[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 102 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, 17 days ago, Hezbollah terrorists 
conducted a raid into Israel, killing three Israeli soldiers and 
kidnapping two others, igniting serious fighting between Israel and 
Hezbollah. I rise today to express my strong support for Israel as it 
defends itself from an increasingly powerful terrorist presence in 
southern Lebanon.
  Israel has taken many meaningful steps in recent years to push the 
dream of Middle East peace forward, including removing all forces from 
Lebanon and, just last year, unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza. In 
return, Israel faces an emboldened Hezbollah, backed and encouraged by 
Iran and Syria, with an arsenal of 13,000 rockets that it routinely 
uses to bombard Israeli towns, and Hamas, which controls the 
Palestinian Authority. Neither group recognizes Israel's right to 
exist.
  The House recently passed H. Res. 921 with my support, which 
reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself from these attacks. Through 
this action we have made a clear statement that the United States will 
stand with Israel while continuing to work with the international 
community to bring peace to the region.
  Mr. Speaker, the current situation, with Iran and Syria enabling 
Hezbollah to establish an even greater presence in Lebanon is 
intolerable and a major obstacle to Middle East peace. Any 
international agreement should focus on removing Hezbollah from that 
country, per United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. This is a 
critical point for Israel and the entire region, and the United States 
must remain actively engaged in this process.

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