[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9351]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              WELCOMING ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT

  Mr. President, today the Congress does have the pleasure in a few 
moments of welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to address a 
special Joint Session of Congress. This is his first visit to 
Washington as Prime Minister, and he will be only the fourth Israeli 
Prime Minister ever to address both Chambers.
  The honor is mutual. We look forward to listening to his remarks in a 
few moments. Following his speech, the Speaker of the House, Speaker 
Hastert, and I, along with a number of our colleagues, will host the 
Prime Minister for a bipartisan bicameral leadership lunch.
  Ehud Olmert was sworn in as the 12th Prime Minister of Israel on May 
4 after a tragic stroke incapacitated Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 
January. In late March he assumed the leadership of Ariel Sharon's 
Kadima party, and led it to victory in Israel's national elections. His 
party won the largest share of seats in the Israeli Knesset, elevating 
Mr. Olmert to the Prime Ministership with responsibility for governing 
Israel's next coalition government. His Cabinet was sworn in this month 
and includes members of the largest opposition party, the Labor Party. 
I spoke with the Prime Minister in April to congratulate him on his and 
the Kadima party's victory.
  Today it is my privilege to welcome him to the United States Capitol.
  Since its founding nearly 60 years ago, Israel and the United States 
have enjoyed a special and exceptionally strong relationship. Shared 
historical and cultural ties have bound our countries together. For 
nearly six decades, America's commitment to Israel's security has been 
one of the principal pillars of U.S. policy in the Middle East.
  Today, Prime Minister Olmert faces great challenges. In January's 
Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won a majority of 
parliamentary seats. Hamas is a known terrorist organization that has 
called publicly for Israel's destruction. It has repeatedly 
demonstrated its willingness to employ violence and terrorism in 
pursuit of this objective.
  On April 17, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed nine people in an 
attack in Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday. The Hamas government 
refused to condemn the bombing.
  Here in Congress we share the view that Hamas is a terrorist 
organization and needs to take substantial steps to become a partner 
for peace. We are in agreement that Hamas must recognize Israel, 
renounce its violence and terrorism, disarm its militias, and abide by 
all previous agreements with Israel, including the roadmap for peace. 
Until Hamas meets these conditions, foreign assistance for the Hamas-
led Palestinian Authority will not be forthcoming.
  Since taking office, Prime Minister Olmert has repeated his desire to 
negotiate an end to this conflict. In fact, he has stated that 
negotiations with a credible peace partner that is genuinely and 
demonstrably committed to a peaceful two-state solution and that will 
end terrorism against Israel is ``the most stable and desired basis for 
the political process.''
  The Prime Minister has stated that he will allow time for a credible 
peace partner to emerge in the Palestinian Authority, and like his 
predecessor, he has demonstrated the willingness and ability to make 
the difficult decisions necessary for peace in the Middle East. I hope 
Prime Minister Olmert will continue along this path and get the peace 
process back on track. I commend the Prime Minister for his leadership 
in the months since former Prime Minister Sharon's stroke. He can be 
assured of our continued support.
  The United States is proud to be a friend and ally to the people of 
Israel. The Prime Minister's visit to the Capitol today underscores our 
strong bilateral relationship. My colleagues and I look forward to 
working closely with the Prime Minister and his new government to 
achieve the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, 
living side by side in peace and security.

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