[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CONDEMNING HAMAS ATTACKS

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                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly condemn attacks 
against Israel in recent weeks. I deeply regret the loss of innocent 
civilian life in Israel and Gaza and urge Hamas, for the sake of its 
own people and those in the region, to immediately cease the attacks 
and agree to a lasting truce with its democratic neighbor.
  As our strongest ally in the Middle East, I believe Israel has the 
right to defend its citizens from the constant barrage of Hamas rocket 
attacks from inside Gaza. For too long, Hamas has used terrorism 
against Israel to destabilize the region and prevent peace for the 
people of Israel and the Palestinian territories. As long as Hamas 
continues to attack innocent Israelis and use ordinary Palestinians as 
human shields, I will continue to support Israel's right to self-
defense and its stated goal of preventing Hamas from firing rockets 
into Israel.
  I remain hopeful that the United States and its allies can help bring 
a sustainable ceasefire to the region through diplomacy and create the 
conditions necessary for a durable peace.

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