[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6386]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          THE TURKISH AND ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS WORKING TOGETHER

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, last night, there was historic and important 
news from the Middle East. For the second time, the Israeli and the 
Turkish governments met and feel they're close to having an agreement 
to renew their diplomatic relations, which for 3 years have not 
existed.
  There could be nothing more important to peace in the Middle East and 
America's interests than the Turkish and the Israeli Governments 
working together.
  Having that historic relationship mended came about because President 
Obama, on his trip to Israel, urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to 
apologize for the incidents with the flotilla. He did so. That was a 
major act on Prime Minister Netanyahu's part. And for Prime Minister 
Erdogan to accept it was important too. They're working together. 
They're very close.
  I'm pleased with both the Turkish and the Israeli Governments and 
their leaders, and I thank President Obama for his initiative.

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