[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5042]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           SUPPORTING ISRAEL

  (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong and unwavering 
support of Israel, this Nation's strongest ally and the only democracy 
in the Middle East. The first duty of any Nation is to protect its 
citizens. Israel is in a fight for its very survival. It longs for 
peace. It has no partner for peace.
  Out of desperation, Israel has been forced to identify those who are 
planning and coordinating terrorist attacks against its citizens, 
against innocent women and children. And because Arafat will not end 
the terrorism, will not rein in the terrorists, Israel has been forced 
to act.
  Over the past three decades, Sheik Yassin has led the terrorist group 
Hamas as it launched one bloody attack after another. Hundreds of 
Israelis are dead, over three dozen Americans are dead, and over 2,000 
innocent people have sustained wounds that they will never recover 
from. These facts are not in dispute.
  It is time for the double standard to end. Israel's action against 
Yassin is no different from America's hunt to destroy Osama bin Laden. 
We are halfway around the world searching for the man who masterminded 
the 9/11 attack on our Nation. The world will rejoice when Osama bin 
Laden is gone. Israel suffers the same on almost a daily basis.
  Let us not confuse the perpetrators of terrorism with the victims. 
Israel's actions are appropriate, justifiable and their duty, 
safeguarding innocent lives, has been done.

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