U.S. Congress overwhelmingly backs Israeli offensive

Calcutta News.Net
Sunday 11th January, 2009

In one of the first acts of the new Congress, almost every member of Congress has backed Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Both houses passed resolutions resoundingly in favour of the Jewish state in sessions on Thursday and Friday.

The resolutions place the blame for the current conflict entirely with Hamas, and recognizes the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza, and reaffirms the United States' strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas.

The Senate resolution, co-sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), was passed unanimously.

The House resolution, introduced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), passed by an overwhelming 390 votes to 5.

AIPAC, the powerful Israeli lobby group which had campaigned for the measures applauded Congress for passing the resolutions.

Almost all the Congress was solidly behind the resolutions as evidenced by speeches they made before the House and the Senate leading up to the votes.

"I strongly support Israel's right to defend itself against the rocket attacks by Hamas, attacks which have killed and injured many Israeli citizens," Representative Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa said. "Israel's actions are understandable. We must stand by our ally and be involved in any negotiations."

"All of us are deeply concerned with the conditions in the Middle East, most recently in the last 12 days, the actions in Gaza, the loss of human life and the conflict," said Johnny Isakson, Republican senator from Georgia. "But there is a necessary perspective we all must understand. In November of 2007, I stood at the last Israeli outpost overlooking Gaza. In fact, if you watch Fox or CNN or NBC or ABC tonight, where you will see those reports coming from, I stood on that very spot just a little over a year ago."

"Also, I went to Sderot, the Israeli settlement outside Gaza, that since mid year last year has received 1, 2, 3, 10, 15 missile attacks, random attacks coming out of Gaza dropping on this Israeli settlement for no reason at all but the absolute ability or desire to terrorize the Israeli people and destroy that settlement," said Senator Isakson.

"What Israel has done by moving into Gaza is a major military operation. In some reports that you see on television or you read about in the papers, you would think it was unprovoked and unnecessary. The opposite is true. It has been provoked for 15 months by Hamas in Gaza. The Israelis have finally drawn a line in the sand and they have moved in to try to protect the best interests of their citizens."

Member for California in the House of Representatives, Adam B. Schiff, said "Hamas clearly chose to escalate its conflict against Israel by unilaterally declaring an end to the ceasefire that was implemented last June and launching a large-scale rocket attack on Israeli population centers."

"The Israeli government exercised great forbearance in the weeks prior to the formal breakdown of the ceasefire, which Hamas was already violating repeatedly, and had the international community more strongly condemned these attacks and taken action to stop them, the current Israeli offensive may have been unnecessary. But, Hamas bears ultimate responsibility for provoking this attack and for putting 1.5 million Palestinians in harm's way, a fact that Arab leaders from Egypt to Saudi Arabia have noted," said Schiff.

Jerry McNerney, also from California, told the House of Representatives, "The region must have a meaningful resolution that will permanently end these rocket attacks and open a pathway to alleviate civilian suffering and develop a secure and prosperous Palestinian society. Hamas' rocket attacks targeting civilians triggered the current crisis. Any country is compelled to defend its civilians against attack."

Ohio House member Dennis Kucinich opposed the resolution. "Wake up, America. We have trillions for a war machine and the banks, while our government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians," he said.

"Here's today's Washington Post. It says, The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday that it found at least 15 bodies and several children, emaciated but alive, in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza Strip and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for 4 days."

"Twelve corpses lying on mattresses in one home, along with four young children lying next to their dead mothers. That's a quote," said Kucinich.

"Today, U.S. tax dollars, U.S. jets and U.S. helicopters provided to Israel are enabling the slaughter in Gaza. The administration enables Israel to press forward with the attack against defenseless civilians, blocks efforts at promoting a ceasefire at the U.N., and refuses to make Israel comply with conditions that armed shipments not be used for aggression."

"Israel is going to receive $30 billion in a 10-year period for military assistance, without having to abide by any humanitarian principles, international laws or standards of basic human decency. Wake up, America," said Congressman Kucinich.

Ted Poe, a Member for Texas in the House, said, "The radical hate group Hamas in Gaza has refused to renew a truce with Israel . It has begun once more firing thousands of Iranian-made rockets into Israel . Numerous Israelis have died in the last 11 days."

"Hamas wants to annihilate Israel because, well, they're Jews. Hamas kills people that aren't radical Muslims like themselves. That's why they're called terrorists," he said.

"Hamas cowardly hides among civilians for cover, fires rockets, then is indignant if Israel defends itself. But Israel has moved into Gaza to find these bad guys," said Poe.

"Some world leaders, rather than mounting pressure on Hamas to stop the rocket attacks, are calling for a ceasefire, even a unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In other words, peace at any price."

"Peace ought to be a goal, but not at all costs. Actually, some things are worth fighting for. Now is not the time for unrealistic, hopeful idealism. Lives are on the line. Men may cry peace, peace, but there can be no peace as long as Hamas kills in the name of religion. And that's just the way it is," said Congressman Poe.

Ellen O. Tauscher of California told the House she was observing the violence unfolding in the Middle East with great concern. "My constituents, like many across the nation, are horrified by the loss of life that is occurring on top of several decades of strife, and yearn for a solution that would bring stability to the region," she said. "I continue to believe that the United States has a central part to play and must return to an active and engaged role as mediator between Israel and the Palestinian people."

