[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 185 (Wednesday, November 8, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       BRITISH FRIENDS OF ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 8, 2023

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
the Congress and Citizens of the United States a praiseworthy statement 
signed by thousands of our staunch ally, the United Kingdom, whose 
thought leaders and public figures declared solidarity with Israel and 
the Jewish people during one of the greatest periods of catastrophe, 
suffering, and trial since the Nazi Holocaust. As Co-Chair of the 
Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance, as well as the International 
Religious Freedom Caucus, I feel it a duty highlight and commend these 
significant gestures.
  At a time when the world is in urgent need of moral clarity, leaders 
of media, government, business, sport, and the arts of the UK have 
risen masterfully to the occasion to establish British Friends of 
Israel with its clear-eyed statement--the October Declaration, signed 
by, as of this moment, nearly 100,000 of some UK's most influential, 
accomplished, and notable citizens. Many excerpts best express what 
much of the world holds true regarding our Jewish brothers and sisters 
who are tragically confronting the ugliness of anti-Semitism in real 
time. In part, the Declaration reads:

       ``We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism against 
     civilians in Israel, especially the massacre on 7 October 
     2023.
       ``On 7 October 2023 the State of Israel and her citizens, 
     both Jews and non-Jews, were subjected to a brutal terrorist 
     attack, which resulted in the murder, torture, rape and 
     kidnapping of over 1,500 people.
       ``More Jews were killed on that day than on any other day 
     since the Holocaust. We are aware that Jews are not the only 
     victims of this tragedy. Hamas knew that there would be 
     consequences to 7 October, but the consequences did not weigh 
     with Hamas.
       ``Its ongoing terrorist operation is calculated to cause 
     maximum fear and distress. The people of Israel have been 
     subjected to a near constant bombardment of rockets from Gaza 
     and Lebanon. Civilians of all kinds--including the elderly, 
     disabled, women, children, and babies--have been targeted in 
     a direct breach of the rules of war.
       ``We call for all the hostages taken on 7 October to be 
     released immediately. It is an essential step on the path to 
     peace and the cessation of hostilities.
       ``We stand in support of British Jews and condemn acts of 
     anti-Semitism.
       ``British Jews should not live in fear because of actions 
     taken by the state of Israel to defend itself. The British 
     state must do everything in its power to protect them.
       ``We ask the media, members of all political parties and 
     everyone in public life to call out Hamas for what it is: a 
     terrorist organisation.
       ``Hamas, whose actions have led directly and indirectly to 
     the tragic deaths of many Palestinian civilians as well as 
     Israelis, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK as 
     well as in many other states. The Home Secretary and the 
     Prime Minister have identified Hamas as a terrorist 
     organisation. Failure to use the correct language--describing 
     Hamas as `militants' or `fighters', for instance--creates the 
     false impression that Hamas and Israel's armed forces are 
     morally equivalent and is an affront to the group's victims--
     the dead, their families, and those currently being held 
     hostage.

  Mr. Speaker, in our time, who could have anticipated the need to take 
such a stand in nations like the United States and the United Kingdom 
against unspeakable events that unfolded exactly one month ago today. 
But regrettably, denial of the atrocities and the willingness of some 
to side with Hamas have exposed a layer of society that raises concerns 
about the value placed on Jewish lives.
  The idea for British Friends of Israel came from leading British 
public figures including journalists Laura Dodsworth, Allison Pearson, 
Toby Young, legal scholar Francis Hoar, Think Tank head Emma Webb and 
others who recognize the duty to express solidarity with global Jews. 
The speed at which the media narrative shifted from the savagery of 
Hamas attacks to concern about the destruction in Gaza is 
disheartening.
  We have witnessed bias and antagonism by public figures, some in this 
Congress, some in the media, and some at leading American universities 
in the face of these atrocities. This is beyond troubling.
  In the words of Sir Tom Stoppard, ``Before we take up a position on 
what's happening now, we should consider whether this is a fight over 
territory or a struggle between civilization and barbarism.''
  Let us stand united with British Friends of Israel and The October 
Declaration. By lending our voices, we send a powerful message of 
support to our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel and around the 
world. The stakes are critical in the fight for Civilization over 
barbarism.

                          ____________________