[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 97 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1491]
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. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of 
this resolution and I rise in support of our friend and ally, Israel, 
during this critical period.
  September 11th was a defining moment for our country in many ways. In 
particular, it forced Americans to confront a new reality--that 
terrorists could cause massive destruction on our soil and that we are 
all at risk. Faced with this new reality, we resolved to fight--to go 
to Afghanistan with the aim of destroying al-Qaeda and removing the 
government that sheltered it.
  Israelis have been living with this reality for decades. Well-armed, 
well-financed and sophisticated terrorist organizations--backed by 
Syria and Iran--surround her. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah have 
carried out thousands of attacks on Israeli soil. They have strapped 
bombs to teenagers and sent them on suicide missions targeting buses 
filled with innocent women and children. They have launched rockets at 
Israeli homes and stores. And, they have murdered and kidnapped Israeli 
soldiers. They will stop at nothing to accomplish their one common 
goal: the destruction of Israel.
  Just as America does, Israel has a right to defend herself. Israel 
has a right to better secure its borders, its security and its future. 
A secure Israel can not exist with Hezbollah controlling the territory 
directly north of the country. A secure Israel can not exist with 
thousands of katyusha rockets aimed at Haifa, Tiberius and other 
population centers in the North. A secure Israel can not exist with 
Hamas in control of the Palestinian territories.
  Israel is at war with these terrorist entities and we must stand by 
her. We have a moral obligation to do so--to stand on the side of 
democracy and freedom versus terror and radicalism. We must also do so 
because left unchecked, these terrorist organizations will continue to 
destabilize the region and use it as a base to foster global 
instability and undermine our national security.
  As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I will never forget what can 
result when the world fails to confront evil and terror. Passage of 
this resolution with strong bipartisan support will send an unequivocal 
message to the world--Hezbollah and Hamas are responsible for this 
violence, Israel has a right to defend itself, and the United States 
will stand with Israel as it confronts the evil and terror of Hezbollah 
and Hamas. I am confident that Israel will prevail in this fight. And, 
it is my hope that their strong actions against terror will ultimately 
lead to the peace and security that so many in the region desperately 
seek.

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