[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 97 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1478-E1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONDEMNING THE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. THELMA D. DRAKE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to come to the floor today to 
voice my support for this resolution.
  Since the year 2000, Israel has demonstrated a willingness to act 
unilaterally in the name of peace; only to have their enemies respond 
with more acts of violence.
  In 2000, Israel withdrew their forces from southern Lebanon, only to 
be followed by Hezbollah and their missiles.
  In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, only to be replaced 
by the militant wing of the Hamas party.
  As a sovereign and independent nation, Israel has every right to 
defend itself from these constant attacks led by groups with the 
expressed purpose of destroying Israel.
  There is agreement in this House and in the world community that 
there be peace in the Middle East, so that all families, whether they 
be Israeli, Palestinian, or Lebanese, can live without fear.
  But there will be no peace so long as these terrorist organizations 
insist on the destruction of Israel.
  There will be no peace, until Hamas agrees to curtail acts of 
violence and aggression and

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show that they are willing to work towards a two-state solution.
  Our own soldiers are currently engaged against an enemy that has no 
respect for human life and a complete disdain for democracy.
  In this Global War on Terror, we have no greater ally than the nation 
of Israel, whose citizens are all too familiar with terrorists and 
their tactics.
  I am proud to support this resolution because I believe it is 
important that we let the Israeli people know that we stand behind 
their right to defend their homeland and their citizens. I encourage my 
colleagues to support this resolution, so that we may speak with one 
voice so that there may be peace for all people in the Middle East.

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