[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to join in those sponsoring 
H. Con. Res. 322, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Israel's 
independence.
  On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of 
the sovereign and independent State of Israel; and just minutes later 
in the White House, President Harry Truman signed the order so the U.S. 
would also recognize this new Jewish State of Israel.
  Since then, the U.S. has had a close and special relationship with 
the State of Israel, shared democratic values and common strategic 
interests with the people of Israel and the United States.
  The people of Israel have fought costs of war, have fought terrorism, 
and diplomatic and economic boycotts, and still they remain committed 
to peace and security in their country and the region.
  I have had the privilege to visit the country twice and witness the 
strength and resilience of the people of Israel. They are committed to 
freedom of speech and freedom of religion. In this thriving democracy, 
we need to continue that support and the commitment to the peace 
process, and I congratulate Israel on the 60th anniversary of their 
independence.

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