IN THE NEWS

DeLay, Hoyer Laud U.S.-Israel Relationship

by Staff
CongressDaily

May 17, 2004

House Majority Leader DeLay and Minority Whip Hoyer addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee today, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to a secure Israeli state and to a united force in the war on terror.

"Ours is a relationship of principle and conscience, of shared values and common aspirations, of peace and opportunity, and of a mutual commitment to freedom and
democracy," said Hoyer, who defended Israel's decision to construct a security fence along its border, and said a secure Israel is an "absolute precondition for peace" in the Middle East.

Hoyer and DeLay condemned the actions of Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat and his followers, who Hoyer called "depraved and corrupt," while DeLay lauded President Bush for isolating Arafat "as the terrorist he is."

Hoyer and DeLay said Congress has and will continue to work in a bipartisan manner on issues regarding Israeli security and peace in the Middle East, noting the recent passage of a resolution condemning Iran for its nuclear weapons activities, as well as passage of the Syria Accountability Act, which involved economic sanctions against Syria for terrorist activity.

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