III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 6 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 6, 2009 Mr. Vitter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing solidarity with Israel in Israel’s defense against terrorism in the Gaza Strip.

Whereas the state of Israel is the greatest ally of the United States in the Middle East; Whereas the Hamas terror organization's charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel; Whereas Palestinian terrorists of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, recently have fired hundreds of rockets at civilian targets in southern Israel, ending a 6-month ceasefire with Israel, in declaration and in deed; Whereas, during the 6-month state of calm, the Government of Israel allowed the entry of approximately 17,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian terrorists launched 538 rockets and mortars into Israel; Whereas the latest terrorist attacks on Israel took place only days after the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1850, which unanimously declared support for the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis; Whereas, since the most recent terrorist attacks and its military operation that began on December 27, 2008, the Government of Israel has allowed the entry of hundreds of truckloads of humanitarian aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, in full coordination with donor Arab countries and international aid organizations, including the Red Cross, out of respect for human rights and human life and in an effort to minimize the hardship and suffering of the Palestinian people; Whereas the military operations of the Government of Israel constitute an effort to defend the people of Israel, which is the Government's moral duty in response to the unspeakable horrors of ongoing, indiscriminate terrorism, and are aimed only at dimantling the terrorist infrastructure; and Whereas hundreds of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians tragically have been killed on account of ongoing escalations of violence initiated by Palestinian terrorist organizations: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)stands in solidarity with the Government of Israel as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people; (2)remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense and supports additional assistance from the United States to help Israel defend itself; (3)condemns the end of the ceasefire by Hamas; (4)condemns the firing of rockets into civilian areas by the terrorist groups of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad; (5)urges all Arab states to declare strong opposition to terrorism and terrorist attacks on civilians; (6)urges all parties in the Middle East to pursue lasting peace in the region; and (7)expresses its commitment to working to promote economic relations, bilateral trade, and partnerships in technology and alternative energy between the United States and Israel in order to stimulate the economies of both the United States and Israel in this time of crisis.