November 14, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE S 17039 Massachusetts [Mr. KENNEDY], the Sen- Jewish state. He studied in an agricul- images, such as the famous handshake ator from Indiana [Mr. LUGAR], the tural school, with the expectation of with Yasser Arafat on the White House Senator from Nevada [Mr. BRYAN], the working the land with his bare hands. lawn, and the appearance with King Senator from Pennsylvania [Mr. But Rabin felt a sense of duty to the Hussein of Jordan at a joint session of SANTORUM], the Senator from Arkansas cause of building Israel, and he put his Congress. [Mr. PRYOR], and the Senator from own ambitions aside to fight for its The common thread through all Delaware [Mr. ROTH] were added as co- birth. He joined the Palmach, the fore- these various experiences was an sponsors of S. 1316, a bill to reauthorize runner of the Israel defense forces, to unshakable commitment to the secu- and amend title XIV of the Public fight for Israel's establishment. A fine rity and well-being of the State of Is- Health Service Act (commonly known soldier, he was quickly elevated to rael. At every stage of his lifeÐfrom as the ``Safe Drinking Water Act''), and command-level positions, and he led young soldier fighting for his nation's for other purposes. the battalion that secured the crucial survival, to confident commander of a S. 1329 Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road during Isra- strong army, to diplomat reaching out At the request of Mr. DOLE, the name el's War of Independence in 1948. to broader ties with the world, and fi- of the Senator from Alaska [Mr. STE- After Israel's founding, Rabin rose nally to statesman leading his nation VENS] was added as a cosponsor of S. through the ranks of the Israel defense to make peace with old foesÐhe was 1329, a bill to amend title 38, United forces, finally being named Chief of motivated by a desire to build a better, States Code, to provide for educational Staff. To Israel's good fortune, he held more secure, more peaceful life for his assistance to veterans, and for other that position in June of 1967, when he people. purposes. led Israel to a stunning victory in the Yitzhak Rabin was a man of great in- Six-Day War over three Arab armies tegrity. He spoke plainly and made no S. 1346 threatening the Jewish State. He was pretense about his overriding concern: At the request of Mr. ABRAHAM, the one of the first Israelis to walk the name of the Senator from Wyoming the security of the State of Israel and streets of the reunited city of Jerusa- its people. But, blessed with strength [Mr. SIMPSON] was added as a cosponsor lem, and the pictures of him arriving of S. 1346, a bill to require the periodic of character and a keen intellect, he at the Western Wall of the Temple are review of Federal regulations. was able to adjust his understanding of to this day among the most moving im- what Israel's security required accord- SENATE RESOLUTION 146 ages in Israel's history. ing to changing conditions. At the request of Mr. JOHNSTON, the In the aftermath of this great vic- In 1948 and 1967, for example, he knew names of the Senator from North Da- tory, he retired from the military and that Israel's survival required an all- kota [Mr. CONRAD] and the Senator became Israel's Ambassador to the out military effort. In later years he from Alaska [Mr. STEVENS] were added United States. He sought this post, he understood the need to maintain Isra- as cosponsors of Senate Resolution 146, explained, because he felt that Israel's el's world-class military and the imper- a resolution designating the week be- future could best be secured by a ative of a strong alliance with the ginning November 19, 1995, and the strong partnership with the United United States. week beginning on November 24, 1996, States. More than any other individual For many years after the Six-Day as ``National Family Week,'' and for in either country, Yitzhak Rabin envi- War, he had been an advocate of Israel other purposes. sioned the deep friendship that now ex- retaining all of the West Bank and f ists between the United States and Is- Gaza. But as the intifada went on, the rael, and worked to make it a reality. destructive effects of the continuation ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS It is fitting that in his final years as of Israeli control over a hostile, embit- Prime Minister, he enjoyed a relation- tered population of nearly 2 million ship with an American President that TRIBUTE TO PRIME MINISTER Palestinians became clearer to him. surpassed perhaps what even he had Over time, and not without dif- YITZHAK RABIN imagined possible. ficulty, he came to the