[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HAMAS IS TO BLAME FOR MOST RECENT CONFLICT IN GAZA

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                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 8, 2009

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, today we are saddened by the loss of 
innocent lives in Gaza; people being killed and wounded, bodies of 
children torn apart, all of this is a horror story. If we are serious 
about ending this tragedy we must be brutally honest, and not give in 
to ignoring hard truths. In this case the hard truth is that the real 
blame for this carnage in Gaza is traced to actions taken by Hamas, 
radical Islamists, and those who supply them with rockets and other 
weapons.
  There was a tremendous opportunity for peace when Israel withdrew its 
troops from Gaza in 2005. Instead of moving forward and building a 
Palestinian homeland, irreconcilables have launched nearly 7,000 
rockets and mortar rounds into Israel since Israeli troops left.
  The hate-filled radicals who launched missiles into Israel--Hamas 
triggermen, not Israeli pilots--are the ones who are really responsible 
for the horrible mayhem we are witnessing in Gaza. The radical 
Islamists ruthlessly and without any remorse did what they knew would 
bring retaliation and result in the slaughter of their own people. The 
hatred of Israel in the hearts of these Hamas radicals clearly 
outweighs their commitment to the safety and well being of their own 
people. That's a hard fact. And that after shooting rockets into 
Israel, they hide among and behind non-combatants--women, and 
children--makes their actions even more despicable.
  An honest assessment leads to the conclusion that Hamas doesn't want 
peace with Israel and has no desire for a two state solution. Hamas 
wants a war that will destroy Israel. This commitment is the real cause 
of the current bloodshed in Gaza. Once Israel left Gaza, Hamas should 
have used its resources, their money, our money, on health care, 
education, roads and economic development in Gaza. Instead they have 
chosen death and destruction.
  Recently China's representative to the U.N. Security Council voiced 
concern about, ``large-scale Israeli air attacks against Gaza.'' Now, 
that takes chutzpah! Many of the rockets fired into Israel ``were 
manufactured in China. These Chinese rockets were smuggled into Gaza 
after the Sinai border wall was blown up by Hamas in January.'' Making 
matters worse the State Department and the White House hasn't mentioned 
a word about the China connection to the turmoil in Gaza, just as 
they're mum about Chinese complicity in crimes elsewhere.
  Yes, the bloodshed is horrible, and yes, Israel is doing what any 
other sovereign nation would do. It is protecting its people by 
retaliation when attacked. Those who shoot rockets into Israel know 
there will be retaliation, thus they are the responsible party for the 
bloodshed we are now witnessing. It's the hard truth we can't ignore if 
we are to someday end this terrible heart-wrenching violence.

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