[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 97 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
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. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mr. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, I strongly support House Resolution 921 
and America's ally, Israel.
  This is a critical time for the entire Middle East. The unprovoked, 
illegitimate acts of Hamas and Hezbollah in recent days have been 
despicable. As the President has said, Israel, like any other sovereign 
nation, ``should be allowed to defend herself.'' Israeli citizens 
should not have to live with hundreds of Hezbollah's Katyusha (ka-TOO-
sha) rockets reigning down upon them in their neighborhoods.
  Let there be no question that the attacks on the northern border and 
the kidnapping of the soldier along the western border are the result 
of more than 58 years of hatred against Israel by supporters of groups 
like Hezbollah and Hamas. These terrorist organizations simply do not 
want to live in peace alongside Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah both 
officially state they are totally dedicated to ending the nation of 
Israel and killing Israelis.
  Certainly, the loss of innocent life anywhere in the world is tragic. 
We all mourn for families in Lebanon and Israel who have been torn 
apart in the recent violence. But perhaps the real treachery of 
extremist terrorists lies in their efforts to assimilate into nations 
of the world and hide amongst law-abiding citizens. For one full week 
now, from civilian areas of Lebanon, Hezbollah terrorists have lobbed 
more than a thousand rockets at innocent people in Israel. In response, 
Israel retains every right to retaliate against these attacks, and 
Hezbollah's disregard for innocent life on both sides of the Lebanese-
Israeli border has led to needless deaths.
  While our brave servicemen and women fight for freedom and democracy 
in Iraq, we must never forget that the nation of Israel has for decades 
been the greatest Middle East ally to the U.S. and all democratic, free 
nations.
  The enemies of Israel can choose to live in peace alongside Israel. 
If they do not choose peace, Israelis have every right to defend their 
nation, with full confidence the United States will always stand with 
them.

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