Political Quotes

“there is a great deal to commend this bill, and I commend the authors and sponsors of it: $435 million for debt relief, funds for peace in Northern Ireland, $2.9 billion for Israel, but not a penny for the Palestinian Authority. I, like the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), believe that this is an opportunity to use this bill as an opportunity to pass along a message. For virtually the entire existence of Israel, Chairman Arafat has had at his desk two buttons, one button that read ``peace'' and one button that read ``war.'' At every major crossroads in our history, we have seen Mr. Arafat press the war button. When it was time to consider the partition plan at the very beginning of the creation of the State of Israel, a plan that, frankly, hurt Israel, did not allow her to control Jerusalem, it was the Palestinians that said no. Ever since then, Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians have chosen war over peace. Today he is waging war. Let us not be romantic about what goes on there. Let us not allow the image of people throwing stones change the fact that Israel is surrounded by nations that are at war with her. We have to make the message clear from this House that enough is enough. Until Arafat is prepared to press the button that stands for peace, we will stand four square with our ally, Israel, in the Middle East.”