[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROVIDING THAT HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD NOT 
         PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS HELD BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors to this resolution 
for their good intentions In opposing terrorism and promoting peace in 
the Middle East. However, I am concerned that it could have the 
opposite effect.
  I join my colleagues in reaffirming the United States' total 
commitment to the security of Israel. I condemn Hamas wholeheartedly as 
a terrorist group whose aims are the destruction of Israel and whose 
tactics of murder are inexcusable and unjustifiable. They commit 
horrific terror attacks against innocent Israelis and, in doing so, set 
back the aspirations of the Palestinian people to statehood.
  Through its social service networks and other actions, Hamas has made 
itself an important political force in Palestinian society. Therefore, 
the reality is that the way to defeat Hamas begins at the ballot box. I 
agree with leading Israeli and American security experts who believe 
that any efforts to exclude Hamas will only backfire and strengthen 
them. Instead, we must recommit to working against Hamas--to 
marginalize them, weaken them, disarm them, contain them, strengthen 
their democratic opponents, limit their power and influence, and 
eventually eliminate them.
  As General (Ret.) Ephraim Sneh--the former West Bank military 
governor and Deputy Israeli Defense Minister--wrote in the Washington 
Post, ``Under current conditions in the Palestinian territories, 
especially given the Palestinian government's weakness, political 
containment should precede the dismantling of Hamas's military 
infrastructure. The urgent objective is to defeat it in the next 
parliamentary elections. Steps that could strengthen it in the 
elections should be strictly avoided. Attempts to postpone the 
elections yet again, or to prevent Hamas's participation, or Israeli 
disruption of the elections as `punishment' for the participation of 
Hamas, will strengthen Hamas in the Palestinian street instead of 
weakening it.''
  I am concerned that this resolution sends a message that would be 
harmful to Israeli security and set back efforts to establish the 
vision of a democratic Palestinian state that lives side-by-side with 
Israel in peace. Therefore, I cannot support the resolution.

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