Federal News Service - Remarks at American Isreal Public Affairs Committee Annual Policy Conference - Transcript

Federal News Service May 17, 2004 Monday

Copyright 2004 The Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service

May 17, 2004 Monday

HEADLINE: REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE STENY HOYER, (D-MD), REPRESENTATIVE TOM DELAY (R-TX) AND OTHERS AT AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ANNUAL POLICY CONFERENCE

OTHER PARTICIPANTS: LONNIE KAPLAN, AIPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS; ROBERT GOLDBERG, PRESIDENT, UNITED JEWISH COMMUNITIES; HOWARD FRIEDMAN, AIPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS; HOWARD JONAS, AIPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS; JEFFREY SNYDER, AIPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOCATION: DC CONVENTION CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C.

BODY:

LONNIE KAPLAN: (In progress) - you may not realize this, but by being a member of AIPAC and by attending this conference, you are a member of the 2004 national assembly. This honor is both important and short-lived. In a moment I'm going to ask you to help in electing a portion of our national executive committee and also we will ask you to approve our 2004 action agenda. Once we have accomplished these tasks, your work as a national assembly member will be done and we can get on with our morning plenary.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
STENY HOYER: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very tightly run program. I reviewed the schedule as Howard was introducing me. It says that Steny Hoyer departs at 9:18 AM. I want you to know how good it's been to be with you today. (Laughter, applause.) I don't know how much I'm paying Howard, but it's got to be a lot.

Howard Friedman, as all of you know, is irrepressible, indefatigable, sometimes unfathomable. What a strong, strong voice for Israel. What a strong voice - (applause) - for human rights and what a strong voice for America. Howard, I am so proud to be your close friend. However; you took 90 percent of my time. (Laughter.) that's the bad news. The good news? Nobody in the audience who knows you is shocked.

President Amy Friedkin, let me say how pleased I am to be with you and let me congratulate you and thank you for an extraordinary year of leadership of this organization at an extraordinarily difficult time. You have done so well for AIPAC, for Israel, for America. Thank you very, very much. (Applause.)

Now let me speak about my sister, Bernice, your incoming president. She and I were born not together, but at the same hospital in New York City. I was born at least a couple of decades before Bernice. Bernice does not have a microphone, but she said, absolutely. Bernice, we are so proud of you, we sons and daughters of the Fifth Avenue Flower Hospital. And I look forward to working as closely with you as I have with Amy - as I have with Howard. I know you will do an extraordinary job. (Applause.)

It was mentioned that AIPAC is one of, if not the, most successful advocacy groups in Washington. All of you know that does not just happen. It doesn't happen simply because you put an AIPAC or because all of you are incredibly active in your communities and talk to your members on a regular basis. It happens because you organize, you mobilize, and you deploy. General Kohr, you do an extraordinary job. (Applause.) If you can't get away from Howard Friedman, you certainly can't get away from Howard Kohr. Maybe it's the Howard in them. Who knows?

Now let me say I am pleased to be here with the Mayor of Haifa - Mayor Yanov - Yahav. I have been to Haifa and I appreciate your being with us today. We are with you every day in our thoughts and from time to time physically as well. (Applause.)

Now, ladies and gentlemen, those of you who know her know that I could not go back to the Congress of the United States if I did not acknowledge not only one of Israel's strongest supporters, one of AIPAC's strongest supporters, but happily for me one of my strongest supporters, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Shelley, where are you? (Applause.) Apparently, some of you have heard from Shelley from time to time.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can't tell you how honored I am to speak to the members of this great organization who understand better than anyone the imperative of a free, independent, Jewish state and who know that a secure, successful Israel serves the national interests of the United States of America. (Applause.) That is always my message.

My friends, Israel does not stand alone in this world. Her fight against those who would seek her destruction is America's fight as well, as it should be the fight of all who love liberty and reject terrorism. (Applause.) As we work to establish democracy in Iraq we must unequivocally and unalterably reaffirm our support for the Middle East's only democracy. Standing side by side, we must not relent until victory over hatred, terror, and anti-Semitism is this generation's lasting legacy. (Applause.)

We have 850 students here. (Applause.) Young, Jewish students who know their history. They know that no people on Earth have been subjected to more bigotry and violence than the Jewish people and no people are more in need of a sovereign, secure homeland to provide safe haven and to protect identity, so today, three weeks after the 56th anniversary of Israel's independence, let us honor her determination to fulfill the vision of Zionism founding father Theodore Herzman (ph), who observed, if you will it, it is no dream. Through courage and will, Israel was born and the dream of generations was made real. And let us never forget that declaration by Ben Gurion: the security of Israel, he said, is a question f the survival not only of the people of Israel, but of the Jewish people the world over. (Applause.)

