[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 10 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 10
Recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from
Gaza and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel in
its battle with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 8, 2009
Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Kyl, Mr. Levin, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Hatch, Mrs.
Boxer, Mr. Bond, Mr. Schumer, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Thune,
Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Martinez, Ms. Mikulski, Mr.
Nelson of Florida, Mr. Casey, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Carper, Mr.
Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Johanns, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Cardin)
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from
Gaza and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel in
its battle with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process.
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.
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