[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4899]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
               CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL

  (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in saluting 
Israel on its 60th anniversary. And I want to also salute the strong 
bond and ties between the United States and the State of Israel. We 
have shared values, we have shared concerns, and we have had a 
wonderful, close ally-to-ally relationship for the past 60 years, and 
we want it to continue for another 60 and way beyond.
  I think it's important, at this time, to reflect the fact that Israel 
was created in the ashes of the Holocaust, and that the United States 
and Israel, sharing in common bonds, there is also a moral imperative 
for us to continue to stand by that beleaguered State.
  I think it's also important to say that we must not put pressure on 
Israel to make unilateral concessions in her quest for peace. It takes 
two to tango, and we need to have both sides make concessions and work 
together.
  Let's remember that Israel left Gaza. Israel left Southern Lebanon. 
She was willing to do land for peace, but, instead, got land for war. 
So we have to be very careful and not put pressure on Israel. Celebrate 
her 60th anniversary. And long may the close relations between our two 
countries continue.

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