[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6543-H6544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ISRAEL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. LaMalfa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to address a 
crucial and escalating situation facing Israel, our close ally. They 
have been under attack not only from isolated factions but from a 
coordinated effort orchestrated by Iran.
  Rockets have rained down on Israel from Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and

[[Page H6544]]

Yemen, forcing Israel to defend its citizens and its sovereignty from 
these relentless threats. It is crucial to understand that these 
attacks are not random acts of violence but part of a larger, more 
sinister and coordinated plan.
  In each of these regions, there exists a militia backed by Iran. In 
the Gaza Strip, it is Hamas; in Yemen, the Houthis; and in Lebanon, it 
is Hezbollah.
  Recently, with the fall of Assad and the regime in Syria, this very 
much will disrupt some of those efforts that Iran and some of their 
backers in Russia have been able to do in there, but the United States 
and our diplomacy must pay very, very close attention to how this is 
handled because many times when there is a vacuum like this, there can 
be even worse results coming in, such as what happened in Libya and 
Iraq.
  We will have to grade this by what we see as possible new leadership 
coming in, but, indeed, be on top of that so that Iran doesn't get a 
stronger foothold in Syria again.
  It is exacerbated by the policies of previous U.S. administrations 
because of the overall outcome we are seeing. These people are funded, 
supplied, and directed by Iran as part of a calculated strategy to 
encircle and weaken Israel.
  Indeed, they do not want Israel to exist, and it is pretty hard to 
sit down at a negotiation table to come up with peace when they don't 
even acknowledge your right to exist as a nation.
  Unfortunately, the lenient stances taken by Presidents Obama and 
Biden have only encouraged Iran and others in the Middle East to keep 
Israel firmly in the target sights.
  Secretary Blinken recently warned that Iran is potentially within 
weeks of nuclear capabilities. This is not hyperbole. It is a direct 
reality. We have been hearing that for some time, so we don't know what 
that really means, but Iran has been working ever since the JCPOA to 
become a nuclear nation.
  We are witnessing a comprehensive and coordinated assault by Iranian 
militias aimed at Israel. The intent is to strain Israel's defenses 
from every direction. We must recognize and respond to the true nature 
of this threat.
  The National Defense Authorization Act being brought to the floor 
this week in the House takes decisive steps to strengthen our 
partnership with Israel in the face of these ongoing threats. Our 
partnership with Israel is critical for their existence but also for 
us, as they have been a great partner in the Middle East and there are 
so many innovations and things that we do together as countries.
  The NDAA authorizes full funding for joint U.S.-Israel missile 
defense programs, like the Iron Dome, a defensive mechanism. It 
allocates $47 million for cutting-edge technologies, such as anti-
missile laser defenses, and commits $30 million to dismantling Hamas 
tunnel networks.
  As Iran continues its aggression against Israel, these measures 
reaffirm our unwavering support for Israel's right to defend itself and 
its future and to exist. Together, we must ensure that Israel has the 
tools it needs to stand strong.
  Our partnership is ironclad. It is important to both of us. It is 
important to Israeli existence, and even other Arab countries nearby 
have acknowledged that Israel is an important partner due to the 
success of the Abraham Accords.
  If my colleagues ask Arab Israelis who live in the country if they 
like it better in Israel or would rather go back to something else, 
they like it better in Israel.
  There is a lot of good that comes from that nation being able to 
stand on its own, as it has always been a beacon of light and 
opportunity for people who just want to play by a good set of rules.

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