[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E13-E14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CONDEMNING HAMAS ATTACKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly condemn attacks 
against Israel in recent weeks. I deeply regret the loss of innocent 
civilian life in Israel and Gaza and urge Hamas, for the sake of its 
own people and those in the region, to immediately cease the attacks 
and agree to a lasting truce with its democratic neighbor.
  As our strongest ally in the Middle East, I believe Israel has the 
right to defend its citizens from the constant barrage of Hamas rocket 
attacks from inside Gaza. For too long, Hamas has used terrorism 
against Israel to destabilize the region and prevent peace for the 
people of Israel and the Palestinian territories. As long as Hamas 
continues to attack

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innocent Israelis and use ordinary Palestinians as human shields, I 
will continue to support Israel's right to self-defense and its stated 
goal of preventing Hamas from firing rockets into Israel.
  I remain hopeful that the United States and its allies can help bring 
a sustainable ceasefire to the region through diplomacy and create the 
conditions necessary for a durable peace.

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