Sam Gejdenson: “the courage of the head of the Israeli government, Mr. Barak, during the campaign to state with certainty that he would…”

“the courage of the head of the Israeli government, Mr. Barak, during the campaign to state with certainty that he would remove Israeli forces from Lebanon was an exhibit of the courage that he has in his commitment to the peace process. As the majority leader pointed out, this did take risks, but with a recognition that things cannot remain as they are in the Middle East. Israel took tremendous risks to remove its forces and pull back from an area that had buffered its people from constant assaults and attack. This is an opportunity for peace. We would hope that all the countries in the region, that in particular Syria does not make any effort to exploit this movement of Israeli forces back to Israel's territory. All the world watches to see if the countries of the region will help Lebanon, that has suffered so much for so many years, to rebuild itself and gain control of its own territory. Hezbollah should understand this is an opportunity for them to develop a political presence, not to expand a military presence in the region. The courageous acts of the Israelis recognizing during the campaign that Israeli presence out of Lebanon was a necessity should now be supported by the U.N. and other countries helping to rebuild Lebanon, helping Lebanon to regain control of its own territory, and helping us move forward in the peace process, with the Palestinians and all the countries of the region.”