[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6384]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            DEFENDING ISRAEL

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, as a Nation, one of our strongest allies in 
the Middle East is Israel. For decades we have stood with this free and 
democratic state as it has been assaulted. We have always respected the 
right of Israel to defend itself and to build for itself a stronger 
nation.
  But now our President is causing problems for our ally. The President 
takes offense at the bureaucratic approval of settlements. But these 
are not settlements deep in the heart of the West Bank. They are in 
their capital, Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is an area where half the 
Jewish population of the capital city currently resides. Prime Minister 
Netanyahu has made clear: This is an area that will be part of Israel 
in any peace settlement considered.
  In just a few weeks, Israel will celebrate its 62nd year as an 
independent nation. The United States was the first to stand and 
recognize Israel on the day of their independence, and since that time 
we have remained close allies. Let's not let this close relationship 
move apart. The President should stop giving the cold shoulder to our 
friends in Israel.

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