[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ISRAEL AND HAMAS CONFLICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 
devastating situation in Gaza.
  Each of us in this Chamber knows what it's like to deal with a 
terrorist attack on our soil and against our people. Over the last 
several years, the Israeli people have been constantly bombarded by 
terrorist attacks on their soil and against their people. Since Israel 
withdrew from Gaza in late 2005, more than 6,000 rocket and mortar 
attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups were fired into their 
territory.
  The Government of Israel has a right and a responsibility to defend 
and protect its people. To stand idly by while hundreds of bombs 
explode on Israeli territory would have indeed been an irresponsible 
position for Israel's government to take, and continuing to do nothing 
could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel's security in 
the region.
  So Madam Speaker, critics who have said that Israel responded to 
Hamas in a disproportionate or indiscriminate way are wrong. Madam 
Speaker, I ask, what amount of force would have been necessary to stop 
the brutal attacks, to put an end to the terrorists' rocket launching 
pad in Gaza?
  Hamas has repeatedly targeted school yards and hospitals filled with 
children and civilians in Israel. And the militants have been 
deliberate in operating from places where Gazan civilians have sought 
shelter, jeopardizing innocent lives in Gaza. Only Hamas is responsible 
for the massacre of the people in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for this 
conflict.
  Today marks the 12th day of this conflict, and I think we all hope 
for a cease-fire to take place soon. However, even if the parties can 
reach an agreement to a cease-fire, it remains to be seen whether it 
will be durable.
  Therefore, I strongly urge support for Israel's right to self-defense 
and its efforts to protect itself militarily. I also urge the United 
Nations and our European allies to do the same.

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