[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 171 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5064-S5065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ISRAEL

  Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, let my message to Israel be clear: 
America stands with you and your right to defend yourself from this 
unspeakable evil perpetrated by Hamas.
  From my earliest memories, my mom, my Sunday school teachers told me 
that we support Israel. And as you go through your faith journey, as 
you go through your education, you learn why your mom and your Sunday 
school teachers said: We support Israel. I looked no further than my 
own bedroom wall to see Moses's Ten Commandments there that my mom had 
put for my brother and myself to look at every day when we awoke in the 
morning.
  We learned later that Moses was indeed the greatest lawgiver; that 
this

[[Page S5065]]

Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. It is what defines the 
United States of America in so many ways. And to our faith partners in 
Israel, we are grateful for that heritage and culture that they passed 
on to us.
  But what I have learned as a Member of Congress, I need to pass on to 
every person in America--how important Israel is as an ally. In so many 
ways, they are the eyes and ears for America in a very, very troubled 
land. No doubt, their efforts have prevented the deaths of tens of 
thousands of Americans by thwarting terrorist attacks from our enemies. 
We are so blessed to share military technology that is saving American 
lives as well. Indeed, Israel has been one of our greatest, most 
staunch allies.
  Today, we need to face the truth. We need to tell the truth. Hamas is 
a terrorist organization, and it only knows one language: death and 
destruction. Hamas's sole purpose is to radicalize its people, serve as 
a breeding ground for terrorism, and entirely eradicate Israel and 
other freedom-loving people like Americans.
  The actions of Hamas over this last week serve as an illustration of 
their principles. Look, Hamas has no interest in dialogue, only in 
destruction. Hamas does not want peace, they want punishment. Hamas 
wants war, not coexistence. Hamas is a terrorist army with a track 
record of unspeakable brutality and a commitment to wiping out not just 
Israel but America as well. This terrorist organization knows only one 
language: death and destruction.
  But the head of the snake is Iran. That is part of the truth that 
needs to be told. Iran is the head of the snake and Hamas is just a 
puppet fulfilling the prophecy of its leader. Hamas fighters and other 
terrorist groups are inspired, encouraged, and empowered by Iran to 
continue committing more brutal, more savage, and more devastating 
terrorist attacks around the globe.
  Look, I think there is no doubt in my mind that Iran planned, they 
funded, they armed, and they authorized the brutal murders of babies, 
burning women alive in the streets, and killing 30 Americans. This 
blood--the blood of American citizens--is on the hands of Iran and 
Hamas. As we go forward over these next weeks, these next months, we 
need to realize that all the blood being shed belongs on the hands of 
Iran.
  I would ask the White House to strongly condemn Iran's actions and 
disavow their terrorist regime. We need to stop empowering Iran. We 
need to stop encouraging them to develop nuclear weapons and making it 
possible to do that. We need to turn off their spigots. Right now, Iran 
is selling $1 billion of oil every week to pay for wars like this.
  Under this administration, Iran's reserves have gone from $6 billion 
to $60 billion. We have to stop turning our heads to the sanctions. We 
need to double down on our sanctions. We need to stop the funding from 
Iran, this head of the snake.
  Lastly, we need to make sure that all the other puppets of Iran know 
that if they engage further in war with Israel, as my dad would say, 
there will be hell to pay. This seems complicated to many people, but I 
think that is why it is so important that the United States outline 
exactly what our priorities are as we undertake these next several 
weeks.
  No. 1, first and foremost, should be a focus on getting American 
citizens back home safely and to free American hostages. Every day that 
we wait, every day that goes by, American hostages are being 
terrorized. They are being tortured by Hamas. It goes without saying 
that we need to cut the head off the snake, which is Iran.
  As I really ponder what is ahead of us here in the near future, I 
think about what one of my boyhood heroes said, Dwight David 
Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. This is what President 
Eisenhower said:

       I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as 
     one who has seen its brutality, its futility, and its 
     stupidity.

  I, too, hate war. This is not going to be pretty for the next several 
weeks and, I am afraid, months even.
  We need to be clear about what Israel is up against. Their opponents, 
they are worse than animals. They are using women and babies as human 
shields and harboring hundreds of hostages.
  I support Israel, and I understand and encourage their need to fight 
fire with fire when it comes to decimating this threat. The existence 
of Hamas is a clear and present danger to the United States, to Israel, 
and the entire free world. There is no safe Israel; there is no safe 
world; there is no safe America as long as Hamas lives in the Gaza 
Strip.
  Again, I just pledge my support to the people of Israel.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.

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