[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S181-S183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN ITS BATTLE WITH HAMAS AND THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN 
                             PEACE PROCESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to voice my strong support for a 
resolution in support of Israel that Senator McConnell and I introduced 
with a bipartisan, overwhelming number of Senators. When we pass this 
resolution, the U.S. Senate will strengthen its historic bond with the 
State of Israel, by reaffirming Israel's inalienable right to defend 
against attacks from Gaza as well as our support for the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process.
  I spoke last week with Prime Minister Olmert and again expressed my 
understanding of and appreciation for the terrible situation that 
Israel has faced. Hamas has been firing rockets and mortars into 
Israel, killing, maiming innocent Israeli citizens for more than 8 
years. I ask any of my colleagues to imagine that happening here in the 
United States, rockets and mortars coming from Toronto and Canada into 
Buffalo, NY. How would we as a country react? We would react, and we 
would react swiftly and quickly. Israel has been very patient.
  Gaza was controlled by Israel since 1967. They, in an effort of 
extending an olive branch to the Palestinians, gave that territory up 
willingly. What have they gotten in return for it? Mortars and rockets 
fired, by now into the thousands. So we would have to react

[[Page S182]]

as they have done. We would have to react to protect our people, and it 
would not only be our right but an obligation to do so. That is what 
the Israelis have done. Hamas must stop the rocket fire from Gaza into 
Israel. That is the simple stated objective of Israel. I acknowledge 
and appreciate the calls by some or a cease-fire. Certainly we must 
encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict. But we must be certain 
that any cease-fire is sustainable, durable, and enforceable.
  Our resolution reflects the will of the State of Israel and the will 
of the American people. It expresses vigorous support and unwavering 
commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of 
Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders and 
recognizes its right to act in self-defense and to protect its citizens 
against acts of terrorism. It reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket 
and mortar attacks against Israel, and it recognizes Israel's right to 
exist, renounce violence, and accept previous agreements between Israel 
and the Palestinians, which Hamas has certainly not done even a little 
bit. It encourages the President to work actively to support a durable, 
enforceable, and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible 
that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding the capability to 
launch rockets against Israel and allows for the long-term improvement 
of daily living conditions for the ordinary people of Gaza.
  This resolution believes strongly that the lives of innocent 
civilians must be protected and all appropriate measures should be 
taken to diminish civilian casualties and that all involved should 
continue to work to address humanitarian needs in Gaza. It supports and 
encourages efforts to diminish the appeal and influence of extremists 
in the Palestinian territories and to strengthen moderate Palestinians 
who are committed to a secure and lasting peace with Israel.
  Finally, it reiterates strong support for U.S. Government efforts to 
promote a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a 
serious and sustained peace process that leads to the creation of a 
viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a 
secure State of Israel.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The minority leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me add, this resolution in support 
of the State of Israel has strong bipartisan support. Hamas is a 
terrorist organization. It clearly started this current conflict by 
launching rockets on to civilian sites in Israel. The Israelis, as the 
majority leader indicated, are responding exactly the same way we would 
if rockets were being launched into the United States from Canada or 
Mexico or some similar situation. The Israelis have every right to 
defend themselves against these acts of terrorism. I enthusiastically 
support the resolution, as does Senator Lugar, our ranking member on 
the Foreign Relations Committee.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Senator John Kerry has been open and very 
forward thinking on this issue. He, along with Senator Lugar, supports 
this resolution.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration 
of S. Res. 10 submitted earlier by Senators Reid and McConnell.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 10) recognizing the right of Israel 
     to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming 
     the United States strong support for Israel in its battle 
     with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace 
     process.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, S. Res. 10, the resolution that was adopted 
today reaffirming U.S. support for Israel, is factually accurate. No 
one here doubts our commitment to Israel's security or Israel's right 
to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks. But the resolution, 
unfortunately, presents an incomplete response to the situation in 
Gaza. With so much at stake for the United States, for Israel and for 
the world, we owe the American people and all concerned a clear-eyed, 
forthright and constructive discussion of such vital matters as these.
  Hamas's unilateral decision to break the cease-fire was deplorable. 
It is clear that rather than work for peace, Hamas used the cease-fire 
to amass more powerful and longer range weapons. Its actions should be 
universally condemned, and they will achieve nothing positive for the 
cause of the Palestinian people. Those who have collaborated in 
supplying weapons that are being used to terrorize and harm innocent 
civilians in Israel are complicit in the suffering and destruction that 
has occurred on both sides.
  For its part, Israel used the cease-fire to pressure Hamas through a 
blockade that, in the absence of a long-term strategy, has caused 
extreme hardship for the Palestinian people collectively in Gaza but 
done nothing to change Hamas's militant policies. The blockade was not 
coupled with an effective strategy to address the underlying causes of 
the conflict.
  In the past 14 days, according to the United Nations, 758 
Palestinians have died, including 257 children, as a result of Israel's 
military operations, and thousands more have been injured. Palestinian 
homes, schools and other civilian infrastructure have been demolished. 
Among Israelis, three civilians have been killed, and seven soldiers 
have died. Israeli homes have also been badly damaged from Hamas rocket 
fire. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which is the principal 
humanitarian organization functioning in Gaza, suspended its operations 
earlier today due to risks to the safety of its personnel as a result 
of Israeli attacks which killed two of its workers and injured one.
  As has been said here repeatedly, Israel has the right to defend 
itself. And I have no doubt that the Israeli Defense Forces, using 
powerful weapons supplied by the United States, can achieve tactical 
victories in Gaza by damaging Hamas's military capabilities. But the 
right response is one that will, over the long term, make Israel more 
secure, and that will be achieved only when Israel is accepted by its 
neighbors. Those of us who have long worked to support Israel should 
not lose sight of this crucial goal and this bigger picture. This 
escalation will, I fear, have the opposite effect. The widening use of 
force has implications for Israel's long-term security that should 
concern each of us. This approach may increase support among 
Palestinians for Hamas as well as anger and resentment toward Israel 
and the United States within Arab countries and around the world.
  Israel seeks to deal a fatal blow to Hamas militants, to bomb them 
into submission and moderation. If our country were attacked in a 
similar way by one of our neighbors we might respond the same way. But 
there is little if any reason to believe these tactics can work. This 
latest escalation, with bombs falling and tank artillery striking in 
heavily populated areas where civilians--more than half of whom are 
children--have no means of escape, obviously and tangibly is providing 
ammunition to extremists, inside and outside of Gaza. And in doing so 
it increases the dangers to both soldiers and civilians--Israeli and 
Palestinian--and of miring Israel in an open-ended mission in Gaza 
resulting in far more destruction and loss of innocent life than we 
have seen so far. Ultimately, extremism is what has hindered a 
political resolution that ends this conflict with two secure states 
living side by side.
  There are some who may argue that the collapse of the recent cease-
fire proves that Hamas will only respond to force. Hamas has abused the 
cease-fire, but that is not the only lesson from the collapse. Any 
clear-eyed analysis will show that a cease-fire cannot succeed--indeed, 
it will be exploited by Israel's enemies--if it is treated as an end in 
itself instead of as an opportunity to materially improve the 
humanitarian situation and to undertake serious negotiations to end the 
conflict.
  There are broadly acknowledged immediate steps that must be taken: 
put a meaningful ceasefire in place, stop the smuggling of weapons into 
Gaza, and open crossings into Gaza to facilitate the flow of licit 
goods and services.
  But beyond that, history has shown that absent an inclusive, 
diplomatic process that effectively addresses the core interests of 
both Israelis and Palestinians, the cycle of violence will

