Richard Gephardt: “with this resolution today the House of Representatives is standing in solidarity with the people of Israel and for…”

“with this resolution today the House of Representatives is standing in solidarity with the people of Israel and for peace in the Middle East. We are defending a people, a democracy, and a friend that shares our commitment to the universal values cherished by all human beings in the world. Since 1948, America has stood with Israel when Harry Truman rejected the advice of his staff and formally recognized Israel as a sovereign nation. Since that time Israel's strength and America's leadership have been essential in advancing these goals. We cannot stand on the sidelines as Israel's security and the prospect of peace are undermined. We must not waiver in our commitment to those, Arab and Israeli alike, who have chosen the path of peace. A few months ago I visited the Middle East and saw firsthand that Israel is in a moment of great danger. Over the past several months Israel has endured terrorist attacks unrelenting in frequency and severity. In the past 18 months, more than 450 Israelis have been killed and over 4,000 have been wounded in attacks. For a country the size of Israel, these numbers are staggering. Proportionally, this equates to more than 21,000 American deaths and over 200,000 American injuries. Yet the Israeli people remain strong, and they remain determined to increase their security and pursue a lasting peace in the region.”