Expressing the Sense of Congress Supporting the State of Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 57) expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel.

The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.

The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows: H. Con. Res. 57

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state;

(2) Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia; and

(3) the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, the President of Israel will address this body in a joint session. It will be a great day in American history as Representatives of one of the greatest democracies are addressed by the head of state of another. Democracy and its shared values are at the very core of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

The beauty of our friendship is that we stand together, shoulder to shoulder, as we defend our freedom and our way of life from threats like Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other forms of terrorism.

Let me be clear. Israel is not a racist country. It is deeply disturbing and concerning to me that some in this body have such a profound misunderstanding of Israel and Israeli society.

The previous government in Israel had Arab parties and Arab ministers serving in the coalition government. What a fantastic achievement for democracy. It is no secret that Israel is a country in a tough neighborhood that is clear-eyed in seeing many threats in its own backyard.

The United States will always support Israel's right to self-defense. We see Israeli citizens being murdered in senseless terrorist attacks. At times, the fallen have been American citizens.

Israel is responsible for protecting the well-being of its citizens. Protecting one's citizens from terrorist attacks is not racism. It is national security. To think otherwise is small-minded, and quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, it is just plain and simply wrong.

A key component of friendship is looking out for one another and standing up for each other. Racism has no place in this body or in public discord, period. I support this resolution rejecting false accusations and repulsive anti-Israel statements. I stand--and I know almost everyone in this Chamber stands--with our friends in Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) for bringing this resolution forward.

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Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCAUL.

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing progressive about racism. Racism is ugly. I know my colleague, my dear friend, Mr. Meeks, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, knows what racism is.

He is also the strongest supporter of Israel.

I know our colleague, John Lewis, knew what racism really is, and racism is ugly.

Israel is not a racist state. My father was a bombardier in a B-17. He bombed the Nazis.

Why were we at war with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis?

For many reasons, but, fundamentally, because of their values. They were anti-Semitic. During the Holocaust, racism, in its ugliest form, took place in the concentration camps in Europe and, indeed, in Auschwitz, where I attended to see the horrors of what mankind can do against mankind.

Why was the State of Israel formed?

Israel was formed out of a racist society to say to the world: No longer, never forget, and we will not tolerate racism.

Mr. Speaker, 75 years later we stand here in this body celebrating this democratic state in the Middle East that was formed because of persecution and because of racism. We do not stand for racism. No one in this Chamber should stand for racism.

To call Israel, which was formed as a result of racism, anti- Semitism, and hatred, to call that very country a racist state is repugnant to all of our values.

I think everyone in this Chamber should vote ``yes,'' because as my dear friend across the aisle knows, racism and anti-Semitism have no place--no place--not only in this Chamber, but not in America and not anywhere in the world. Where we see it, we denounce it in its most ugliest form.

So this is a call to action to defend her and to defend the nation that was created by primarily the United States and our allies as a result of the hatred that we saw come out of Nazi Germany.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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