"The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also a regional one, and it is high time that all countries in the neighborhood play an active role in supporting a two state solution," said Tauscher.

"Just like we in our country would and have responded to a terrorist attack on our soil, I fully support the right of Israel to defend its people against rockets launched by Hamas. Hamas has fired more than 6,300 rockets and mortars at Israeli population centers since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. No country can endure such actions," Congreswoman Tauscher continued. "Hamas had an opportunity to govern the Gaza strip and work with Israel to meet the needs of the Palestinian people when Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. Instead of renouncing its goal to eliminate the Israeli state and provide true leadership for the Palestinian people, Hamas chose violence and most recently broke the cease-fire which Egypt had brokered."

Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona who was joined by Senator Joe Lieberman in foreshadowing the passing of resolutions in both sides of Congress said, "So then the whole world and certainly the administration would know of this body's strong support for the State of Israel and our support for the actions Israel is taking right now. "

"We support this resolution. The first thing the resolution does is to remind people why the State of Israel had to act. Last February, on a trip to the Middle East, I visited the Israeli town of Sderot, which is about 3 miles from the border of Gaza, and I learned from the town's mayor of the toll taken on the residents of this town and neighboring cities from more than 8 years of rocket attacks by the Hamas terrorists. At the police station, I saw rack after rack of these spent rockets, the remains of the rockets that had been launched by Hamas against the civilian population of this city. In fact, about 15 minutes after we departed the city, one of these Hamas launched a Qassam rocket, identical to the hundreds we had seen at the police station, which fell on an Israeli home in town, destroying it. Thankfully, no one in that attack was harmed."

"Is there any doubt that if the United States were suffering an attack from just across the border similar to this, that we wouldn't react to stop that from happening? I think there is no question that we would act to stop this terrorism," Kyle told the Senate. "It is our hope that the resolution would express our acknowledgment that a nation has the right to defend itself, that Israel has had to respond to this, to more than 6,300 rocket and mortar attacks on its citizens since it fully withdrew from Gaza in the year 2005. In fact, this town has been suffering for over 8 years from these attacks."

"The second point the resolution makes is that there is no equivalency between the actions of Hamas and Israel in this case," said the senator from Arizona. "Israel conducts its military operations to spare innocent life. They have specifically targeted Hamas command centers and security installations and rocket-launching sites, weapons stockpiles, and weapons smuggling tunnels. They have tried very hard to avoid civilian casualties. In fact, Israel has transmitted very specific warnings to Gazans. They have dropped leaflets and made phone calls to targeted areas to warn citizens to leave because an attack is imminent. This, of course, even means they lose the element of surprise and potentially put the lives of Israeli soldiers at risk. But Israel believes it is important where possible to avoid jeopardizing innocent life - quite the opposite from Hamas, which deliberately and cynically fires rockets from civilian areas to make it more difficult for Israel to target the terrorists and to increase the likelihood of civilian casualties when Israel does take action."

Senator Kyl continued, "Hamas has ignored a plea by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on April 28 that civilian areas in Gaza should not be used as a base from which to launch its actions against Israel. Dozens of mosques in Gaza have been turned into weapons storage facilities and Hamas command centers. In fact, an airstrike on a mosque in the Tel El Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City last Wednesday set off numerous secondary explosions caused by the arms that had been stockpiled in the mosque."

"Finally, Hamas openly admits that it uses women and children as human shields. A leading member of Hamas told Al-Aqsa TV on February 29, 2008: For the Palestinian people, death has become an industry. This is why they have formed human shields of the women, the children, the elderly, and the mujahedeen, in order to challenge the Zionist bombing machine. While targeting terrorists, Israel works to avoid a humanitarian crisis for ordinary Gazans as well. During the first week of Israel's operations, it facilitated the delivery to Gaza of 400 trucks loaded with more than 2,000 tons of food and medicine. This is not easy when you are in the middle of military operations. Ten ambulances and two thousand blood units were transferred to Gaza just in that week. More than 80 Palestinians have entered Egypt for treatment, in addition to a dozen or more who have entered Israel. On January 5, more than 93,000 gallons of industrial diesel fuel and gasoline for vehicles was transferred into Gaza from a fuel depot in Israel. By the way, that fuel depot comes under constant attack from terrorists in Gaza, as does the place where the electricity is generated for Gaza, which, of course, makes absolutely no sense," said Kyl.

Senator Lieberman of Connecticut followed Kyl. "I wish first to thank my friend and colleague from Arizona, Senator Kyl, for the statement he has just made, which was characteristically straightforward, clear, principled, and passionate, about what is involved in the current crisis in Gaza and the opportunity this Congress has to not just stand with our ally, Israel, which is critically important at this moment, but to take yet another stand against terrorism for the rule of law, for democracy, and for the peaceful settlement of disputes. I could not agree more with everything Senator Kyl has said. I wish to add just a few words in this regard."

Senator Lieberman went on to talk of the ceasefire resolution then being debated by the UN Security Council. He said he was in close contact with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and that the position of the United States was that a ceasefire was not appropriate, that more negotiation was required to ensure an ultimate ceasefire would be "durable" and "sustainable."

