IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1440 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 14, 2010 Mr. Weiner submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.

Whereas, since 1948, both the United States and the international community have recognized Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself; Whereas, since 2001, over 10,000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza; Whereas, since the beginning of 2010, over 100,000 tons of aid has been administered to the people living in Gaza by Israel; Whereas Israel’s blockade is acknowledged by the United States as necessary and legal given Hamas’ control of Gaza and open desire to destroy Israel; Whereas Israel is surrounded on all sides by Syria, Lebanon, Iran and other countries either led by or associated with known terrorist organizations; Whereas the Israeli Government warned the Turkish Government on May 17, 2010, 14 days before the flotilla incident, to send the ships to Ashdod and that Israel would deliver the humanitarian aid; Whereas among the passengers on the Mavi Marmara, were five people, Fatima Mahmadi, Ken O’Keefe, Hassan Iynasi, Hussein Urosh, and Ahmad Umimon, with known links to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Al-Qaeda; Whereas among the materials on board the Mavi Marmara were 100 metal rods, 200 knives, 150 Turkish-produced military self-defense vests, 50 wooden clubs, a telescopic sight for a gun, and Turkish propaganda; Whereas Free Gaza and the IIH have know terrorist ties as reported by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of the Treasury; Whereas the flotilla’s organizers announced weeks in advance that they would resist Israeli forces trying to peacefully enforce the Gaza blockade; and Whereas the Israeli Defense Forces found caches of weapons on the flotilla boats, weapons eventually wielded by individuals who announced their desire to be martyred and shouting death to Israel: Now, therefore, be it

that the House of Representatives— (1)stands behind Israel for its general right to defend itself and specifically for its actions on May 31, 2010, stopping a flotilla attempting to break the blockade of Gaza; and (2)affirms that the blame for the death of nine members of the flotilla lies only with the Free Gaza movement; and that all other attempts to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza shall be considered illegal and a threat to international peace by the United States.