[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 4 (Friday, January 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  GAZA

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                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 9, 2009

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, nearly 9,000 rockets, missiles, and 
mortars have been fired into Israel since 2001, terrorizing the Israeli 
people. More than 6,000 of them have fallen since Israel withdrew 
entirely from the Gaza Strip and Hamas took over its leadership in 
2005. The range of these rockets continues to grow, putting more of 
Israel's population in danger.
  The humanitarian situation in Gaza also worsens by the day, and 
scores of civilians have been hurt or killed in the fighting. Hamas 
terrorists embed themselves in private homes, schools, mosques, 
hospitals, and use innocent Palestinians as human shields.
  I fully support Israel's right to defend itself against the constant 
barrage of attacks from Hamas. However, it is imperative that both the 
Hamas government in Gaza and the State of Israel stop this cycle of 
violence that has caused hundreds of casualties, before it gets worse. 
Israelis in Southern Israel and Palestinians in Gaza live in constant 
fear for their lives, and this is unacceptable.
  The Bush Administration must immediately take all necessary measures, 
in conjunction with the world community, to broker a peaceful and 
sustainable resolution to this volatile situation. Should the President 
heed this call, it will bolster the incoming Obama Administration's 
efforts as it advocates for a lasting peace.
  Military action will not result in an enduring resolution of these 
long simmering tensions. It is only through diplomacy and a 
strengthening of the Israeli Palestinian reconciliation process that a 
sustainable two state solution will be achieved. The violence must stop 
and the healing process begin, before more civilians are hurt and more 
lives are destroyed.

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