DATE=5/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232471
TITLE=CONGRESS-ISRAEL-IRAN (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S CLOSEST FRIENDS MAY WELL BE FOUND IN THE U-S
CONGRESS. WHEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO PUT SOME
PUBLIC PRESSURE ON THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, THERE WERE COMPLAINTS
FROM MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. AS CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, HOUSE
SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH KEPT UP THE ASSAULT ON THE ADMINISTRATION
DURING A SPEECH AT A PRO-ISRAEL RALLY.
TEXT: WHEN ISRAEL'S AMERICAN SUPPORTERS GATHERED ON THE STEPS OF
THE CAPITOL BUILDING, ALL THE LEADERS OF CONGRESS WERE THERE.
THE SENIOR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SHARED THE PODIUM
WITH THE TOP REPUBLICANS. THEY ALL TALKED ABOUT AMERICA'S LONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT FRIENDSHIP.
BUT WHILE THE OTHERS SPOKE IN WARM TONES, STRESSING
BIPARTISANSHIP, SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
HE WAS BLUNT. WHILE VOICING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, HE ATTACKED THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS ARMS PROLIFERATION POLICIES.
HE POINTED DOWN THE VAST LAWN IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL. THE
SPEAKER MOTIONED TOWARDS THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM AND SAID
-- IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE PAST.
/// GINGRICH ACT ///
LET US LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL ACTS OF GENOCIDE TODAY. IF
AN ATOMIC WEAPON GOES OFF OVER TEL AVIV, THAT WILL BE AS
DECISIVE AN ACT OF GENOCIDE AS ANYTHING ADOLF HITLER
CONTEMPLATED AND IT WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCE.
/// END ACT ///
THE CROWD CHEERED AS THE SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT THE RISKS OF
APPEASEMENT. TODAY, HE SAID, AMERICA TURNS THE OTHER WAY AS
WEAPONS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER.
/// GINGRICH ACT ///
TO TRULY LEARN THE LESSON OF THE HOLOCAUST IS TO SAY
WHERE IS OUR STRATEGY? WHERE IS THE STRATEGY TO SAY TO
IRAN "YOU CANNOT BE A NATION BENT ON THE DESTRUCTION OF
YOUR NEIGHBORS"? WHERE IS THE STRATEGY TO SAY BLUNTLY
TO CHINA "YOU CANNOT SELL TECHNOLOGY TO PAKISTAN AND
IRAN"? WHERE IS OUR STRATEGY TO SAY TO RUSSIA "OUR GOOD
WILL DEPENDS ON YOUR BEING SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING
PROLIFERATION"?
/// END ACT ///
LEGISLATION TO PLACE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA FOR ITS DEALINGS WITH
IRAN MAY COME UP FOR A VOTE THIS WEEK IN THE U-S SENATE. SPEAKER
GINGRICH LEFT NO DOUBT HE SUPPORTS THE MEASURE...AND REJECTS THE
NOTION THAT SUCH BILLS HAMPER THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT
FOREIGN POLICY. HE TOOK SPECIFIC AIM AT THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION MONDAY TO WAVE SANCTIONS ON THREE
FOREIGN FIRMS DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN.
/// GINGRICH ACT ///
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE TOLD WE ARE GOING TO LIFT THE
SANCTIONS ON LIBYA AND IRAN BUT AT LEAST WE ARE GOING TO
HELP ISRAEL GET THE "ARROW" MISSILE (THIS IS A JOINT U-S
ISRAEL PROJECT TO DEVELOP A NEW DEFENSIVE MISSILE
CAPABLE OF SHOOTING DOWN OTHER MISSILES IN FLIGHT). THE
IDEA THAT AMERICA WILL HELP AN ISRAELI MISSILE STOP AN
IRANIAN MISSILE IS MADNESS!
/// END ACT ///
THE SPEAKER WILL BE IN ISRAEL NEXT WEEK. HE IS LEADING A
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT WILL MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE
ISRAELI PARLIAMENT. MR. GINGRICH SAID HE PLANS TO VISIT THE SITE
OF A PROPOSED U-S EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM. CONGRESS PASSED A BILL
IN 1995 ORDERING THE MOVE FROM TEL AVIV, BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON
HAS DELAYED CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IT WOULD ENDANGER
THE PEACE PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/TMD/RAE
19-May-98 2:32 PM EDT (1832 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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