[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 496]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BEN CHANDLER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 9, 2009

  Mr. CHANDLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Israel's 
enduring friendship with the United States of America, as well as its 
right to self-defense in an appropriate and proportional manner from 
the threats posed to it by its neighbors who seek its demise.
  As most Palestinians hunger for peace, the actions of Hamas, 
sponsored by Iran and often attempting to maximize Palestinian civilian 
casualties, make this road to peace much more difficult. Israel 
withdrew from Gaza in 2005, hoping that this withdrawal would usher in 
peace between the two rivals. However, since 2005 Hamas has fired 
thousands of rockets into Israel. Over the past 6 weeks alone, Hamas, 
outside the confines of the ceasefire agreement, fired hundreds of 
rockets and mortars into Israel without warning, killing men, women and 
children. These continuous acts of terror have left Israel with no 
other choice but to defend its citizens.
  An important and reliable ally in an unstable region, Israel is 
fundamental to our foreign policy in the Middle East. I am disappointed 
to see an end to the 6-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as 
this ultimately leads to more civilian casualties on both sides. 
However, I think it is important to recognize that Israel faces great 
threats along its border from which it has every right to defend 
itself.
  During the 6-month ceasefire, Israel's support of the people of 
Gaza--such as supplying food, medical and other supplies--was 
commendable. This assistance highlights the potential for a peaceful 
resolution to this enduring conflict, which I hope to see in my 
lifetime.

                          ____________________