"I want to say that a precipitous ceasefire simply for the sake of a ceasefire will allow Hamas to claim a victory," said the Senator for Arizona. "A victory for Hamas is not simply a victory for Hamas; it is a victory for Iran. And a defeat for Hamas, which is in reach if we allow the Israeli action to continue, is a defeat for Iran and a victory for the United States and for the forces of democracy as against terrorism and for the forces of moderation and the rule of law in the Islamic world as against fanaticism and violence."

Whilst there has been much speculation that Israel launched the Gaza offensive on December 27 to co-incide with the transition in U.S. administrations, where it could count on the support of the Bush administation whereas the Obama administration was an unkown; that the Israeli actions would lock Obama into a course of action favourable to israel; and to boost the prospects of the major players in the February 10 Israeli elections - Senator Lieberman said the timing was decided by Hamas,or more likely Iran.

"I also say in a larger context that there is a lot of speculation about why Hamas broke the ceasefire and initiated the rocket fire against Israel deeper into Israel than they have ever done before," he said. "I do think, as Senator Kyl suggested, that the answer to that question probably comes as much or more from Tehran than it does from Gaza City and Hamas; that Hamas has become an agent of the Iranian Government. It is trained and supplied by the Iranians and secondarily by the Syrians. Therefore, there is a larger conflict being played out."

Mike Rogers, of Alabama told the House, "I rise today to speak about the devastating situation in Gaza. Each of us in this Chamber knows what it's like to deal with a terrorist attack on our soil and against our people. Over the last several years, the Israeli people have been constantly bombarded by terrorist attacks on their soil and against their people. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in late 2005, more than 6,000 rocket and mortar attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups were fired into their territory."

"The Government of Israel has a right and a responsibility to defend and protect its people. To stand idly by while hundreds of bombs explode on Israeli territory would have indeed been an irresponsible position for Israel's government to take, and continuing to do nothing could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel's security in the region," said Congressman Rogers.

"Critics who have said that Israel responded to Hamas in a disproportionate or indiscriminate way are wrong. Madam Speaker, I ask, what amount of force would have been necessary to stop the brutal attacks, to put an end to the terrorists' rocket launching pad in Gaza?"

"Hamas has repeatedly targeted school yards and hospitals filled with children and civilians in Israel. And the militants have been deliberate in operating from places where Gazan civilians have sought shelter, jeopardizing innocent lives in Gaza. Only Hamas is responsible for the massacre of the people in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for this conflict," he told the House.

Dennis Kucinich expanded on earlier comments saying, "We cannot truly celebrate a new year, a new Congress and a new administration if all we see is the same old destruction in the Middle East with U.S. weapons being illegally used to kill children."

"I oppose Hamas' rocket attacks on Israel," he said. "The rocket attacks, even to try to end the blockade, have no moral justification, are illegal, and must stop. But how can Israel claim self-defense when it bombs Gaza, which has no army, no air force, no navy, and has been under a constant blockade? How can Israel claim self-defense when its bombs destroy U.N. schools, killing children?"

"The children of Palestinians and the children of Israel both deserve life," said Kucinich. "But the lives of the children of Gaza are cynically discounted as human shields. Massacres are being rationalized. Israel's ``moral high ground'' in Gaza, a growing pile of small bones in a graveyard."

Congressman Kucinich continued, "The administration knows Israel is using U.S. weapons, paid for by U.S. taxpayers, with disproportionate force, creating a collective punishment of Gazans, assuring an escalation of conflict, clear violations of the Arms Export Control Act."

Israel was given U.S. weapons on condition they would not be used for aggression or escalation. This outgoing administration must finally stand for the rule of law, not the rule of force," he said.

Dennis A. Cardoza of California told the House of Representatives, "I rise today to strongly condemn attacks against Israel in recent weeks. I deeply regret the loss of innocent civilian life in Israel and Gaza and urge Hamas, for the sake of its own people and those in the region, to immediately cease the attacks and agree to a lasting truce with its democratic neighbor."

"As our strongest ally in the Middle East, I believe Israel has the right to defend its citizens from the constant barrage of Hamas rocket attacks from inside Gaza. For too long, Hamas has used terrorism against Israel to destabilize the region and prevent peace for the people of Israel and the Palestinian territories. As long as Hamas continues to attack innocent Israelis and use ordinary Palestinians as human shields, I will continue to support Israel's right to self-defense and its stated goal of preventing Hamas from firing rockets into Israel."

Joe Wilson, Member for South Carolina, said, "America's ally Israel remains under constant and frequent attack by Hamas. Noted columnist Charles Krauthammer recently revealed in a column in The Greenville News that Hamas has cruelly launched 6,464 rockets into Israel in the last 3 years. No other country has endured such attacks."

"Now Israel has chosen to defend itself by going after the Hamas terrorists. The loss of life is terrible, but it is Hamas that bears the responsibility," Congressman Wilson said. "I saw first hand, while visiting Israel this summer, that Hamas has fired rockets against civilians in Israel."

"A peaceful relationship between Israel and Palestine is in the best interest of both nations. It will only be accomplished if Hamas agrees to stop firing rockets targeting civilians."

