[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7692-S7694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING HEZBOLLAH AND ITS STATE SPONSORS
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 534 which was submitted earlier
today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 534) condemning Hezbollah and its
state sponsors.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I have grave concerns about what the coming
days hold for the situation in the Middle East. The spiral of violence,
which began with the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers, is threatening to
engulf the entire region. Unless something is done soon to stop the
escalation, all out war--the likes of which has not been seen in the
Arab-Israeli conflict for decades--could soon be upon us.
Innocent lives are at risk. The rocket attacks on Israel are
indiscriminate tools of terror. We know that Israeli bombs have also
taken innocent lives, including those of children. How does this
fighting serve any greater purpose? Can there be no other way to solve
the important problems facing the region without shedding innocent
blood in the process?
Let us not forget that it is not only the lives of Israelis,
Lebanese, and Palestinians that are threatened by the fighting. Press
reports indicate that 25,000 Americans are in Lebanon, and some believe
that number is far too low an estimate. I have learned that a number of
West Virginians are in Lebanon now. Two of the families of West
Virginians have children with them--children as young as 4 years old.
One of these families has already fled Beirut into the countryside
while they await word on when they can be transported to safety.
I am hopeful that there are yet moderate voices in the international
community which seek solutions to this crisis. There are calls for an
international peacekeeping force to stabilize the Israeli-Lebanese
border. There are also indications of behind- the-scenes diplomacy to
unite all countries of the region in favor of a reasonable solution.
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The resolution before the Senate is not a voice of moderation. It is
a resolution that proposes only to point fingers at who is to blame for
the current violence. This is the wrong response to an international
crisis and a humanitarian tragedy.
Does this resolution help the Americans who are stranded in Lebanon
amidst this fighting? It does not. I fear that this resolution might,
in fact, unleash a violent anti-American backlash at a time when the
State Department and our Armed Forces are struggling to find a way to
rescue our citizens. The Senate should have more sense than to rush to
pass such a provocative resolution at this time.
Mr. President, now is the time for moderation and wise counsel. We
need solutions, not recriminations. Why should the Senate pass a
resolution, the only possible effect of which is to further entrench
both sides of the current conflict? I cannot support a resolution that
does not I have the practical effect of advancing us toward an end to
this tragic violence.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, yesterday the Senate was advised by
hotline that this resolution would be voted on last night by voice
vote. I indicated a desire to be allowed to speak for no more than 15
minutes before the vote, and that was agreed to. I said explicitly when
further inquiry came to me that I would not in any way--in any way--
object to the Senate, if the leadership so desired, to voting on that
measure last night by voice vote. I went back, checked with the senior
staff of our cloakroom, and they verified it. There are e-mails to the
effect that I said that.
I did have an opportunity to speak last night at length--it is in
yesterday's Congressional Record--regarding my concerns about that
legislation, although I indicated in large measure I supported almost
every provision, and we just participated in a voice vote where, in
effect, my vote was counted in the ``yea'' column.
Mr. President, I call to the attention of my colleagues my statement
of yesterday beginning at page S7624.
Mr. President, I awakened this morning to determine that the press is
reporting the following:
The Senate had been expected to quickly pass a resolution
Monday night, but Armed Services Committee Chairman John W.
Warner of Virginia blocked the vote.
That message was skillfully distributed throughout the world--the
worldwide press. It made CNN and other responsible news organizations.
That was the deliberate attempt by some individual or individuals to
distort the truth, to distort what is in the Record.
Mr. President, I am pleased to say that the remarks I made last night
were, in part, taken into consideration, and the resolution which the
Senate will soon vote on does reflect what my principal concern was
with regard to the first draft; namely, that there was no reference to
some--upwards of 25,000 Americans seeking to return or leave that war-
torn area. Consequently, there is a provision, No. 11, placed in this
resolution which says:
Recognizes that thousands of American nationals reside
peacefully in Lebanon, and that those American nationals in
Lebanon concerned for their safety should receive the full
support and assistance of the United States Government.
I am glad I did what I did--made it clear that this has worked its
way into the Record. There are other concerns that I have which are
cited in the statement that I made yesterday and I am delighted to have
the opportunity to correct what was a deliberate attempt to distort the
record.