Members of AIPAC, the special bond that exists between the United States and Israel, as Howard observed and most of you hopefully know, is stronger than ever. Ours is a relationship of principle and conscience, of shared values and common aspiration, of peace and opportunity, and of a mutual commitment to freedom and democracy. In Congress today, support for Israel and her cause is bipartisan and overwhelming. When the majority whip in the next - in the House, Roy Blunt, and I circulated a letter last year urging President Bush to adhere to the principles for peace he enunciated on June 22nd as the roadmap was pursued, over 313 Democrats and Republicans signed it. Only the press of time prevented it being a larger number.

When the House considered a resolution last year expressing America's solidarity with Israel in the war on terrorism, 399 Democrats and Republicans supported it. (Applause.) This level of support is important and encouraging, but the effort to maintain it must be ongoing. That, of course, is AIPAC's reason for being and daily mission. How well you do it. It is in that spirit that I led, as you have heard, 28 other Democrats to Israel last August; the largest delegation to visit Israel since its birth in 1948. (Applause.) The mayor of Haifa is here and your mayor of Jerusalem is here as well, Wendy Singer (ph). Wendy, where are you? (Applause.)

Ladies and gentlemen, I have been to Israel in four decades six times in all, but this was the first visit for many of my colleagues. I want to thank all of you who contributed to making that effort possible. It is extraordinarily important to be there. We traveled throughout Israel and met with senior officials including Prime Minister Sharon, Labor Party leader Peres, and the speaker of the Knesset Rivlin (ph). And we saw firsthand the security challenges that confront Israel every single day. I will never forget watching a young Israeli lieutenant monitor the Lebanese border to prevent a surprise attack from Hezbollah terrorists. I will never forget talking to an Israeli father who said that he puts a gas mask in his children's knapsack every day when they go to school so he - because he can never be sure when an attack might come. And I will never, ever forget being transported to a meeting in Gaza with former Palestinian prime minister Abbas in an armored personnel carrier - a stark reminder and example of the proximity of danger in that small and fragile land.

This trip left an indelible impression on all who went and provoked strong agreement on several important points. First, Israel's security is an absolute precondition for peace. (Applause.) The Palestinian side must completely cease its campaign of terror against Israel if peace is have a chance. (Applause.) Secondly, the security fence is a reasonable, acceptable effort to prevent terrorists attacking the Israeli people, which undermines any possibility for peace. (Applause.) Third, it is essential that the Palestinian leadership dismantle terrorist infrastructure and organizations, which tragically, unfortunately, it has refused to do so to date. (Applause.

) And fourth, the plight of the Palestinian people must concern all of us. Their cause has been diminished by depraved and corrupt leaders led by Yassir Arafat who employ the tactics of terror, incite their people to hate, and refuse to seek peace, thereby relegating their own people to poverty and severe insecurity. The sad, inexplicable, and debilitating truth is that since the intifada began, the Palestinian leadership has not taken one concrete step to stop terrorism against Israel and her citizens. (Applause.)

It is, ladies and gentlemen, this absence of leadership on the Palestinian side, the absence of a sincere negotiating partner, that spurred Prime Minister Sharon to offer his recent disengagement plan. This effort is the latest example of Israel's willingness to take risks and offer a bold initiative that could further the cause of peace, enhance Israel's security, and lead toward providing the Palestinian people with a homeland of their own. That - that is why President Bush support it. That is why John Kerry supports it. And that is why, in my opinion, the overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives support it. (Applause.)

Ladies and gentlemen, I am hopeful that Congress in a bipartisan way can express support for principles the President articulated during Prime Minister Sharon's recent visit to the United States. I look forward to working with Tom Delay to accomplish that end. (Applause.)

Sadly, the security of Israel is threatened not only by extremists and fanatics in the West Bank and Gaza, but as well by entire populations in the Middle East who are infected with an obsessive hatred of Israel, who embrace terrorism and who seek the most lethal weapons in the history of man. As the threat grows greater, so too must our resolve.

I commend President Bush for imposing economic sanctions last week under the Syria Accountability Act. (Applause.) The message to the Assad government is clear: Syria cannot claim membership in the civilized world while continuing to sponsor and give sanctuary and aid to terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and other. If these sanctions fail to persuade Syria to change its course, then I will help lead the effort in Congress to strengthen the United States' response. (Applause.) Thank you.

Many senior Israeli officials with whom I spoke last summer were even more animated about the Iranian threat. Amy Friedkin, as a matter of fact, made that very clear to me on a number of conversations. Just two weeks ago, the House passed by an overwhelming vote a resolution condemning Iran for deceiving the international community about its nuclear activities and programs, calling on the United States to, and I quote, "use all appropriate means to deter, dissuade, and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons." (Applause.) Our country must be tough and realistic regarding Iran. Israel, of course, must do what it deems necessary to protect itself. (Applause.) The United States meanwhile, must work with the European Union, Russia, and the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that Iran is held accountable for its conduct, but let me be very clear: an Iran with nuclear weapons is not only unacceptable to Israel, it is unacceptable to the United States as well. (Applause.)

