[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8036-S8037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MIDDLE EAST CRISIS

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to speak 
briefly about the situation with Hamas attacking Israel from the south, 
the Hezbollah attacking Israel from the north, and the actions of 
Israel in defending herself in accordance with international law under 
article 51 of the United Nations charter.
  The action against Israel from the south was provoked by Hamas and 
the Palestinian Authority with the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and 
the firing of rockets into southern Israel. The action against Israel 
from the north was provoked by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern 
Israel. Regrettably, the conflict has escalated but the parties 
responsible for the conflict are Hamas to the south and Hezbollah to 
the north.
  The action of Hezbollah comes as a surrogate for Syria and from Iran. 
An Israeli ship was struck by an Iranian missile in conjunction with 
other circumstantial evidence of Iran having so-called advisers in 
Lebanon. There is strong reason to believe that the rocket was fired by 
Iran--not conclusive, but strong reason to believe. If so, it is an act 
of war.
  The United Nations ought to call Iran and Syria on the carpet to 
explain their conduct in backing Hezbollah, in providing personnel to 
do more than train Hezbollah, more than advisers being integral parts 
of the military offensive of Hezbollah.
  The Israelis living in northern Israel have complained about 
Hezbollah having a knife at their throat. With so many rockets poised 
on the southern Lebanese border and with a provocation of Hezbollah, it 
certainly warrants the action which has been taken by Israel on the 
premises.
  It is regrettable that there have been civilian casualties, but I do 
believe that Israel has made every reasonable and realistic effort to 
minimize such casualties. There is inevitably collateral damage in war, 
but this is an occasion when the international community ought to call 
Iran and Syria to task for their provocative acts for using Hezbollah 
as a surrogate.
  In the context of what has happened, I think President Bush was 
entirely correct in his statements that Israel had a right to defend 
itself against Hezbollah in the north and a right to defend against 
Hamas in the south.
  Mr. President, I speak today about the recent unprovoked and 
coordinated attacks that have been launched on Israel by Hezbollah in 
Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. These provocative attacks are further 
highlighting the role both Iran and Syria play in supporting Hezbollah. 
Israel is now forced to fight a defensive war on two fronts as 
Hezbollah terrorists and Palestinian militants are committing countless 
acts of aggression towards Israel.
  Israel's response to Hamas's and Hezbollah's continuing bombardment 
of Israel, the murder of its soldiers, and the capture of three Israeli 
soldiers is justified. Israel unilaterally evacuated settlements and 
military bases in Gaza last September after an occupation since the 
1967 Middle East war. It has not returned with significant forces since 
then, despite near-daily rocket fire from the Gaza strip into southern 
Israel. As recognized by the U.N., Israel completely pulled out of 
Lebanon in 2000, despite missile fire from Southern Lebanon into 
Israel. The capture of Israeli soldiers was unprovoked by Israel. Were 
the United States bombarded by Kassams and Katyusha and were its 
soldiers kidnapped we would also respond with force--proportionate 
force--the force necessary to cease the bombardments and kidnappings. 
Yet again, the Middle East faces a crisis brought on by those opposed 
to the peace that is sought by so many.
  On September 12, 2005, to the jubilation of the Palestinians living 
in Gaza, Israel unilaterally withdrew its military and civilian 
presence from every inch of Gaza as part of a bold and courageous 
effort to reduce the tensions with Palestinians and enable them to 
better build a strong society on their own territory. The Palestinians 
in Gaza wasted no time destroying all Jewish houses of worship that 
were left behind in Gaza, but the world, including the Israelis, 
remained silent because they did not want anything to derail this 
sincere effort for peace. Just several months later, the Palestinians 
elected Hamas, a terrorist organization, to lead its government. During 
this time, Kassam missles have been regularly launched from Gaza into 
Israel and on June 25th, Palestinian gunmen within Hamas captured a 19-
year old Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, and killed two others, 
at an army post within Israel. Corporal Shalit is the first Israeli 
soldier to be kidnapped by a Palestinian armed group since 1994. Israel 
immediately demanded release of the soldier. Hamas responded by 
offering only to provide information about Corporal Shalit, not his 
release, in exchange for the release of over 400 Palestinians in 
Israeli jails. Israel rightly refused an exchange, and hoped that 
international pressure would succeed. Having waited 3 days, on June 
28th, Israeli troops pushed into Gaza to find and free Corporal Shalit.
  President Bush appealed to Palestinian Fatah leader, Abbas and our 
Middle-East allies to exert pressure on Hamas to free Corporal Shalit. 
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, called on the Syrian 
president, Bashar Assad to arrest Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who is 
harbored in

