[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 517--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND 
 ITSELF AND CALLING ON HAMAS TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE ALL ROCKET AND OTHER 
                         ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Rubio, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 517

       Whereas, on July 17, 2014, the Senate unanimously passed a 
     resolution supporting Israel's absolute right to defend its 
     citizens and ensure the survival of the State of Israel, 
     condemning the actions of Hamas, and calling for the 
     President of the Palestinian Authority to dissolve the unity 
     government with Hamas;
       Whereas, since June 2014, Hamas has fired over 1,800 
     rockets at Israel;
       Whereas Hamas has used a system of tunnels to smuggle 
     weapons and launch attacks on Israel;
       Whereas, since ground operations in Gaza began, the Israeli 
     Defense Forces (IDF) have discovered 28 of these tunnels 
     whose only purpose is to kill and kidnap Israelis;
       Whereas Hamas' weapons arsenal includes approximately 
     12,000 rockets that vary in range;
       Whereas innocent Israeli civilians are indiscriminately 
     targeted by Hamas rocket attacks;
       Whereas 5,000,000 Israelis are currently living under the 
     threat of rocket attacks from Gaza;
       Whereas the Iron Dome system has saved countless lives 
     inside Israel;
       Whereas, consistent with Article 51 of the United Nations 
     charter, which recognizes a nation's right to self-defense, 
     Israel must be allowed to take any actions necessary to 
     remove those threats;
       Whereas the IDF has used text messages, leaflet drops, 
     phone calls, and other methods to clear out areas and avoid 
     unnecessary civilian casualties;
       Whereas Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields by 
     placing missile launchers next to schools, hospitals, 
     mosques, and private homes;
       Whereas Hamas' interior ministry has called on residents of 
     Gaza to ignore IDF warning to get out of harm's way; and
       Whereas any effort to broker a ceasefire agreement that 
     does not eliminate those threats cannot be sustained in the 
     long run and will leave Israel vulnerable to future attacks: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms its support for Israel's right to defend its 
     citizens and ensure the survival of the State of Israel;
       (2) calls on the United Nations Secretary General to 
     immediately condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel;
       (3) urges the international community to condemn the 
     unprovoked rocket fire at Israel;
       (4) recognizes that the Government of Israel must be 
     allowed to take actions necessary to remove the present and 
     future threats posed by Hamas' rockets and tunnels;
       (5) calls on Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and 
     other attacks against Israel;
       (6) opposes any efforts to impose a cease fire that does 
     not allow for the Government of Israel to protect its 
     citizens from threats posed by Hamas rockets and tunnels; and
       (7) calls on Hamas to stop using residents of Gaza as human 
     shields.

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