The proliferation of nuclear weapons to state sponsors of terror is a clear and present danger to the world. Let me say, too, that the time has come for the United States and the rest of the civilize world to pressure Saudi Arabia to crack down on those within its borders - (applause) - to crack down on Saudi Arabia - on those within its borders who fund, facilitate, and rationalize terrorism. Furthermore, the Saudi government can no longer escape responsibility for supporting and exporting the intolerant brand of Islam - Wahabism - which breeds hatred of other countries, of other peoples, of other religions, and the United States and Israel. (Applause.)

Students, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported one year ago that official government textbooks published by the Saudi Ministry of Education include offensive and discriminatory language and in some cases promote intolerance and hatred of religious groups. The commission found that Israel regularly is referred to as a wicked nation. Such language belies any rhetorical support for peace. We know that repugnant acts of anti-Semitism continue against Jews throughout the world and we recognize that such hatred is as dangerous as it is unacceptable, yet we must not overlook the new anti-Semitism that grips entire countries in the Middle East and affects others.

The new strain of anti-Semitism, as Mortimer Zuckerman (sp) points out, is not directed at individual Jews or even Judaism itself, but rather against the Jewish collective - the modern state of Israel. And the public record is replete with outrageous examples. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah recently blamed Zionists for violence in the Kingdom, and his views were endorsed by Prince - (unintelligible). What incredibly bad logic.

The Malaysian prime minister told Islamic leaders in October, and I quote, "Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them." As despicable as those individual words were, sadly and shockingly they received a standing ovation. Fifty-nine percent of the citizens of the European Union cite Israel as one of the biggest risks to peace in the world today. And the United Nations general assembly continues to single out Israel for unfair and discriminatory treatment. In the current session of the general assembly, the United States has properly voted against anti-Israel resolutions 22 separate times. (Applause.) The United States was correct to do so, but how silent the United Nations remains with truly despicable, dictator-led, tyrant countries of the world as they focus on the Middle East's only democracy that recognizes human rights. (Applause.) Anti-Zionism is still anti-Semitism no matter how it is cloaked. (Applause.) And because of that, we must expose it, condemn it, and exercise it from the international body politic. (Applause.)

Some of you know all too personally, from wrenching experience, where the toxic brew of hatred, intolerance, and violence can lead. We know that anti-Semitism is a cancer that left unchecked will metastasize and poison entire societies, and such poison will threaten all other minorities in their turn. (Applause.) As a result, the United States of America as a matter of moral conscience and strategic interest must vigilantly combat any terrorism, anti-Semitism wherever it rears its head. (Applause.)

Finally, members of AIPAC, let me say that the United States, Israel, and the rest of the civilized world must never, never equate legitimate acts of self defense by any state with illegitimate, unspeakable acts of terror. (Applause.) Freedom fighters do not attack innocent men, women, and children with the intention of inflicting as much change as possible - as much damage and death as possible. Terrorists do that. (Applause.) Freedom fighters do not send their youth to their death as homicide bombers; terrorists do that. (Applause.) And freedom fighters - freedom fighters do not murder four innocent children and a pregnant mother in cold blood. (Applause.) but terrorists do and that is why we must be allied as one in confronting all those throughout the world who employ such tactics.

Members of AIPAC, Israel's fight is not just a fight for Israel, not just a fight for Jews, it is a fight for all of us who want our children to live in peace and security in this world. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I was too young to call him friend, but old enough to be his supporter; the late Senator Henry Scoop Jackson once remarked, and I quote, "it is both wrong and foolhardy for any democratic state to consider international terrorism to be someone else's problem. When one nation is under attack," he said, "the rest must understand that democracy itself is under attack." 9/11 awakened America to the obligation this generation owes to its heritage and to its progeny and we must not shrink from it.

The battle we are in today requires us to stand side by side with Israel against those who would undermine freedom, security, and democracy by the wanton, indiscriminate, and calculated killing of innocent people. Those who so hate in our world are the common enemy of all. Working together - working together with courage, perseverance, and resolve the United States, Israel, and our allies must prevail over those forces that seek to plunge Israel and freedom- defending peoples into an abyss of tyranny and terror. I know that AIPAC, as it has for half a century, will continue to be an outspoken and effective champion of that victory.

Ladies and gentlemen of AIPAC, I am proud to count myself a brother in your cause. God bless America and God bless Israel. (Applause.)

END