstrate to rightfully and responsibly expecting Prime 
     Minister Sharon an abandonment of terrorism's path, with 
     commitment to peaceful co-existence at Israel's side 
     benefiting both long-suffering peoples. However, Israel 
     should never compromise on its security and survival. The 
     unimaginable evil events of September 11, 2001 have 
     highlighted the direct dangers also to America and world 
     stability by the forces of militant Islam. The war in Iraq 
     under President George W. Bush's decisive leadership of a man 
     carrying the burden of a wounded nation, toppled Saddam 
     Hussein's terror-filled regime with freedom's hammer hand-
     delivered by Lady Liberty's daring children. Consequently, 
     the new vistas have the great potential to infuse the Middle 
     East with essential democratic spirit, providing renewed 
     promise to that critical region that is the cradle of the 
     three great monotheistic religions, to once again bless 
     humanity rather than dooming it. The unshakable bond between 
     the United States and Israel, both victims of terrorism, born 
     of common vision, values and valor for shalom's yet enduring 
     victory, remains a reassuring beacon of light in history's 
     darkness.

       Rabbi Israel Zoberman, spiritual leader of Congregation 
     Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach, is son of Polish Holocaust 
     survivors.

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