Post by bot on Apr 23, 2015 14:49:45 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement on Israel’s Independence Day
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement on the 67th anniversary of Israel's Independence Day, which begins at sundown this evening:
“Sixty-seven years ago, President Harry Truman made the historic decision to make the United States the first nation in the world to recognize the newly declared State of Israel. Since that day, Americans and Israelis have stood together in defense of the values we share: democracy, freedom of expression, equal opportunity, and a commitment to justice and human rights.
“It is important to maintain a strong bipartisan coalition supporting the right of the Jewish State to defend itself and seek the peace and security it deserves. I have been proud to advance legislation to ensure that Israel has America’s steadfast support, such as the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act that I sponsored in 2012 and other measures, and I will work with my colleagues across the aisle to continue doing so.
“In my thirteen visits to Israel as a Member of Congress, I have been privileged to meet not only with Prime Ministers and public figures but also with innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers whose discoveries have saved lives and launched new technologies around the world. The ingenuity of a people that has made the desert bloom and the strength of those who answer terror with a determination to seek justice and peace make Israel a truly extraordinary place. As Jews in Israel, America, and throughout the world turn from the somberness of honoring and remembering the heroes who died defending Israel from war and terror to the joy of independence after 2,000 years of exile, I join in celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut and pray for the peace and safety of Israel in the year ahead.”
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