[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 67 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          REGARDING MAY 9, 2012 ``PRESENT'' VOTE ON H.R. 4133

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                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 11, 2012

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Israel, its 
rights as a nation, and its unequivocal right to defend itself. I fully 
support the provisions of this resolution aimed at strengthening 
Israel's defensive military capabilities. Unfortunately, this 
resolution also contains overly broad provisions that go well beyond 
support for those defensive capabilities. Specifically, I am concerned 
about provisions that include the terms ``defensive articles'' and 
``defensive services'' and ``specialized munitions,'' which security 
experts understand to include a vast array of offensive weapons, 
including bunker buster bombs. The increased militarization of the 
Middle East could endanger Israel's security and is a source of 
regional and global instability. While the bill enumerated ways the 
U.S. can lend military support to Israel, there was not an emphasis on 
achieving a negotiated peace with its neighbors. No amount of American 
military assistance will fully compensate for the lack of a productive 
and effective peace process. This bill was a missed opportunity for 
Congress to show balanced support for a comprehensive peace plan. The 
neglected Israeli Palestinian peace process must be given stronger 
support by the United States, and this bill reflects the lack of U.S. 
leadership in achieving a lasting peace. Because of these flawed 
provisions, I voted present on H.R. 4133.

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