On the recordApril 9, 2002
Here is little Israel surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan on the other side of it, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea. It is not exactly the kind of neighborhood that is very pristine and peaceful and stable to begin with. Israel would not go out aggressively and start a conflict, as the gentleman pointed out, and I want to do it again. Statehood for these countries: Syria, 1946; Iraq, 1932; Iran, 1935; Saudi Arabia, 1932; Jordan, 1946; Lebanon, 1943; Egypt, 1952. To say Israel is the interloper because of 1948 is absurd, particularly given the fact that this is such a sliver of land here.
Source
govinfo.gov