[[Page S8037]]

that country. Additionally, Egypt and Jordan urged Syria to use its 
influence with Hamas to win Shalit's release. With no soldier and no 
prospect of his release, Israel continued its offensive, arresting 60 
Palestinian officials and launching air strikes on bridges to prevent 
movement of Shalit, on weapon storage sites, and on Gaza's central 
power station. Hamas continued to launch Kassam missiles into Israel 
targeting civilian population centers; and Palestinian militants, 
seeking cover among Palestinian civilians, used RPGs, grenades, mines, 
and assault rifles to impede Israel's actions. This is how the 
Palestinian leadership responds to Israel's genuine actions for peace. 
The Israelis endured great political and emotional divisions when they 
forcibly removed their own people from Gaza, but they thought these 
sacrifices were necessary for a lasting peace. The Israelis 
demonstrated remarkable restraint in the face of these attacks from 
Gaza and in the initial days of the kidnapping of Corporal Shalit. But, 
when it became clear that Hamas did not share Israel's desire for 
peace, they had no choice to respond with force.
  Then on July 12th, Hezbollah killed eight soldiers and captured two 
more from within Israel, near the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah leader 
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said that this was not in response to Israel's 
recent air strikes in Gaza, but was something they had wanted to do for 
``over a year''. Hezbollah's killing of eight Israeli soldiers and the 
kidnapping of two others represents an unprovoked act of war against 
Israel. Israel fully withdrew from southern Lebanon in May 2000. This 
peaceful step by Israel was certified by the U.N. Security Council as 
having met the requirements of U.N. Security Council Resolution 425, 
which called for an Israeli withdrawal and for Lebanon to assert 
control over the area vacated by Israel.
  Israel rightfully opposes any prisoner exchange with Hamas or 
Hezbollah. Israel cannot send the message that it will release hundreds 
of prisoners each time Hamas and Hezbollah capture an Israeli, soldier 
or civilian. That would only encourage more kidnappings, and increase 
the power of Hamas and Hezbollah resulting in greater instability to 
the region and undermining the peace process.

  Following Hezbollah's kidnapping, its firing of Katyusha rockets into 
northern Israel and demand for a prisoner swap, Israel responded with 
military force directed at Hezbollah's infrastructure in Lebanon, 
accurately calling Hezbollah's actions an act of war. Israel struck 
Beirut's airport to prevent the removal of the Israeli soldiers and to 
disrupt military supplies, struck Hezbollah's television station, and 
struck numerous roads, bridges and Hezbollah quarters to disrupt 
communication. Hezbollah responded with increased and deeper rocket 
attacks, which for the first time reached far enough into Israel to 
strike Haifa, 20 miles over the border. These far reaching missiles 
appear to be built by the Iranians and pose an extreme threat that 
Israel has not previously faced with Hezbollah. In 2004, the United 
Nations passed a resolution calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed. Not 
only has no serious effort been undertaken to disarm them, but rouge 
regimes continue to supply them with new weapons, training, and other 
support. The world should unite in its outrage at this behavior by 
Hezbollah and its allies and unite behind Israel and the forces of 
peace to bring a swift end to this conflict and to press for the safe 
return of Israel's soldiers and the enforcement of the UN resolution.
  It is worth noting that while Israel has responded with strong force 
in its attempts to rescue its soldiers and root out the terrorist 
networks on its borders, it has made great efforts to minimize civilian 
casualties. Israel regularly drops pamphlets to warn civilians of 
upcoming actions and attempts to secure meaningful intelligence so that 
its strikes are targeted on the people and places involved in terrorist 
activity. These are courtesies that the Hamas and Hezbollah do not 
extend.
  As we all now know, these actions of Hezbollah and Hamas can be seen 
as an extension of aggression from Iran and Syria. Iranian president, 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has publicly stated his desire to ``wipe Israel off 
the face of the map.'' The Iranians have helped Hezbollah launch 
hundreds of missiles into Israel and have provided Hezbollah $100 
million annually. Syria provides the home, safe haven and command 
center to Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, and it continues to sponsor 
acts of terrorism. The timing of these attacks served to destabilize 
negotiations between the Hamas and Fattah Palestinian parties, 
derailing progress in the peace process. The events also distract the 
international community from Iran's nuclear ambitions at a time of 
heightened pressure on the Iranian government to curtail its program.
  I support the President's statement that calls for an unconditional 
release of the captured soldiers, and holds Syria and Iran accountable 
for Hezbollah's actions but I encourage him to do more. There is 
opportunity for hope in this crisis. Many Palestinians and Lebanese 
citizens do not support the aggressive actions of Hezbollah or Hamas's 
military wing. The international community must support the Lebanese 
government and the Palestinian Authority in representing their many 
moderate citizens who seek peace and security for their families and 
communities. Now is the time for the forces of peace and moderation in 
Lebanon to not only aspire for peace but take action to stop Hamas and 
Hezbollah from pulling their people into deeper conflict. If terrorist 
factions continue to attack Israel and capture Israeli soldiers, Israel 
is left with no other choice but to defend its people and its borders.
  I have made many trips to Israel and the Arab countries in the Middle 
East and am deeply saddened by the recent events. I will continue to 
support peace in the region and oppose all acts of terrorism.

                          ____________________