understanding · Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I In 1974, in the aftermath of the Yom that Israel's long-term survival as a rise today in deep sorrow to pay a trib- Kippur War that brought down the gov- Jewish state would be jeopardized by ute to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak ernment of Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin the continued domination of another Rabin, who was assassinated in Tel became Prime Minister of Israel. Dur- people. He was not naive. He recognized Aviv 10 days ago. ing his tenure in office, he forged an that there were risks involved with It is difficult to imagine the State of early path in Middle East peacemaking reaching out to old enemies. But his Israel without Yitzhak Rabin. His last by negotiating disengagement agree- pragmatic understanding of Israel's years as Prime Minister were so mo- ments with both Egypt and Syria. Fol- own needs led to the historic agree- mentous that it is easy to forget that lowing the Labor party's defeat to ment between Israel and the Palestin- Yitzhak Rabin was not just present, Likud in 1977, Prime Minister ians. but played a central role, in virtually Menachem Begin and Egyptian Presi- In his final speech to the Israeli peo- every major event in Israel's brief, but dent Anwar Sadat built on the success- ple, at the peace rally where he was cut dramatic, history. ful disengagement negotiations to down, Yitzhak Rabin explained how he For many Israelis, Yitzhak Rabin reach a full peace treaty. had come to reassess Israel's situation. was a father figureÐa constant pres- In 1984, Yitzhak Rabin returned to He said: ence throughout their lives, and a the Cabinet as Israel's Defense Min- I was a military man for 27 years. I fought source of strength. The profound love, ister. In the first year, he helped to ar- so long as there was no chance for peace. I admiration, and respect that his com- range the withdrawal of the Israeli believe that there is now a chance for peace, patriots felt for him was made clear by Army from most of Lebanon, following a great chance. We must take advantage of it the tremendous, spontaneous outpour- a costly and painful invasion. In 1987 for the sake of those standing here and for ing of grief upon his sudden death: Can- and 1988, he was confronted by the Pal- those who are not hereÐand they are many. dlelight vigils cropped up all across the estinian uprising, or intifada, and the I say this to you as one who was a military man, someone who is today Minister of De- country; men and women stood crying daily battles between Israeli soldiers fense and sees the pain of the families of the in the streets in shock and disbelief; and Palestinian youths. Israel Defense Forces soldiers. For them, for and 1 million IsraelisÐ20 percent of the Finally, in 1992, Yitzhak Rabin re- our children, in my case for our grand- populationÐfiled past his coffin in a 24- turned victorious to the Prime Min- children, I want this government to exhaust hour period to pay their last respects. istership. He quickly recognized the op- every opening, every possibility to promote For Israelis, Yitzhak Rabin had sim- portunity to achieve a breakthrough in and achieve a comprehensive peace. ply always been there. the stalled negotiations between Israel Yitzhak Rabin was a pragmatist, not Born in 1922 in Jerusalem to recent and its neighbors. The results included a starry-eyed idealist. But through his immigrants to Palestine, the young the historic agreements between Israel pragmatism, he reached a visionary Yitzhak Rabin was part of the genera- and the Palestinians, the peace treaty conclusion. This man, who cared so tion that built the foundation of the with Jordan, and many unforgettable deeply for every Israeli soldier who fell S 17040 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE November 14, 1995 in battle, for every victim of terror, will place support for Israel's peace ef- tired from the U.S. Marine Corps. Gen- knew that when an opportunity for forts above partisan or political dis- eral Keys was awarded the Distin- peace presented itself, he must seize it. putes. Bringing peace to Israel and the guished Service Medal in recognition of A pragmatic conclusion to be sure, but Middle EastÐwhich was Rabin's life's his exceptional service during the last also a morally-centered one. workÐdeserves to be such a priority. If few years of his long career. From the I was privileged to attend Yitzhak we fail to do this, all our words and jungles of Vietnam to the sands of Ku- Rabin's funeral last week in Jerusalem, tributes in praise of Yitzhak Rabin will wait, General Keys answered the call the city of his birth.