[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E928-E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2006

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, it is not very often that Jim McDermott 
rises to support this President, but that is precisely what I am doing 
now.
  The President does not want his hands tied by the passage of H.R. 
4681. I couldn't agree more.
  H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, will not make 
Israel safer, will not meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the 
Palestinian people, and will not give our diplomats the tools they need 
to help find a path to peace in the Mideast.
  For all of these reasons, I oppose it, and I urge my colleagues to 
reconsider.
  I believe in diplomacy as a means to correct injustice around the 
world. I believe gifted diplomats can accomplish as much with words and 
deeds as the military can with guns and soldiers.
  There is no question that the United States must take all appropriate 
steps to ensure that terrorists like Hamas are denied access to our 
financial aid. Not a penny should go to those who do not renounce 
terrorism.
  Hamas is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent Israelis 
before coming to power. Since then, they have neither renounced the use 
of violence nor recognized Israel. This is unacceptable.
  By all means, we must deny Hamas dollars that would buy hatred, but 
we must remember that Hamas and the Palestinian people are not one and 
the same.
  Even as we deny any and all assistance to Hamas, we must not hurt 
those Palestinians who are working for peace. If we fail to support 
them, I have no doubt that Israel will pay the ultimate price: more 
instability in the West Bank and Gaza, more desperation, and more 
terrorism.
  America's leadership is on the line in the Middle East, and more 
instability is something we need to avoid at all cost. We still have 
130,000 American soldiers in harm's way in Iraq; we can't afford to 
make any more poor choices related to that region.
  But, that's exactly what we will do if we pass this bill. It doesn't 
make sense for the United States to limit political and economic aid to 
moderates, like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
  He and others have met our government's requirements by recognizing 
Israel, renouncing violence and terrorism against Israel, and accepting 
all previously signed Israeli-Palestinian agreements. What happens if 
we turn our back on leaders trying to heal a millennium of hate?
  And what can we expect if we turn our backs on the real and growing 
humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people? It doesn't make sense to 
put restrictions on funding the NGOs that provide the Palestinian 
people with hospitals and schools.
  As a medical doctor, I am gravely concerned about the fate of 
millions of innocent Palestinians who rely on international aid for 
food, health care, and for developing their economy and businesses.
  Recent news reports say that international sanctions are preventing 
hospitals in Gaza from providing dialysis machines for patients, and 
they may not be able to supply immunizations to children.
  The World Health Organization sees a ``rapid decline of the public 
health system . . . towards a possible collapse.'' If left untreated, 
these conditions will nurture a breeding ground for more hatred, more 
violence, and more terrorism.
  This bill will only increase the restrictions on aid to the 
Palestinians and that will make the already dire situation even worse.
  As a doctor I took an oath to heal. As a nation, we took an oath to 
lead. Allowing innocent Palestinians to go hungry, while denying them 
medical treatment cannot possibly correct injustice, or lead to peace.
  If passed, this bill will be seen as anti-Palestinian, and the 
resulting chaos and animosity can only threaten the relative calm that 
Israel has enjoyed for the past year and a half. This bill does not 
help Israel.
  Many of the Israeli leaders I've spoken to, think this bill goes too 
far by punishing all Palestinians, not just Hamas. They understand that 
a radicalized population will show more support for Hamas, not less.
  During a recent trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, I saw 
how both sides deeply yearn for peace. And I saw firsthand how they 
need the United States to do all it can to help them make peace. The 
Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act will make this task enormously 
difficult.

[[Page E929]]

  The harsh restrictions, and cutting off contacts with moderate 
Palestinians, will severely complicate our ability to assume an active 
role in helping both sides resolve the conflict.
  If we cannot engage with moderates, and those trying to develop the 
Palestinian economy and build civil society, we forfeit our ability to 
nurture and strengthen the positive elements in Palestine.
  We need a bill that allows us the utmost flexibility to help moderate 
Palestinians, to quickly get economic and humanitarian aid to places 
that need it, like hospitals and health clinics, and helps prevent the 
resumption of terrorism. This bill does not meet these criteria.
  We need to isolate and weaken Hamas, and hopefully their tenure at 
the head of the PA will be a short one. But if we cannot distinguish 
between Hamas and the majority of the Palestinian people, we cannot 
possibly expect to have a role in creating what comes next.
  Israelis and Palestinians realize that in the end, their fates are 
tied. When Palestinians' lives get worse, so do those of Israelis.
  It's time to help the majorities on both sides reach their mutual 
goal--a peaceful two-state solution--rather than standing in the way by 
punishing one side.
  Give our State Department an opportunity to nurture peace, or we will 
surely have to ask our military to counter more terrorism. Vote against 
H.R. 4681.

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