September 18, 1981 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 21291 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONGRESSMAN McGRATH PRO­ of air space in which to permit its pilots to implanted in the ground to detect troop VIDES INSIGHT INTO MIDDLE practice their skills. movements or the flight of Syrian aircraft EAST PROGRAM ISRAELIS SHOWED SELF-CONFIDENCE as they leave the ground. But that didn't seem to faze the Israelis, "That is necessary because it is only a five McGrath noted. He said that when they minute plane ride from Damascus to the Is­ . HON. NORMAN F. LENT were "confronted with a problem that raeli border," he pointed out. OF NEW YORK seemed enormous in scope, they simply said, Another impression McGrath said he is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 'We'll find a way.' They had complete confi­ left with is the "manner in which the Israe­ dence in themselves. And that confidence lis treat the people who live in the disputed Friday, September 18, 1981 seemed universal over there.'' areas, like Jerusalem," he said, noting that • Mr. LENT. Mr. Speaker, during the Although it was not an official visit paid they have a lot more freedom under Israeli August work period, my good friend for with taxpayer funds, McGrath said he control than they had under Jordanian rule. still received the red carpet treatment from "I now have a tremendous understanding and colleague, Congressman RAY the Israeli Government. Government offi­ of the country," McGrath said. "I never re­ McGRATH, who ably represents a Long cials accompanied him on his tour and he alized it was so small.'' Island district adjacent to my own, had private audiences with the top members IMPRESSED WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS traveled to Israel to learn about that of the Israeli Government, including an Despite its size, Israel has accomplished nation'.s needs and problems. In view hour and a half meeting with Prime Minis­ monumental tasks, McGrath pointed out. of the fact that the Congress is now ter Menachem Begin. In addition, he was es­ He said they have taken 1,500 underprivi­ considering the administration's pro­ corted around Jerusalem by the city's leged youngsters, who come primarily from posal to sell the AWACS plane and jet mayor, Teddy Kollek. Accompanying him immigrant families, and they house and on the trip was Rep. Guy Molinari <R-S.I. ). fighter enhancement equipment to Is­ "The sites and the holy places brought my feed them in Jerusalem and give them a rael's foe Saudi Arabia, I think Con­ Bible study into reality," McGrath said. "I junior high and high school education. In gressman McGRATH's views on Israeli addition, he said, they are given vocational couldn't believe it. It was just a thrill to be training. All of this costs $2,000 a year per security will be of great interest to there.'' child, a figure McGrath said is "extremely every Member of this House. In my Throughout the country, he noted, there were men in military uniforms and each one low. Here, it costs $3,000 to $4,000 just to judgment, Congressman McGRATH's educate a student and that does not include remarks show great insight and an un­ carried an automatic rifle. He said he learned that at the age of 18 men are called food.'' derstanding of the problems faced by for military duty and they serve three-and­ "They are a very resourceful people," he our ally, Israel. The views appeared in a-half years, and women serve for two-and­ continued. "In a country that is arid, they an article in the September 11-17 issue a-half years. Israelis are in the reserves have enough water supply to produce one of of Long Island Jewish World and are until they are 55 years old and they serve the biggest citrus and cotton crops in the as follows: reserve duty for about one month each year, world.'' he added. McGrath said he also had a chance to [From the Long Island Jewish World, tour a desalination plant and learned that September 11-17, 19811 "That is all understandable," McGrath said, noting the "topography of the land the Israelis are planning to connect the McGRATH: ISRAEL TAKES RISKS FOR PEACE and how close their enemies are. Libya is Dead Sea with the Mediterranean and har­ <By Stewart Ain) the arms depot for the entire Arab world in ness that water to create hydro-electrical A one-week trip to Israel has impressed the Middle East. Russia arms Syria and power. He said he also studied Israel's nucle­ Rep. Raymond McGrath <R-Valley Stream> Syria arms the PLO <Palestine Liberation ar power plants and was stuck by the fact both with Israel's vulnerability amidst a sea Organization>. All around Israel there are that virtually every home had solar panels of enemies and its yearning for peace at vir­ hostile countries being equipped with so­ on their roof to supplement a hot water tually any price. phisticated weapons and planes. heater. "They want peace more than I suspected "In spite of all of that, Israel is still will­ One of the most memorable moments of before I went," McGrath said. "Not only do ing to give back strategic land that it would the trip occurred during his meeting with they want peace, but they are willing to be in their best interest to keep. Everyone I Begin in the Knesset, McGrath recalled. He take immense risks to achieve it." spoke to in Israel said he is willing to take said that Begin pointed outside his window During his trip, McGrath said he visited the risk. I knew they wanted peace, but not to a place where, he said, Jordanian guns the Sinai and took note of the fact that by as badly as that.'' were located in 1967. He said that Begin told him that when the Six Day War erupt­ next April Israel will return to Egypt the VISITED LEBANESE BORDER ed, "They began shelling the room we are portion of that area it still controls. More His trip took him to the Lebanese border than half of the Sinai already has been re­ sitting in. And now they want us to give it and a meeting with Major Saad Hadad of back."e turned, including seven airstrips and one air the Christian Lebanese Army, who is pro­ force base that the Israelis constructed. And viding a buffer force along the border. when the rest of the land is given back to McGrath said the Israelis are "arming him THE EXEMPLARY CAREER OF Egypt, along with it will go two large mili­ for a good reason." tary bases and an airstrip. While on the Golan Heights, McGrath FRED M. ARNOLD "They already gave back an oil field that said he visited a kibbutz inhabited by 150 produced 15% of Israel's needs," he pointed families. He termed it a "precarious place­ HON. ROBERT K. DORNAN out. "The only accommodation that was ment" and noted that while there he had a made is that Egypt will let Israel have the chance to enter one of the bomb shelters in OF CALIFORNIA first crack at buying that oil-but it will be the kibbutz. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES at the going rate. And this is what I mean Although he never found himself in the Friday, September 18, 1981 when I speak of the risks Israel is taking for midst of a shelling, McGrath said that just peace. They have returned a huge land area a week before his visit to a kibbutz at Kiryat e Mr. DORNAN of California. Mr. that would have given them time to react (if Shimona, the settlement had been shelled. Speaker, on Thursday night, Septem­ an enemy struck from the west>." "When the shelling started, the people in ber 24, the citizens of Redondo Beach, McGrath noted that the United States is the kibbutz evacuated instead of seeking the Calif., will gather at the Blue Moon going to build two air bases for Israel in the safety of the shelters," McGrath said. "I got Saloon to honor a man who has given Negev to compensate for the air bases that the impression that the government did not were given up. He said that military experts like this because it may eventually mean the major part of his professional life in Israel told him that these two new bases that one day they might not return.'' in service to their city. will bring to eight the number of air bases In the hills of the Golan Heights, After 32 years in office, City Clerk in Israel, a country that has a small amount McGrath said he saw the sensing devices Fred M. Arnold recently retired, and e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 21292 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS September 18, 1981 his friends and neighbors, · including and justice, will be a magnificent event middle-income families denied guaran­ myself, feel that his exemplary career where the people of America will teed student loans. should be brought to public attention renew our common goals as a nation­ About 100,000 families living in sub­ as a model for those who are inspired and remind our leaders that Govern­ standard housing will have to wait in­ by dedication to duty. ment must invest in people to insure a Fred moved to Redondo Beach in definitely for public housing they prosperous and productive future for were promised because the Federal 1930, attending local grade school and our country.