[[Page S183]]

continue. Preconditions are an obstacle to that process in the Middle 
East as much as they were for another seemingly intractable conflict, 
in Northern Ireland.
  Others have asked these questions, which are worth repeating: Does 
the Gaza war improve Israel's long-term, or even short-term, security? 
Was it realistic and in Israel's long-term interests to expect Hamas to 
accept Israel in advance of negotiations, rather than push for a total 
cessation of the use of violence and blockade, followed by 
negotiations? Was it realistic to expect the ceasefire to hold while 
Gaza remained under siege, rife with hunger, illness, joblessness, and 
hopelessness, and while construction of settlements continued, and even 
accelerated, in the West Bank?
  On January 6, Secretary of State Rice spoke to the U.N. Security 
Council. I do not doubt the sincerity of her concern with the 
humanitarian situation in Gaza, or for the need for a ceasefire ``that 
can endure and bring real security.'' We all want that. But her words 
were noteworthy for what they said about the dismal failure of the Bush 
administration's approach to the Middle East conflict. Eight years were 
squandered and mishandled, and President-elect Obama faces a far more 
difficult situation than his predecessor inherited.
  Our credibility in the entire world has suffered immeasurably since 
9/11. In particular our image in predominantly Muslim countries has 
been affected by the failure to advance a credible strategy to help 
resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. This has pronounced and 
obvious implications for our security, for Israel's security, and for 
the entire Middle East region.
  At this time of great opportunity in America to change our policies 
and make a true contribution to peace in the Middle East, we should be 
careful when we adopt resolutions on subjects as sensitive as this to 
be cognizant of the history of the region and the complexities of the 
situation. Above all, our goal should be to enhance our role as a force 
for peace and our ability to advance our Nation's interests.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, 
that there be no intervening action or debate, and that any statements 
related to this matter be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 10) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 10

       Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of 
     destroying the State of Israel;
       Whereas Hamas has been designated by the Secretary of State 
     as a Foreign Terrorist Organization;
       Whereas Hamas has refused to comply with the requirements 
     of the Quartet (the United States, the European Union, 
     Russia, and the United Nations) that Hamas recognize Israel's 
     right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept 
     previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
       Whereas, in June 2006, Hamas crossed into Israel, attacked 
     Israeli forces and kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, whom they 
     continue to hold today;
       Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and mortars 
     since Israel dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 
     2005;
       Whereas Hamas has increased the range of its rockets, 
     reportedly with support from Iran and others, putting 
     additional large numbers of Israelis in danger of rocket 
     attacks from Gaza;
       Whereas Hamas locates elements of its terrorist 
     infrastructure in civilian population centers, thus using 
     innocent civilians as human shields;
       Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a 
     statement on December 27, 2008, that ``[w]e strongly condemn 
     the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and 
     hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the 
     renewal of violence there'';
       Whereas, on December 27, 2008, Prime Minister of Israel 
     Ehud Olmert said, ``For approximately seven years, hundreds 
     of thousands of Israeli citizens in the south have been 
     suffering from missiles being fired at them. . . . In such a 
     situation we had no alternative but to respond. We do not 
     rejoice in battle but neither will we be deterred from it. . 
     . . The operation in the Gaza Strip is designed, first and 
     foremost, to bring about an improvement in the security 
     reality for the residents of the south of the country.'';
       Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated 
     that ``Hamas has held the people of Gaza hostage ever since 
     their illegal coup against the forces of President Mahmoud 
     Abbas, the legitimate President of the Palestinian people. 
     Hamas has used Gaza as a launching pad for rockets against 
     Israeli cities and has contributed deeply to a very bad daily 
     life for the Palestinian people in Gaza, and to a 
     humanitarian situation that we have all been trying to 
     address'';
       Whereas the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including 
     shortages of food, water, electricity, and adequate medical 
     care, is becoming more acute;
       Whereas Israel has facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza 
     with over 500 trucks and numerous ambulances entering the 
     Gaza Strip since December 26, 2008;
       Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated 
     that it was ``Hamas that rejected the Egyptian and Arab calls 
     for an extension of the tahadiya that Egypt had negotiated'' 
     and that the United States was ``working toward a cease-fire 
     that would not allow a reestablishment of the status quo ante 
     where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza. It is 
     obvious that that cease-fire should take place as soon as 
     possible, but we need a cease-fire that is durable and 
     sustainable''; and
       Whereas the ultimate goal of the United States is a 
     sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 
     that will allow for a viable and independent Palestinian 
     state living side by side in peace and security with the 
     State of Israel, which will not be possible as long as 
     Israeli civilians are under threat from within Gaza: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to 
     the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as 
     a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and 
     recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its 
     citizens against acts of terrorism;
       (2) reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar 
     attacks against Israel, recognize Israel's right to exist, 
     renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements 
     between Israel and the Palestinians;
       (3) encourages the President to work actively to support a 
     durable, enforceable, and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, as 
     soon as possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining or 
     rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and mortars 
     against Israel and allows for the long term improvement of 
     daily living conditions for the ordinary people of Gaza;
       (4) believes strongly that the lives of innocent civilians 
     must be protected and all appropriate measures should be 
     taken to diminish civilian casualties and that all involved 
     should continue to work to address humanitarian needs in 
     Gaza;
       (5) supports and encourages efforts to diminish the appeal 
     and influence of extremists in the Palestinian territories 
     and to strengthen moderate Palestinians who are committed to 
     a secure and lasting peace with Israel; and
       (6) reiterates its strong support for United States 
     Government efforts to promote a just resolution of the 
     Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a serious and sustained 
     peace process that leads to the creation of a viable and 
     independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a 
     secure State of Israel.

  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Levin). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________