Harry E. Mitchell of Arizona told the House of Representatives, "This is a difficult time for Israel , and as its ally, I believe we must support its right to self-defense. Before I joined Congress, I had the privilege of visiting Israel. It was a trip that I will never forget. I have always considered myself a friend of Israel, but that trip made me realize just how much our two nations have in common."

"We all want peace but clearly there can be no peace while Hamas continues to launch unprovoked rocket attacks into Israel. We would not let Hamas launch rockets into the United States, and I do not know how we could expect Israel to permit these attacks either," Mitchell told the House.

Dana Rohrabacher of California said "Today we are saddened by the loss of innocent lives in Gaza; people being killed and wounded, bodies of children torn apart, all of this is a horror story. If we are serious about ending this tragedy we must be brutally honest, and not give in to ignoring hard truths. In this case the hard truth is that the real blame for this carnage in Gaza is traced to actions taken by Hamas, radical Islamists, and those who supply them with rockets and other weapons."

"There was a tremendous opportunity for peace when Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza in 2005. Instead of moving forward and building a Palestinian homeland, irreconcilables have launched nearly 7,000 rockets and mortar rounds into Israel since Israeli troops left."

"The hate-filled radicals who launched missiles into Israel, Hamas triggermen, not Israeli pilots - are the ones who are really responsible for the horrible mayhem we are witnessing in Gaza. The radical Islamists ruthlessly and without any remorse did what they knew would bring retaliation and result in the slaughter of their own people," said Rohrabacher. "The hatred of Israel in the hearts of these Hamas radicals clearly outweighs their commitment to the safety and well being of their own people. That's a hard fact. And that after shooting rockets into Israel , they hide among and behind non-combatants, women, and children, makes their actions even more despicable."

"An honest assessment leads to the conclusion that Hamas doesn't want peace with Israel and has no desire for a two state solution. Hamas wants a war that will destroy Israel. This commitment is the real cause of the current bloodshed in Gaza. Once Israel left Gaza, Hamas should have used its resources, their money, our money, on health care, education, roads and economic development in Gaza. Instead they have chosen death and destruction," Rohrabacher said.

"Recently China's representative to the U.N. Security Council voiced concern about, "large-scale Israeli air attacks against Gaza." Now, that takes chutzpah! Many of the rockets fired into Israel `were manufactured in China. These Chinese rockets were smuggled into Gaza after the Sinai border wall was blown up by Hamas in January. Making matters worse the State Department and the White House hasn't mentioned a word about the China connection to the turmoil in Gaza, just as they're mum about Chinese complicity in crimes elsewhere," said Rohrabacher.

"Yes, the bloodshed is horrible, and yes, Israel is doing what any other sovereign nation would do. It is protecting its people by retaliation when attacked. Those who shoot rockets into Israel know there will be retaliation, thus they are the responsible party for the bloodshed we are now witnessing. It's the hard truth we can't ignore if we are to someday end this terrible heart-wrenching violence," said the Member for California.

Jerry F. Costello told the House,"For the past several years, Israelis living near Gaza have endured a continual state of fear due to the thousands of rocket attacks launched from there by Hamas. When the six-month cease fire between Hamas and Israel recently ended, Hamas responded almost immediately by firing more than 70 missiles at civilian targets within Israel."

"On December 27th, Israel, in an act of self defense, struck at Hamas targets in Gaza in response to these continued attacks, and I want to express my strong support for Israel's right of self-defense," he said.

"Israel has taken meaningful steps in recent years to push the peace process forward, including unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza in 2005. Unfortunately, Hamas has not met Israel's efforts towards a peaceful coexistence, and has instead increased military operations against its neighbor and continues to deny Israel's right to exist."

"These unfortunate developments are tragic, but have been precipitated by Hamas' aggression," said Costello. "Hamas must stop the rocket attacks and all parties in the region need to commit to renewing efforts at peace."

Ted Poe of Texas returned to the mantle to extend his earlier remarks. "It looks like the days of the Old West have returned and are being played out in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas," he said.

"Innocent Israeli civilians have been targeted by Hamas terrorists. These terrorist outlaws have fired over 8,000 rockets and mortar shells at Israel since 2000, and they still won't quit. These extremists call for the total destruction of the nation of Israel . They are shooting at Israeli civilians in southern Israel with the help of Iranian-made long-range rockets."

"Self-defense is a basic human right, Madam Speaker. It is a principle that goes back to the Wild West. If you are getting shot at, you have the right to shoot back to defend yourself. And Israel is fighting back. Israel has the moral right and duty to protect its people from Hamas militants waging war against them," said Congressman Poe

"Hamas is nothing more than a ragtag gang of terrorists intent on kidnapping, killing and terrorizing as many Israelis as possible. These attacks cannot go unanswered. The United States must stand with Israel," he said.

Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland said, "A nation's first responsibility is to defend its citizens against hostile threats. The United States exercised that responsibility when the Taliban Government of Afghanistan supported terrorist attacks against our country. Israel has the responsibility to protect its citizens from Hamas terrorist attacks."

"I am deeply saddened by the continued violence and loss of innocent lives on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border," he said.

