[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 164 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  OPPOSING ANY ENDORSEMENT OR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THE 
        UNITED NATIONS FACT FINDING MISSION ON THE GAZA CONFLICT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2009

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of 
this essential Resolution, unequivocally opposing any endorsement or 
further consideration of the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding 
Mission on the Gaza Conflict.
  The United Nations report on the conflict in Gaza is reflective of 
the original mandate ordering its creation: biased and one-sided. Like 
all sovereign nations, Israel has not only a right, but moreover, an 
obligation, to ensure the safety and security of her citizens. Israel's 
military operation was in response to 8 years during which Hamas 
terrorists fired more than 10,000 rockets, mortars and missiles at 
Israeli towns and villages.
  Despite these facts, and due to the original mandate that precluded 
it from drafting an objective report, the Commission concluded that 
Israel's defensive operation was a war on Gaza's civilian population. 
This claim is an outright distortion of the truth.
  Throughout the Gaza Conflict, Israel went above and beyond--even 
putting itself at risk--to protect innocent Palestinian civilians. 
Specifically, Israel dropped leaflets and made phone calls to targeted 
Palestinian areas to warn citizens they were in danger, even if that 
meant losing the element of surprise and putting the lives of its own 
soldiers at risk.
  This report ignores evidence that many civilian casualties were a 
result of Hamas routinely using Palestinian civilians as human shields. 
Eyewitness testimonies, video and Israeli intelligence reports show 
that during the operation, Hamas stored weapons in mosques, used 
hospitals as headquarters, and intentionally endangered Palestinian 
civilians.
  As a member of the Congressional Taskforce on Israel at the United 
Nations, it troubles me to see yet another biased, unfair attack 
against the State of Israel. Not only is this report a disgrace to the 
mission of the United Nations, but it distracts us from the real issue 
at hand--achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. Israelis, 
Palestinians and the international community must not lose the focus of 
this important goal, and must continue working to fight terrorism and 
support peace.

                          ____________________