[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7809-S7810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, last week, on the morning of July 12, 
Hezbollah launched a brazen and unprovoked attack on Israeli soldiers 
patrolling their side of the border with Lebanon in northern Israel. 
Hezbollah militants killed seven Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two 
more in the attack. These two soldiers remain captive, presumably 
somewhere inside of Lebanon.
  This Hezbollah attack followed an earlier attack from the Hamas 
terrorist groups on June 25. Hamas terrorists entered Israeli 
territory, attacked an Israeli military base, killed two soldiers, and 
kidnapped another. CPL Gilad Shalit has yet to be released.
  Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorists organizations. They receive 
military and financial support from terror-sponsoring regimes in 
Damascus and Tehran, and they refuse to recognize Israel's right to 
exist. In fact, they call for Israel's destruction.
  In June 2000, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan deemed Israel in full 
compliance with Security Council Resolution 425 by completely 
withdrawing its forces from Lebanon. Yet in the past year alone, 
Hezbollah has launched at least four separate attacks into Israeli 
territory using rockets and ground forces. It has blocked 
implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 by refusing to 
disarm and disband its militia.
  Last summer, Israel completely evacuated its forces from the Gaza 
Strip. Instead of demonstrating a willingness and ability to govern 
responsibly and improve the lives of the Palestinians living there, 
Hamas has used Gaza as a base to launch rocket attacks and other 
assaults on the State of Israel, like the one that led to the capture 
of Corporal Shalit on June 25.
  Let us be clear: Hezbollah and Hamas, with the backing of Syria and 
Iran, are wholly responsible for the recent outbreak of violence in the 
Middle East.
  While it is important for Israel to proceed carefully, we cannot deny 
its right to self-defense. Prime Minister Olmert's government has a 
responsibility to the Israeli people to defend

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Israel against terrorist attacks. He has a responsibility to do what he 
can to prevent similar attacks from occurring in the future.
  Israel is an ally--our closest friend in the Middle East. We share 
its strong commitment to democracy, to the rule of law, and to a 
peaceful solution to this conflict, a solution that leaves two 
democratic States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace 
and security.
  Yesterday, the Senate passed a resolution reaffirming its steadfast 
support for Israel in its fight against these vicious terrorists and 
other extremists who target Israeli citizens and exploit their own 
civilian populations as shields.
  Hezbollah and Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release the 
captured Israeli soldiers and cease their rocket attacks against 
Israel. The state sponsors of these groups in Syria and Iran must be 
held to account.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, may I inquire about the regular order?
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. We are in morning business with the first 
half of the time of 1 hour under the control of the majority leader or 
his designee.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today deeply disturbed after 
watching the situation in Israel continuing to escalate over the last 
few days. Israel, over the last 3 years, has acted in a responsible 
manner and done everything possible, in my view, to reach out to those 
who desire peace. Unfortunately, there remain those who continue to 
disregard the Israeli State and refuse to recognize its legitimacy.
  Sadly, these terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah remain 
committed to their ideology of hatred toward the Jewish people and 
appear determined to try to bring an end to the State of Israel. As 
such, I strongly support Israel's response to the unprovoked kidnapping 
of two Israeli soldiers and the unprecedented rocket bombardment of 
northern Israel.
  The current Israeli action is justified. Action is necessary to stop 
those who are responsible for these despicable acts of terror. The 
attempts to defend Israel and rescue its captured soldiers with 
airstrikes and incursions by Israeli forces are not only appropriate 
but are absolutely necessary to protect Israeli citizens from future 
terrorist attacks.
  Ultimately, I believe outside actors, such as Syria and Iran, which 
continue to support terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah 
are the main culprits. These nations have done nothing to promote peace 
in the region. I believe the United States and the community of nations 
should put these nations on notice that their support for terrorism is 
unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
  President Bush has likewise called out Syria and Iran for their 
support of Hezbollah by stating:

       The one way to help heal the Middle East is to address the 
     root causes of the problems there, and the root cause of the 
     problem is Hezbollah and Syria and the Iranian connection.

  No one doubts that with the support these nations provide to 
Hezbollah they could bring an end to the hostilities in the region. 
Instead, they would rather Hezbollah continue to use innocent citizens 
as shields while the terrorist organization conducts attacks against a 
sovereign nation. They need to abide by the already passed United 
Nations resolution and end support for Hezbollah.
  That is why I rise in support of S. Res. 534 condemning Hezbollah and 
their sponsors, and I also ask to be added as a cosponsor.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, our ally, Israel, is entitled to the 
defense of its land. We as a body should again recognize this act and 
support Israel's right to self-defense while calling for the Syrians 
and the Iranians to take responsibility for these open hostilities. 
They must help immediately to withdraw all terrorist forces from 
Lebanon and end their support for Hezbollah's action against our 
allies. We also must ensure that the U.N. Security Council enforces the 
full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, which in 
2004 called for disarming Hezbollah and the removal of all foreign 
forces from Lebanon. We must use all of the tools at our disposal to 
discontinue the financial, military, and political support Hezbollah 
and Hamas receive from these state sponsors of terror.
  Of course, during this crisis I would be remiss if I did not mention 
my grave concern about the loss of innocent life in Israel, Lebanon, 
and Gaza. During the past week, Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets 
and mortars into civilian areas, killing multiple Israelis, among 
others. As much as I believe it is imperative that the United States 
stand behind Israel in its time of need, we also must provide 
assistance to those who have been hurt because of this conflict.
  It is my strong belief that the United States should do everything in 
its power to assure Israel's right to exist and right to protect its 
borders. Israel must be allowed to live without fear within those 
borders. It is my hope that this conflict will be resolved peacefully 
in the coming days. The people of Israel have not asked for more than 
that, and I believe they certainly deserve as much.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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