"I strongly support Israel's right to defend its citizens against threats to its security and its existence. I wholeheartedly agree with President-elect Obama who defined the problem very clearly: If somebody was sending rockets into my house, where my family slept at night I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that."

"The recent military action in Gaza is in direct response to numerous rocket and mortar attacks from militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza, which have killed and injured Israeli citizens and currently paralyzes the southern regions of Israel," said the Senator from Maryland.

"Southern Israel cities have been the target of over 4,000 rockets and thousands of mortar shells since 2001, the majority of which were launched after Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. During the more recent 6-month truce, more than 215 rockets were launched at Israel," Senator Cardin said.

"As a result of the fighting, Gaza City and its main medical center, Shiffa Hospital, have been left without electricity and hospitals are pushed beyond their capacity to handle the number of victims. Hamas seems to care more about inflicting damage on Israel than the protection and welfare of its own citizens," he said.

"Hamas poses a critical challenge to the regional peace process. Labeled as a terrorist organization but holding seats in the Palestinian Government and acting as the controlling authority in Gaza, the organization's leaders encourage violence and cling to the belief that Israel itself should be destroyed. Questions remain as to whether or not the organization should even be included in peace negotiations, but the fact remains that the threat Hamas poses to Israel is an obstacle to any negotiation efforts," Cardin said.

Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey said,"A few days ago, we all counted down the final seconds of 2008. In Israel they had something else to count all through last year. From January until December of 2008, a terrorist group launched more than 3,262 rockets and mortar shells into Israeli cities. These were deliberate acts of violence, provocation, and murder. The group responsible was Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization founded on one principal goal: destroying the state of Israel. Its charter says there is no value to international conferences, political initiatives, or dialogue. It says there is only one approach to the political situation in the Middle East, and that is jihad."

"So it was no surprise when the terrorist group Hamas staged an illegal coup against the forces of President Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate President of the Palestinian people. It was no surprise that Hamas rejected Egyptian and Arabian calls for an extension of the cease-fire Egypt had negotiated," said Menendez.

"It was no surprise that when Israel voluntarily and unilaterally dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005 that Hamas saw this not as an opportunity to build peace but to instigate war, to continue to terrorize and kill Israelis in their places of worship, their schools, and their homes," he said.

"Since that year, Hamas terrorists have used Gaza to fire more than 6,300 mortars and rockets into Israel, reaching major cities, and pushing ever closer to the capital."

"No country would be expected to sit on its hands and simply allow its citizens to endure these kinds of vicious attacks without taking action to stop the responsible party. If I am sitting in New Jersey, and rockets are landing around my house, near my children, and near our schools, my No. 1 goal, my immediate goal, is to stop the rockets. So in December of 2008, Israel sent its military to Gaza to achieve a direct goal: stop the rockets," said Senator Menendez.

"The launching of rockets and mortar fire is an invasion of Israel's sovereign territory. It is no different from dropping bombs out of airplanes. It is no different from any other act of war. There is no question that Israel has a right and an obligation to defend its people," he said.

"Let us remember it was Hamas that chose to end the ceasefire, Hamas that chose to fire a continuous barrage of rockets. To date, it is Hamas that deliberately uses civilians as human shields and launches its attacks from heavily populated civilian areas, putting them at risk. It is Hamas that has spent its money on rockets rather than on food for the hungry. It is Hamas that would rather focus on the rhetoric that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel than on relief for its own people," the Senator from New Jersey said.

"Israel and the United States have proven their commitment to helping innocent civilians in Gaza. In stark contrast to the terrorist group of Hamas, Israel has taken significant steps to prevent civilian casualties. They give warnings of impending attacks, they drop leaflets, and make phone calls to targeted areas to warn the citizens they are in danger, even if that means losing the element of surprise and putting the lives of their own soldiers at risk," Menendez said.

Eliot Engel, Member for New York, said, "I rise this afternoon in support of the beleaguered people of the State of Israel. I rise in support of the only democracy in the Middle East. I rise in support of the country in the Middle East that has the same values that our great country, the United States of America, has, principles of democracy and principles that are so important to every man, woman and child."

"The people of Israel have for 60 years been vilified by undemocratic powers and by powers that would wish to destroy it. For the past several years, day in and day out the people of Israel have had to endure rocket attacks coming from the terrorist organization that runs Gaza called Hamas. Israel is supposed to just accept these attacks on its citizens and do little or nothing about it if you would listen to the United Nations, if you would listen to the international community, if you would listen to these hypocritical demonstrations going on in London and all the Arab capitals and everyplace else, and even some in the United States," Congressman Engel said.

"Every country, every government's primary responsibility is to protect its citizens, and the people of Israel and the Government of Israel should not be held to any other standard than that."

"The terrorist organization that runs Gaza called Hamas, bought and paid for by Iran, thinking that it can use terrorism as a way of somehow getting its state, must understand that in order to gain acceptance of nations in the free world, that it needs to renounce terror, that it needs to recognize Israel's right to exist, and that it needs to abide by all previous resolutions that were signed by the Palestinian Authority. It doesn't do it because it's a terrorist state. It doesn't do it because its vow is to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. It doesn't do it because, like Hezbollah and like Osama bin Laden and like al-Qaeda, it thinks it can use terrorism to establish its aims and goals, but it cannot," he said.

