[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16282-16283]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart 
concerning the violence taking place in Israel and Lebanon. On July 12, 
Hezbollah committed a reckless act of aggression against Israel by 
killing eight soldiers and kidnapping two others.
  Following this outrageous act, I joined with all of my colleagues in 
the Senate to support a resolution reaffirming Israel's rights to 
defend itself. I stand by that commitment, because Hezbollah and its 
large cache of arms is a threat to Israel and to America.
  But I also watched the last 2 weeks, and those last 2 weeks have 
brought bloodshed on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border--innocent 
people dying, families being torn apart, communities being destroyed. 
It has gone on too long, and it must stop.
  I am proud to represent the great State of Michigan. When you come 
from Michigan, violence in the Middle East isn't just a news story. It 
isn't just ``over there.'' It is here, and it affects thousands of 
people--friends of mine, people whom I know and respect. In the case of 
Lebanon and Israel, this violence affects mothers, fathers, sisters, 
brothers, children, and whole communities on both sides.
  Some people call Bint Jubail a Hezbollah stronghold--and I understand 
that. But 15,000 of my constituents call it their hometown. In fact, 
Dearborn, MI is home to the Bint Jubail Cultural Center that provides 
sort of a home away from home for many families.
  Tragically, many Michigan families, their relatives, and their loved 
ones are trapped in Bint Jubail at this moment. They are caught in 
heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, and people are dying on 
both sides. Today I pray for them and grieve with their families.
  The lucky ones were able to get out--such as Rania Horani from 
Dearborn who was vacationing with her family in Bint Jubail when the 
fighting broke out. Fortunately, Rania was evacuated, but she spoke to 
the Associated Press about this terrifying experience. She said:

       You're waiting, you're scared, you don't know if you are 
     going to die. But you have to get out because you're going to 
     die either from starvation, fear, stress, or a bomb. Thank 
     God we're [in Cyprus].

  We share that sentiment.
  But the tragedy continues for hundreds of others stuck in Bint Jubail 
right now. The State Department must not stop the evacuations until 
every American and their family is safely out of Lebanon.
  Last evening I spoke with one of the assistant Secretaries of State 
about American citizens and their family members who are still there. 
And I appreciate the attention of the assistant Secretary and of the 
Embassy, but we can not stop the ships.
  We can not stop the rescue missions until all Americans and their 
families can come home. Too many people are still stuck there.

[[Page 16283]]

  On the Israeli side, there is also too much destruction and loss of 
life. I understand how they must feel. Thousands of Americans fear for 
their families. Thousands of people in Michigan, friends of mine, 
hundreds of Michigan teenagers were evacuated in the middle of a summer 
trip to Israel because they were close to Hezbollah rocket attacks. I 
know their families and the fear of their moms and dads about whether 
their children would come home safely from a summer trip.
  Brandon Lebowitz, a student at West Bloomfield High School, was a few 
miles away from the bombings in Tiberius. He talked about his harrowing 
experience:

       We saw the missiles hitting the city and the smoke and we 
     heard them from across the sea. We were pretty close to the 
     missiles exploding.

  I know how I would feel if that were my son.
  Innocent Americans from both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border 
have fled to Michigan, have come back home to escape the violence, 
watch the news every day, waiting to see what will happen to their 
families.
  Unfortunately, many civilians did not escape the violence. Over 400 
Israelis and Lebanese have died in the fighting. This has got to stop. 
The U.S. Government must push hard to stop the hostilities and the 
violence against innocent citizens. Innocent citizens are being killed 
in Lebanon and in Israel. I believe it is our responsibility to stand 
up and do everything possible to bring that violence to an end. That is 
why I am pleased to be a cosponsor of a resolution with Senator Dodd, 
my colleague, Senator Levin, and Senator Sununu that expresses support 
to attain a cessation in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. We 
know this is not easy, but we know innocent people--families, 
Americans--are counting on us to show leadership.
  Regrettably, over the last 5 years our Government has not played the 
leadership role so critical in the Middle East, the leadership role 
played by every other administration, whether Democrat or Republican. 
It is time to assert our leadership and put a stop to the violence as 
soon as possible. The innocent people of Lebanon and Israel have had 
enough of the violence and bloodshed. It is time for them to be able to 
live their lives in peace.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation in the 
Senate?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is in morning business 
with 10 minutes for Senators to speak therein.

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