I thank my colleagues, and I yield the floor.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise in support of the resolution which
I cosponsored and which the Senate passed today condemning the actions
of Hezbollah and expressing our support for Israel.
On July 12, Hezbollah forces launched an attack through Syria,
crossing into Israel, killing eight Israelis and seizing two Israeli
soldiers as hostages. This assault followed months of rocket attacks by
Hezbollah on northern Israel. Those acts of terrorism created the
situation that the world confronts today. Israel could not tolerate
such assaults on its own soil. No nation could.
Our country will stand with the Government and people of Israel as
they defend themselves. The U.S.-Israel relationship is one of the most
important and steadfast diplomatic bonds in the world. It is imperative
that Congress express this support clearly and unequivocally. The
resolution passed today makes this important statement, to our friends
in Israel and to the world.
When Hezbollah escalated its attacks against Israel earlier this
month, they dragged Lebanon into a conflict that neither the Lebanese
Government nor most of the Lebanese people sought. Israel was compelled
to respond to the violence on their soil. That was a situation that
simply could not continue. Nor can Israel afford to return to the state
of affairs before the war. There must be a real change in Lebanon: the
days in which Hezbollah could simply lob rockets across the Israeli
border with impunity must end.
I believe the United States must play a principal role in helping to
forge a solution to this conflict and its underlying causes: the
persistent attacks on Israel and the capture of Israeli soldiers.
The conflict in Lebanon has broader international origins and
threatens the stability of the region as a whole. Iran and Syria are
involved. They have long bankrolled Hezbollah and may have been
involved in the plans to seize the Israeli soldiers. One of their goals
may have been to distract the world from Iran's efforts at nuclear
enrichment. If so, we cannot let them succeed. We must not let the
world ignore Iran's efforts to move closer to the development of
nuclear weapons.
We are handicapped in the Middle East by U.S. failures to remain
consistently engaged in the quest for peace over the last 6 years. U.S.
engagement lends stability to the region; disengagement has the
opposite effect. The war in Iraq also constrains our options in the
Middle East.
We need to take back control on other fronts--and the only way we can
do that is to send a signal to the Iraqis that they need to take charge
and take responsibility for their own affairs. We need to be able to
dedicate our resources to other emerging threats and challenges, and we
need to once again act as a pivotal peacemaker in the Middle East. I
wish the resolution that we passed had discussed the need for sustained
engagement at greater length and had placed increased emphasis on the
need for regional diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and others in the Arab world have
condemned Hezbollah's attacks on Israel. The Saudi foreign minister
said, ``These acts will put the whole region back to years ago, and we
cannot simply accept them.'' These unprecedented criticisms of
Hezbollah by Arab leaders offer at least the prospect that maybe the
situation offers a chance to move forward, rather than backward.
Secretary Rice has said that when the moment is right she will go to
the Middle East. I understand that she wants to lend her strength to
the cause when and where it will do the most good, but I hope that
moment will be soon. This conflict continues to increase in intensity
and it could grow in scale as well. It is claiming far too many
casualties on both sides. Israeli citizens have been killed by
Hezbollah rockets that are now reaching deep into Israel. Casualties
are especially high, as well, among Lebanese civilians. Over 200
Lebanese civilians have been killed, caught in the crossfire of this
conflict. Humanitarian concerns are growing as more Lebanese are
displaced and as food and water in many shelters may be running low.
There are also some 25,000 Americans in Lebanon. They have been
trapped there. The Beirut airport has been bombed and so have many
roadways. Some Americans have escaped by taking backroads to Syria.
That is a telling measure of how desperate the situation is for them.
According to media sources, at least 8000 Americans want to leave.
Their loved ones in this country are frantic with worry. I have
constituents who are still trapped there. I am sure virtually every
other senator does as well. People are frustrated by the pace of the
evacuation, and I can understand that. Several hundred Americans have
been evacuated, including children who were in Lebanon alone or
individuals in need of medical care. But thousands of Americans remain
trapped there.
U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman said that by the end of the week,
the
[[Page S7694]]
evacuation will proceed at a pace of 1,000 Americans a day. Since a
Swedish ship departed today with over 1,000 Scandinavians and other
Europeans and with some 200 Americans on board, it is difficult to
understand why we cannot marshal the resources to evacuate our citizens
more quickly.
