Speech #890119773

Mr. Speaker. I should like to commend my able and distinguished colleague. the gentleman from California. for his perceptive analysis. and the constructive proposals he advanced for dealing with the Arab refugee problem. I would like also to salute Mr. ROOSEVELT for his exemplary leadership in focusing the attention of the Congress and the American people on the pressing problems of the Middle East. I believe these objective appraisals have made a significant contribution to keeping the lid on what always threatens to be an explosive situation. I believe at the outset. that we must recognize the fact that the Arab refugee problem is one which was brought about and perpetuated by the Arabs themselves. It was the Arab resort to force to thwart the U.N. resolution of 1948. establishing the State of Israel within Palestine. that caused the flood of refugees. These Arabs fled their homes and left their jobs. not because they feared persecution by the Israelis. but because they wanted to spare their families the scourge of an Arab instigated war. The Arab nations for their part have been less concerned with alleviating the plight of these refugees. than with exploiting their situation for propaganda purposes. In addition. of course. the Arabs hope that by shrewdly using these people as pawns in their devious international endeavors. they might gain some concessions from Israel in other areas of dispute. It is ironic that the Arab States. which persist- in animosity toward Israel. should criticize Israel for not opening its doors to Arab refugees. Israel has given homes to over 1 million refugees since World War II. and the great majority of the 250.000 nonJews who presently live in Israel. are Arabs. The Arab countries. with a total area of 31/2 million square miles. and a population of some 80 million people. have a population density of less than 25 people per square mile. The area of Israel on the other hand is only 8.000 square miles. with a population density of about 265 per square mile. In addition to the issue of space. there is the important element of cultural values which play so large a part in the assimilation of these refugees. Almost half the Arab refugees are children who were born after their parents migrated from Palestine. These are people whose language and culture lend themselves much more to healthy resettlement in Arab States. Finally.