[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 54 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB RILEY

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 3, 2002

  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for rollcall No. 
124, on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 404. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  I was also unavoidably detained for rollcall No. 125, on agreeing to 
H. Res. 404. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  I was also unavoidably detained for rollcall No. 126, H.R. 392, 
Expressing Solidarity with Israel in its Fight Against Terrorism. Had I 
been present, I would have enthusiastically voted ``yea.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am now, and I have always been a strong supporter of 
Israel and her right to self-defense. This resolution is an important 
and necessary step, and one that I am glad to support.
  I am glad that the House took up this resolution today and urged its 
support. Hopefully, the Senate will pass a similar resolution.
  I believe that Israel's struggle against terrorism very closely 
resembles the war Americans have been engaged in over the past eight 
months. As horribly shocking as the events of September 11th and the 
deaths of thousands of innocent people were, imagine facing this type 
of terror threat on a daily basis. My friends, sadly that is what the 
Israeli citizens face every single day.
  Every day in Israel, parents wake up and are afraid that their 
children might not make it home if they go out. Over the past few 
months, we have seen horrible instances of terrorism committed against 
the Israeli people. Homicide bombers have blown themselves up in 
Israeli pizza restaurants, night clubs, and on street corners. Dozens 
of Israelis were slaughtered while celebrating one of their most sacred 
holidays, the Passover Seder. And this past weekend, the West Bank 
settlement of Adora was attacked. Terrorists, disguised as Israeli 
soldiers, shot four Israelis, including a 5-year-old girl, to death in 
their homes.
  Mr. Speaker, I would love to see a peaceful resolution to the violent 
conflict in the Middle East. However, I believe that the daily 
terrorism threats Israelis face deserve full American support. There 
are very few differences between their war against terrorism and ours. 
Therefore, I enthusiastically support this resolution and encourage all 
of my freedom-loving colleagues to do the same.