"Many of us on the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning met with the Israeli ambassador and we saw a tape where Israel takes great precaution to try to prevent civilian casualties," Engel said. "But what Hamas does is it builds its bomb factories and it builds its terror weapons in the heart of the densely populated areas of Gaza and uses its own people as human shields. And so when the Israelis destroy these missile-making and bomb-making terror factories, innocent civilians very unfortunately get killed. But it is the Palestinians that support Hamas. It's the Hamas organization that is responsible for these killings. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself," he said.

"We ought to note that Israel pulled out of Gaza several years ago and left Gaza to the Palestinians. And what did it get in return? It got missiles fired on its citizens in Syrot and other places in return for Israel leaving Gaza. The Palestinians used to say, well, it's the occupation, that's what drives everything. What occupation is there in Gaza? There is none. Israel has left Gaza. And the people of Gaza could have built a democratic government living in peace with its neighbors; instead, they chose to embrace terrorism and try to kill as many Israelis as they can," said Congressman Engel.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, ahead of the vote, told the Senate,"When we pass this reolution, the U.S. Senate will strengthen its historic bond with the State of Israel by reaffirming Israel's inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."

"I spoke last week with Prime Minister Olmert and again expressed my understanding of and appreciation for the terrible situation that Israel has faced," said Reid. "Hamas has been firing rockets and mortars into Israel, killing, maiming innocent Israeli citizens for more than 8 years. I ask any of my colleagues to imagine that happening here in the United States, rockets and mortars coming from Toronto and Canada into Buffalo, NY. How would we as a country react? We would react, and we would react swiftly and quickly. Israel has been very patient."

"Gaza was controlled by Israel since 1967. They, in an effort of extending an olive branch to the Palestinians, gave that territory up willingly. What have they gotten in return for it? Mortars and rockets fired, by now into the thousands. So we would have to react as they have done. We would have to react to protect our people, and it would not only be our right but an obligation to do so. That is what the Israelis have done. Hamas must stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. That is the simple stated objective of Israel. I acknowledge and appreciate the calls by some for a ceasefire. Certainly we must encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict. But we must be certain that any ceasefire is sustainable, durable, and enforceable," the Senator Majority Leader said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined Reid by saying, "Let me add, this resolution in support of the State of Israel has strong bipartisan support. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It clearly started this current conflict by launching rockets on to civilian sites in Israel. The Israelis, as the majority leader indicated, are responding exactly the same way we would if rockets were being launched into the United States from Canada or Mexico or some similar situation. The Israelis have every right to defend themselves against these acts of terrorism. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, while supporting the Senate reolution, sounded a note of caution after it was passed, saying the long term solution to the Middle East conflict may not lie in military actions but in negotiations, and that it may have been unrealistic to have expected Hamas to recognize Israel prior to the commencement of negotiations.

"The resolution that was adopted today reaffirming U.S. support for Israel, is factually accurate," he told the Senate. "No-one here doubts our commitment to Israel's security or Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks. But the resolution, unfortunately, presents an incomplete response to the situation in Gaza. With so much at stake for the United States, for Israel and for the world, we owe the American people and all concerned a clear-eyed, forthright and constructive discussion of such vital matters as these."

"Hamas's unilateral decision to break the ceasefire was deplorable,"said Senator Leahy." It is clear that rather than work for peace, Hamas used the ceasefire to amass more powerful and longer range weapons. Its actions should be universally condemned, and they will achieve nothing positive for the cause of the Palestinian people. Those who have collaborated in supplying weapons that are being used to terrorize and harm innocent civilians in Israel are complicit in the suffering and destruction that has occurred on both sides."

"For its part, Israel used the ceasefire to pressure Hamas through a blockade that, in the absence of a long-term strategy, has caused extreme hardship for the Palestinian people collectively in Gaza but done nothing to change Hamas's militant policies," said the Vermont senator. "The blockade was not coupled with an effective strategy to address the underlying causes of the conflict."

"In the past 14 days, according to the United Nations, 758 Palestinians have died, including 257 children, as a result of Israel's military operations, and thousands more have been injured. Palestinian homes, schools and other civilian infrastructure have been demolished. Among Israelis, three civilians have been killed, and seven soldiers have died. Israeli homes have also been badly damaged from Hamas rocket fire. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which is the principal humanitarian organization functioning in Gaza, suspended its operations earlier today due to risks to the safety of its personnel as a result of Israeli attacks which killed two of its workers and injured one."

"As has been said here repeatedly, Israel has the right to defend itself," said Senator Leahy. "And I have no doubt that the Israeli Defense Forces, using powerful weapons supplied by the United States, can achieve tactical victories in Gaza by damaging Hamas's military capabilities. But the right response is one that will, over the long term, make Israel more secure, and that will be achieved only when Israel is accepted by its neighbors."

"Those of us who have long worked to support Israel should not lose sight of this crucial goal and this bigger picture," Leahy said. "This escalation will, I fear, have the opposite effect. The widening use of force has implications for Israel's long-term security that should concern each of us. This approach may increase support among Palestinians for Hamas as well as anger and resentment toward Israel and the United States within Arab countries and around the world."

