[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E9]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SITUATION IN GAZA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, the State of Israel has a right to defend 
its territory and its people from attack, whether that attack emanates 
from another sovereign nation, or, as in this case, from a terrorist 
organization that seized control of Gaza in a bloody putsch 18 months 
ago.
  Hamas clearly chose to escalate its conflict against Israel by 
unilaterally declaring an end to the ceasefire that was implemented 
last June and launching a large-scale rocket attack on Israeli 
population centers. The Israeli government exercised great forbearance 
in the weeks prior to the formal breakdown of the ceasefire, which 
Hamas was already violating repeatedly, and had the international 
community more strongly condemned these attacks and taken action to 
stop them, the current Israeli offensive may have been unnecessary. 
But, Hamas bears ultimate responsibility for provoking this attack and 
for putting 1.5 million Palestinians in harm's way--a fact that Arab 
leaders from Egypt to Saudi Arabia have noted.
  Along with millions of Americans, I grieve the terrible loss of life 
of innocent Israelis and Palestinians. Hamas's decision to fire rockets 
from populated areas and Israeli strikes on those targets have resulted 
in many civilian casualties, and our hearts go out to all the innocents 
who have suffered.
  It is too early to tell if Israel's military actions will quell the 
threat of rocket attacks from Gaza and shut down smuggling routes from 
Egypt. The conflict in Lebanon proved how difficult this can be and a 
strong international effort will be necessary to avoid a recurrence of 
missile strikes in both theaters. This will require a level of 
resolution thus far not demonstrated by the international community.
  Israel's long-term security can only be guaranteed by a successful 
peace process that leads to the creation of a Palestinian state living 
side-by-side and in peace with Israel. President-elect Obama has 
committed himself to reinvigorating the search for peace and it is my 
hope that a timely conclusion of the present hostilities will allow the 
new President to begin these efforts from the first days of his 
administration.

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