[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14378-14379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF WAR PERPETRATED AGAINST ISRAEL BY HEZBOLLAH 
                                 FORCES

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise because of the recent attacks on 
Israel. The most recently breaking news: rocket attacks on the city of 
Haifa in Israel, which clearly represents an escalation of the attack 
from Lebanon. Therefore, I do rise to condemn the acts of war 
perpetrated against the nation of Israel by Hezbollah forces operating 
in southern Lebanon.
  Dozens of Katyusha rockets were fired at northern Israel on Wednesday 
and Thursday, and additional salvos have continued to rain down. 
Israeli soldiers were attacked as they attempted to respond to this 
unprovoked assault across an internationally recognized border. As a 
result of this aggression, eight Israeli soldiers are dead, two more 
are prisoners of Hezbollah, and the citizens of northern Israel are 
living in fear.
  I call on the international community to support Israel in its 
attempts to end terrorist operations in southern Lebanon, free the 
captive soldiers, and restore its territorial security.
  In the name of peace, Israeli forces withdrew from all Lebanese 
territory in the year 2000. The United Nations recognized this 
withdrawal as fully compliant with all relative Security Council 
resolutions. Unfortunately, the government in Beirut has not done its 
part to ensure that this disengagement enhanced the security of both 
nations.
  It is not surprising since 14 members of Lebanon's parliament and two 
cabinet ministers are members of Hezbollah. The Lebanese Government, 
which refuses to crack down on these terrorists, must be held 
accountable. In addition, Syria and Iran, whose governments sponsor 
Hezbollah's activities, must be condemned and, if they do not cease 
this support, sanctioned harshly.
  I regret to say we will probably witness more violence in the days 
and weeks ahead. Many innocent people on both sides of the border will 
likely suffer. It is incumbent on the United States and the 
international community to stand by Israel as she fights foreign-
sponsored aggression on her borders, aggression that no sovereign 
nation could possibly be expected to tolerate
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I was dismayed to hear of the recent 
reprehensible actions taken by the terrorist group Hezbollah, in 
kidnapping two Israeli soldiers. This is an act of cowardice and also 
grimly unsurprising. Supported by both Syria and Iran, Hezbollah has, 
for almost a quarter of a century, targeted freedom; whether that be 
U.S. marines in 1983 in Beirut, U.S. airmen in the Khobar Towers 
tragedy, or repeated deadly attacks against innocent Israelis and 
ongoing weapons' stockpiling. Besides regularly supplying weapons to 
Hezbollah, Iran and Syria are also responsible for donating an 
estimated $100 million per year to Hezbollah. The Lebanese government, 
of which Hezbollah is an active part, bears a full measure of 
responsibility for this act of war against Israel, and Israel has a 
right, under international law, to take actions necessary to rescue her 
sons. Israel fully withdrew from southern Lebanon in May 2000. This 
move by Israel was certified by the U.N. Security Council as having met 
the requirements of U.N. Security Council Resolution 425, which called 
for an Israeli withdrawal and for Lebanon to assert control over the 
area vacated by Israel.
  The appropriate, reasonable and legal response to the brutality and 
dishonor of terrorism is proactive self-defense. We would do no 
different were these young men our own. Israel continues to be a force 
for freedom and democracy and as a friend and ally to the United 
States, deserves our full backing during this difficult time. 
Furthermore, as this body has reaffirmed time and again, we fully 
reject and denounce the terrorist activities fomented by both Iran and 
Syria. It is my fervent hope that those who dictate the activities of 
Hezbollah, both inside Lebanon and outside its borders, will quickly 
see the futility of this course of action, and make a move for peace 
and stability rather than chaos and war
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to talk briefly about the 
current events in Israel and the Middle East.
  I strongly condemn the ongoing murderous attacks by Hezbollah on 
Israel and its soldiers. Several days ago, eight Israeli soldiers were 
killed and two were kidnapped following an unprovoked attack on 
northern Israel. Hezbollah must immediately and unconditionally release 
all Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah has refused United Nations demands to 
disarm and has been responsible for terrible acts of violence for many 
years. No country should provide support for Hezbollah, which is a 
U.S.-designated terrorist group. Hezbollah's actions are contrary to 
the interests of the Lebanese people and hurt the region.
  The Hezbollah attack follows a June 25 attack by Hamas on a southern 
Israeli military post that resulted in the kidnapping of an Israeli 
solider and the killing of several others. Hamas must also immediately 
and unconditionally release the soldier it is holding and end attacks 
on Israel.
  The United States will stand by our longtime ally and friend. The 
Israeli

[[Page 14379]]

people have the right to live in peace and security. Israel has the 
right to protect its citizens. I strongly condemn the ongoing murderous 
attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas on Israel and its soldiers and believe 
that restraint is needed in the region to stop the escalation of 
violence and protect innocent lives.
  I yield the floor
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today I condemn Hamas's and 
Hezbollah's unprovoked acts of war against Israel and to express strong 
support for Israel's right to defend itself.
  On July 12, Hezbollah attacked an Israeli military unit patrolling 
the Israeli border south of Lebanon, and two Israeli soldiers were 
taken hostage. Hezbollah's leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, has 
admitted that this was a calculated act, which Hezbollah had planned 
for 5 months. Analysts agree that this act is a sign of support for the 
Hamas kidnapping of another Israeli soldier on June 25. It is also a 
sign that two of the regions most recalcitrant terrorist organizations 
have no interest in the peace and security of the people they 
supposedly now represent in elected governments in Lebanon and the 
Palestinian Territories.
  Both of these attacks were clear acts of war--attacks on Israeli 
soldiers guarding undisputed Israeli territory. The Hezbollah attack 
was also a blatant breach of Security Council resolutions 1559, 1655, 
and 1680, which certified Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese 
territory, called for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon, and 
called for an end to attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border.
  Despite these resolutions, Hezbollah remains an armed militia group 
with unrestrained activity in Lebanon and has not been pressured by the 
Lebanese Government to disarm. In fact, Hezbollah is a part of the 
Lebanese Government now with 23 seats in the Lebanese parliament and 
two ministers in the Government. According to the Department of State, 
Hezbollah receives $30-40 million a month in cash, aid, and arms 
support from Iran. Additionally, Syria is still a strong partner with 
Iran in supporting, sheltering, and funding Hezbollah to the detriment 
of the people of Lebanon
  Mr. President, I believe it is critical that the Senate recognize 
Israel's right to defend itself, and call on the Government of Lebanon 
to immediately and unconditionally release the abducted Israeli 
soldiers. The same holds true for the soldier held by Hamas in Gaza. At 
the same time, we must insist that Iran and Syria immediately cease 
interfering in the internal affairs of Lebanon and the Palestinian 
Territories by ending all support for Hezbollah and Hamas.
  I will shortly be introducing legislation to increase pressure on the 
Government of Lebanon to do the right thing and disarm Hezbollah. The 
Lebanese people surely deserve better than to have their fate 
determined by this terrorist organization. But for now, Israel deserves 
our unwavering support as it aims to protect its people from these 
unprovoked attacks.

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