[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.
                                 <all>