[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14240]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  REGARDING THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL AND THE PRINCIPLES OF PEACE IN THE 
                              MIDDLE EAST

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 460. The citizens of the U.S. and Israel maintain a deeply rooted 
friendship based upon common interests, a shared commitment to 
democracy, individual freedoms, and a rejection of extremism and 
terrorism.
  Since 1948, the State of Israel has committed itself to living in 
harmony and mutual respect with its neighbors and to arriving at a 
peaceful solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. For most of 
the last four years, however, Israelis and Palestinians have found 
themselves in a violent and crippling deterioration of relations. 
Thousands have died in horrible violence that has torn through the 
hearts of both the Israeli and Palestinian communities.
  With President Sharon's disengagement plan, I hope we are at a 
renewed moment of hope. I believe that the future security of Israel 
depends upon bringing an end to terrorism, bloodshed, and human 
suffering and to establishing a just, permanent peace with the 
Palestinians. The principles endorsed by President Bush and Prime 
Minister Sharon are a step towards peace.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement 
plan represents an important opportunity to break the deadlock in 
Israeli-Palestinian relations. I am further encouraged that the 
Palestinian Authority and Egypt seem to agree, and are working to 
ensure security in post-disengagement Gaza. For these reasons, I 
support the resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.

                          ____________________