"Israel seeks to deal a fatal blow to Hamas militants, to bomb them into submission and moderation," said Leahy. "If our country were attacked in a similar way by one of our neighbors we might respond the same way. But there is little if any reason to believe these tactics can work. This latest escalation, with bombs falling and tank artillery striking in heavily populated areas where civilians, more than half of whom are children, have no means of escape, obviously and tangibly is providing ammunition to extremists, inside and outside of Gaza. And in doing so it increases the dangers to both soldiers and civilians, Israeli and Palestinian, and of miring Israel in an open-ended mission in Gaza resulting in far more destruction and loss of innocent life than we have seen so far. Ultimately, extremism is what has hindered a political resolution that ends this conflict with two secure states living side by side."

"There are some who may argue that the collapse of the recent ceasefire proves that Hamas will only respond to force," said Leahy. "Hamas has abused the ceasefire, but that is not the only lesson from the collapse. Any clear-eyed analysis will show that a ceasefire cannot succeed, indeed, it will be exploited by Israel's enemies, if it is treated as an end in itself instead of as an opportunity to materially improve the humanitarian situation and to undertake serious negotiations to end the conflict."

"There are broadly acknowledged immediate steps that must be taken: put a meaningful ceasefire in place, stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, and open crossings into Gaza to facilitate the flow of licit goods and services," said the senator from Vermont.

"But beyond that, history has shown that absent an inclusive, diplomatic process that effectively addresses the core interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, the cycle of violence will continue. Preconditions are an obstacle to that process in the Middle East as much as they were for another seemingly intractable conflict, in Northern Ireland."

"Others have asked these questions, which are worth repeating: Does the Gaza war improve Israel's long-term, or even short-term, security? Was it realistic and in Israel's long-term interests to expect Hamas to accept Israel in advance of negotiations, rather than push for a total cessation of the use of violence and blockade, followed by negotiations? Was it realistic to expect the ceasefire to hold while Gaza remained under siege, rife with hunger, illness, joblessness, and hopelessness, and while construction of settlements continued, and even accelerated, in the West Bank?"

"On January 6," continued Leahy, "Secretary of State Rice spoke to the U.N. Security Council. I do not doubt the sincerity of her concern with the humanitarian situation in Gaza, or for the need for a ceasefire "that can endure and bring real security." We all want that. But her words were noteworthy for what they said about the dismal failure of the Bush administration's approach to the Middle East conflict. Eight years were squandered and mishandled, and President-elect Obama faces a far more difficult situation than his predecessor inherited."

"Our credibility in the entire world has suffered immeasurably since 9/11. In particular our image in predominantly Muslim countries has been affected by the failure to advance a credible strategy to help resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. This has pronounced and obvious implications for our security, for Israel's security, and for the entire Middle East region," said Senator Leahy.

"At this time of great opportunity in America to change our policies and make a true contribution to peace in the Middle East, we should be careful when we adopt resolutions on subjects as sensitive as this to be cognizant of the history of the region and the complexities of the situation. Above all, our goal should be to enhance our role as a force for peace and our ability to advance our Nation's interests."

Senator Saxby Chambliss of George said, "I also wish to discuss the security in the Middle East and to offer my support for Israel. Israel is an important foundation of stability and democracy in the Middle East. The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is important not only to the peace and security of the Middle East but also to the rest of the world."

"The United States and Israel share common principles and a strong commitment to eradicate terrorism and to secure a better future for the world. Israel has been a steadfast ally of the United States and, I assure you, the United States will stand ready to assist our friends, the Israelis, to promote peace, defeat terrorism, and prevent hostile countries that sponsor terrorism from obtaining nuclear weapons," said Chambliss.

Following is the resolution ultimately passed by the U.S. Senate, a vote which was carried unanimously. The resolution titled S. Res. 10 is reproduced in its entirety with the preamble.

S. Res. 10
Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel ;
Whereas Hamas has been designated by the Secretary of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization;
Whereas Hamas has refused to comply with the requirements of the Quartet (the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations) that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
Whereas, in June 2006, Hamas crossed into Israel , attacked Israeli forces and kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, whom they continue to hold today;
Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and mortars since Israel dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005;
Whereas Hamas has increased the range of its rockets, reportedly with support from Iran and others, putting additional large numbers of Israelis in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza;
Whereas Hamas locates elements of its terrorist infrastructure in civilian population centers, thus using innocent civilians as human shields;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement on December 27, 2008, that ``[w]e strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence there'';
Whereas, on December 27, 2008, Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert said, ``For approximately seven years, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens in the south have been suffering from missiles being fired at them. ..... In such a situation we had no alternative but to respond. We do not rejoice in battle but neither will we be deterred from it. ..... The operation in the Gaza Strip is designed, first and foremost, to bring about an improvement in the security reality for the residents of the south of the country.'';
Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated that ``Hamas has held the people of Gaza hostage ever since their illegal coup against the forces of President Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate President of the Palestinian people. Hamas has used Gaza as a launching pad for rockets against Israeli cities and has contributed deeply to a very bad daily life for the Palestinian people in Gaza, and to a humanitarian situation that we have all been trying to address'';
Whereas the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including shortages of food, water, electricity, and adequate medical care, is becoming more acute;
Whereas Israel has facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza with over 500 trucks and numerous ambulances entering the Gaza Strip since December 26, 2008;
Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated that it was ``Hamas that rejected the Egyptian and Arab calls for an extension of the tahadiya that Egypt had negotiated'' and that the United States was ``working toward a cease-fire that would not allow a reestablishment of the status quo ante where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza. It is obvious that that cease-fire should take place as soon as possible, but we need a cease-fire that is durable and sustainable''; and
Whereas the ultimate goal of the United States is a sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will allow for a viable and independent Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel , which will not be possible as long as Israeli civilians are under threat from within Gaza: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism;
(2) reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel , recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
(3) encourages the President to work actively to support a durable, enforceable, and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, as soon as possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and mortars against Israel and allows for the long term improvement of daily living conditions for the ordinary people of Gaza;
(4) believes strongly that the lives of innocent civilians must be protected and all appropriate measures should be taken to diminish civilian casualties and that all involved should continue to work to address humanitarian needs in Gaza;
(5) supports and encourages efforts to diminish the appeal and influence of extremists in the Palestinian territories and to strengthen moderate Palestinians who are committed to a secure and lasting peace with Israel ; and
(6) reiterates its strong support for United States Government efforts to promote a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a serious and sustained peace process that leads to the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure State of Israel.

