Claiborne Pell: “Then we come to the question of Israel. I think the views by Strobe Talbott that are important is what he advances and…”

“Then we come to the question of Israel. I think the views by Strobe Talbott that are important is what he advances and says. He says: I've always believed strongly in the specialness of the State of Israel, in the special nature of the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and on the special obligation that the U.S. has to do everything it can to assure Israel's survival and security. These are bedrock principles that undergird the relationship between the United States and Israel. My commitment to these principles is not only professional, but deeply personal. Then finally we come to the question of the comparison between Israel and Iraq, and the occupation of territory. And he says: The comparison I made in 1990 was invidious and I regret making it. I would not do so today. I think some of us--all of us--can find statements in the last 30, 40 years that we regret having made. If we can only dig up one or two, we are very lucky indeed. I yield the floor.”