[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ISRAEL THREATS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the State of Israel has always been 
threatened by nations and terror groups that hate Israel simply because 
it is a Jewish state. In recent years, the threats to Israel have 
become even more dangerous. Just this week, 16 people were wounded in a 
bus bombing in Jerusalem.
  The volatile civil war in Syria has allowed the region to become a 
full-blown terrorist haven which directly threatens Israeli security. 
Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, the al Nusrah Front, has literally 
straddled the Syrian-Israeli border. ISIS, which is even more brutal 
than al-Qaeda, controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, and it won't be 
long before they turn their sights on Israel. Lebanese Hezbollah, which 
is also heavily imbedded in the Syrian civil war, acts as Iran's 
terrorist proxy. Iran has moved advanced weapons systems into Lebanon, 
including anti-ship cruise missiles, air defense systems, and 
precision-guided surface-to-surface missiles. That means Hezbollah has 
an estimated 150,000 missiles sitting in their stockpile. Equally 
concerning is that Hezbollah is amassing valuable tactical experience 
while fighting in this Syrian civil war that could be used against 
Israel.
  Compounding the terrorist threat in Israel is the recent spate of 
Palestinian lone-wolf attacks, which include stabbings, vehicle 
ramming, and shootings. The latest wave of attacks has killed 34 people 
and injured over 400. Among those killed were two American citizens: 
Ezra Schwartz of Massachusetts and Taylor Force from my home state of 
Texas. These attacks are directly fueled by the hateful incitement of 
the Palestinian Authority which must be stymied.
  Meanwhile, down in Gaza, Israeli officials now believe that Hamas has 
completely replenished its rocket supply that Israel depleted in 2014. 
Just recently Israeli officials announced the discovery of a new tunnel 
built by Hamas into leading into Israel. The sole purpose of these 
tunnels is to secure arms supply lines and then strike at the heart of 
Israeli population centers.
  Aside from terrorism, the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions 
(BDS) movement has led an onslaught of de-legitimization campaigns 
targeting Israel in recent years. Five American scholarly associations 
have already joined this cause citing what they refer to as Israel's 
``violation of human rights.'' Interestingly, the organizations only 
boycott Israel and not other countries with much worse human rights 
records.
  Israel must also deal with the fallout from the Iran nuclear deal 
made by this Administration. Iran's most recent ballistic missile test 
launched missiles marked with the words ``Israel must be wiped off the 
earth.'' Thanks to this deal, it is only a matter of time before the 
mullahs in Tehran develop a nuclear weapon and aim it towards Israel. 
It's no wonder why Israeli leaders call the Joint Comprehensive Plan of 
Action a ``bad deal'' that threatens Israel's survival.
  You would think that with all these threats facing our ally Israel, 
the United States would draw closer to its friend and help it protect 
itself. But that has not happened. Despite these threats, our 
relationship with Israel has become strained under this Administration. 
We must do more to repair our partnership and protect our friends and 
allies in Israel from the growing dangers that surround them. We must 
recognize that the threats that confront Israel also confront the 
United States. The same terrorist groups that want to destroy Israel 
also want to destroy the United States. The same Iran that calls Israel 
the `little Satan' also calls the United States the `Great Satan'. We 
must face these common threats together.
  And that's just the way it is.

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