[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

  (Mr. DENT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th 
anniversary of the State of Israel, like my colleague just before me.
  The State of Israel has held out the promise of hope for many who 
have endured centuries of oppression. It was established by those who 
sought peace, but has had to endure perpetual conflict.
  From the date of its inception, Israel's neighbors declared war upon 
the country and attempted to destroy it. Two major wars erupted after 
the initial conflict of 1948, and even today it must suffer through 
terrorist attacks orchestrated by those who continue to deny its right 
to exist.
  And yet Israel endures and it flourishes. It has made its part of the 
desert bloom. It is a model of democracy that the rest of that region 
would do well to emulate, and it has been a great partner to us in the 
war on terror, cooperating with us on homeland security matters so that 
we can be better prepared to counter the kinds of attacks that the 
Israelis have had to endure for three generations.
  I've had the privilege of visiting Israel on two separate occasions, 
experiences that I will never forget.
  And to Israel I say, ``Le Chaim.''

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