Following is the text of the resolution, together with the preamble,passed by the U.S. House of Represnetatives, which was passed 390 votes to 5:

Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel;
Whereas Hamas has been designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization;
Whereas Hamas has refused to comply with the Quartet’s (the United States, the European Union, Russia, and theUnited Nations) requirements that Hamas recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept
previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
Whereas in June 2006, Hamas illegally crossed into Israel, attacked Israeli forces, and kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, whom they continue to hold today;
Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and mortars against Israeli population centers since 2001, and has launched more than 6,000 such rockets and mortarssince Israel withdrew its civilian population and its military from Gaza in 2005;
Whereas Hamas has increased the range and payload of its rockets, reportedly with support from Iran and others, putting hundreds of thousands of Israelis in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza;
Whereas Hamas locates elements of its terrorist infrastructure in civilian population centers, thus using innocent civilians as human shields;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement on December 27, 2008, that ‘‘We strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire
and for the renewal of violence there’’;
Whereas on December 27, 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, ‘‘For approximately seven years, hundredsof thousands of Israeli citizens in the south have been suffering from missiles being fired at them. In such
a situation we had no alternative but to respond. We do not rejoice in battle but neither will we be deterred from it. The operation in the Gaza Strip is designed, first and foremost, to bring about an improvement in the security
reality for the residents of the south of the country’’;
Whereas the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including shortages of food, water, electricity, and adequate medical care, is becoming more acute;
Whereas Israel has facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza with hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian assistance and numerous ambulances entering the Gaza Strip since the current round of fighting began on December 27, 2008;
Whereas on January 6, 2009, before the United Nations Security Council, Secretary Rice stated that: ‘‘The situation before the current events in Gaza was clearly not sustainable.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis lived under the
daily threat of rocket attack, and frankly, no country, none of our countries, would have been willing to toleratesuch a circumstance. Moreover, the people of Gaza watched as insecurity and lawlessness increased and as
their living conditions grew more dire because of Hamas’s actions which began with the illegal coup against the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. A ceasefire that returns to those circumstances is unacceptable and it will not last’’;
and
Whereas the ultimate goal of the United States is a sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will ensure the welfare, security, and survival of the State of
Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and a viable, independent, and democratic Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel:

Now, therefore, be it
Resolved

That the House of Representatives—
expresses vigorous support and unwavering
commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against Hamas’s unceasing aggression, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter;
reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, recognize Israel’s
10 right to exist, renounce violence, agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, and verifiably dismantle its terrorist infrastructure;
encourages the Administration to work actively to support a durable and sustainable cease-fire
in Gaza , as soon as possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding its terrorist infrastructure, including the capability to launch rockets and mortars against Israel, and thereby allowing for the long-term improvement of daily living conditions for the people of Gaza;
believes strongly that the lives of innocent
civilians must be protected to the maximum extent
possible, expresses condolences to innocent Palestinian and Israeli victims and their families, and reiterates that humanitarian needs in Gaza should be addressed promptly and responsibly;
calls on all nations to condemn Hamas for deliberately embedding its fighters, leaders, and weapons in private homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, and otherwise using Palestinian civilians as human shields, while simultaneously targeting Israeli civilians;
and to lay blame both for the breaking of
‘‘calm’’ and for subsequent civilian casualties in Gaza precisely where blame belongs, that is, on Hamas;
supports and encourages efforts to diminish
the appeal and influence of extremists in the Palestinian territories, and strengthen moderate Palestinians who are committed to a secure and lasting peace with Israel;
calls on Egypt to intensify its efforts to halt
smuggling between Gaza and Egypt and affirms the
willingness of the United States to continue to assist Egypt in these efforts;
calls for the immediate release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been illegally held in Gaza since June 2006;
and reiterates its strong support for a just and
sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict achieved through negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in order to ensure the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and a viable, independent, and democratic Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel.

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