[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1542]
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. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 921, a 
resolution reaffirming this Chamber's steadfast support for the State 
of Israel and condemning Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in unprovoked 
and reprehensible armed attacks against Israel on undisputed Israeli 
territory, among other provisions.
  On June 16, 2000, Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops from areas 
in Southern Lebanon. It was a monumental stride in the long and 
difficult march toward Middle East peace, one that lent if only 
fleeting promise for a cessation of violence along the Lebonon-Israel 
border. The idea was simple: Israel would end an occupation long cited 
as a serious grievance by Israel's foes, and those foes, denied that 
grievance, would end attacks on Israel. Any further attacks on Israel 
from formerly occupied areas would invite a robust military response. 
That equation for peace, however, was quickly undone.
  After the withdrawal, Hezbollah and other belligerents boasted not of 
a promise of peace, but of defeating the Israeli military and forcing 
it into retreat. Rather than planning for peace and building a strong 
civil society in Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah created a sophisticated 
military infrastructure and denied control of the region to the 
democratically elected Lebanese Government.
  One week ago, Hezbollah, following a similar Hamas kidnaping in June, 
attacked an Israeli military outpost in undisputed Israeli territory, 
killing three soldiers and taking two hostages. Since then, Hezbollah 
has continued attacks on Israel by firing deadly rockets into Israeli 
urban centers like Haifa. Those rockets, whose warheads are often 
packed with ball bearings that turn into molten shrapnel upon 
explosion, are meant to kill and maim indiscriminately.
  No country in the world would tolerate such vicious attacks upon its 
homeland nor threats to its sovereignty without responding and acting 
to ensure its longer-term security. If we support the Israeli State's 
right to exist, then we cannot make Israel an exception among nations. 
Israel must possess the right to defend itself.
  Lastly, even as this war rages, I believe it is important to work 
steadfastly toward peace, because there can be no military solution to 
this conflict. As it combats Hezbollah, I urge Israel to take measures 
to limit casualties among the civilian population and to not 
irrevocably undermine Lebanon's young government, which was the product 
of the inspiring cedar revolution.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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