I have also received many calls from constituents who were appalled
to learn that one of the first things that Americans trapped in Lebanon
hear from the State Department is that they will be charged for the
cost of their evacuation to Cyprus. The United States must make clear
to all the parties involved that we will move quickly to evacuate our
citizens. Those Americans should not bear the costs of this regional
crisis.
Secretary Rice has emphasized the need to safeguard civilian lives
and to ``create sustainable conditions for political progress.''
The Israeli soldiers who are being held hostage by Hezbollah, and the
soldier captured by Hamas, must be released immediately and
unconditionally. The rocket attacks on Israel, which began long before
this new phase of the conflict, must end. All the parties involved must
commit to abide by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559,
which was adopted in 2004. This resolution requires that all militias,
including Hezbollah, be disarmed and disbanded.
All of these principles are embodied in the legislation passed by the
Senate today, along with an absolutely clear statement that we stand
with Israel. To make these principles a reality and to protect the
lives of the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire in both Israel
and Lebanon will clearly require sustained U.S. engagement in a
regional solution.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the resolution.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
The resolution (S. Res. 534) was agreed to.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the preamble
be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 534
Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations Security
Council Resolution 425 (adopted March 19, 1978) by completely
withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as certified by the
United Nations Security Council and affirmed by United
Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on June 16, 2000, when
he said, ``Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full
compliance with Security Council Resolution 425.'';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
(adopted September 2, 2004) calls for the complete withdrawal
of all foreign forces and the dismantlement of all
independent militias in Lebanon;
Whereas despite Resolution 1559, the terrorist organization
Hezbollah remains active in Lebanon and has amassed thousands
of rockets aimed at northern Israel;
Whereas the Government of Lebanon, which includes
representatives of Hezbollah, has done little to dismantle
Hezbollah forces or to exert its authority and control
throughout all geographic regions of Lebanon;
Whereas Hezbollah receives financial, military, and
political support from Syria and Iran;
Whereas the United States has enacted several laws,
including the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) and the Iran
and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), that
call for the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Iran for,
among other things, their support for terrorism and terrorist
organizations;
Whereas the Government of Israel has shown restraint in the
past year even though Hezbollah has launched at least 4
separate attacks into Israel using rockets and ground forces;
Whereas, without provocation, on the morning of July 12,
2006, Hezbollah launched an attack into northern Israel,
killing 7 Israeli soldiers and taking 2 hostage into Lebanon;
Whereas on June 25, 2006, despite Israel's evacuation of
Gaza in 2005, the terrorist organization Hamas, which is also
supported by Syria and Iran, entered sovereign Israeli
territory, attacked an Israeli military base, killed 2
Israeli soldiers, and captured an Israeli soldier, and has
refused to release that soldier;
Whereas rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel
since Israel's evacuation of Gaza in 2005; and
Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize
Israel's right to exist and call for the destruction of
Israel: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of
Israel;
(2) supports Israel's right of self-defense and Israel's
right to take appropriate action to deter aggression by
terrorist groups and their state sponsors;
(3) urges the President to continue fully supporting Israel
as Israel exercises its right of self-defense in Lebanon and
Gaza;
(4) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of
Israeli soldiers who are being held captive by Hezbollah or
Hamas;
(5) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria for their
continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas, and holds the
Governments of Syria and Iran responsible for the acts of
aggression carried out by Hezbollah and Hamas against Israel;
(6) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for exploiting civilian
populations as shields and locating their military activities
in civilian areas;
(7) urges the President to use all available political and
diplomatic means, including sanctions, to persuade the
governments of Syria and Iran to end their support of
Hezbollah and Hamas;
(8) calls on the Government of Lebanon to do everything in
its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers
being held in its territory, and to fulfill its
responsibility under United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1559 (adopted September 2, 2004) to disband and
disarm Hezbollah;
(9) calls on the United Nations Security Council to condemn
these unprovoked acts and to demand compliance with
Resolution 1559, which requires that Hezbollah and other
militias be disbanded and disarmed, and that all foreign
forces be withdrawn from Lebanon; and
(10) urges all sides to protect innocent civilian life and
infrastructure and strongly supports the use of all
diplomatic means available to free the captured Israeli
soldiers.
(11) recognizes that thousands of American nationals reside
peacefully in Lebanon, and that those American nationals in
Lebanon concerned for their safety should receive the full
support and assistance of the United States government.
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