[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 208]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1945
                          ISRAELI PEACE TALKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, a year ago Israel was engaged in 
defensive operations to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks. In 
doing so, Israel was exercising the most basic right and responsibility 
of a state, to protect one's citizens. Troubling, many in the 
international community condemned Israel's actions. Many more refused 
to recognize Israel's right to self-defense.
  As we begin this new year, I'm here to speak up for the right of 
sovereign nations to defend their people. Israel has a right to defend 
itself. The U.S., as a strong ally of Israel, must be vigilant in 
supporting this most basic right.
  I just read a story in the Jerusalem Post about life in Israel a year 
after Operation Cast Lead. Before the war, Israelis were enduring 
relentless rocket and mortar attacks in Gaza. Terrorists launched more 
than 12,000 rockets and mortars across borders in Gaza at Israel's 
civilians over the course of 8 years. These rockets were not aimed at 
military targets, but the goal was to try to kill civilians and instill 
a sense of fear in the Israeli people.
  Thousands of Israelis living within range of Hamas rockets had their 
whole lives changed. Locating the nearest shelter as they went around 
town became second nature to them. Israelis living in the time of 
Sderot have just 15 seconds from the time a warning is sounded to take 
shelter from missile attacks. Young children did not know that this way 
of life was not normal.
  When I visited Israel last year, I had the opportunity to meet with 
several Israeli families from Sderot. They told me compelling stories 
about living under the constant barrage of terrorist activity and the 
challenges of raising a family under these conditions, yet their 
attitude was, This is our home. This is our community, and we are going 
to stay and surmount this adversity. The families under attack faced 
difficult circumstances, but they were not willing to give up on a 
place they considered home, nor should they have to.
  Since Operation Cast Lead, things have improved for Israelis living 
within the range of Hamas rockets, yet we should know, the attacks 
still occur. Since the end of the war, there have been an additional 
300 attacks. This is, of course, far less than the 3,200 attacks in 
2008 but, still, 300 too many.
  At the time the story in The Jerusalem Post was written, 242 attacks 
had occurred since the end of Operation Cast Lead. The writer said that 
it was both shocking and sad that her friends would say, Only 242 
attacks. She asked, In what other country do you think that it's a 
reasonable number of rocket attacks aimed at civilian targets in 1 
year? Any terrorist attack is unacceptable.
  Israelis hope for peace. They do not want war or conflict with their 
neighbors, but peace is a two-way street. Israeli Prime Minister 
Binyamin Netanyahu has reiterated Israel's commitment to peace. He has 
said that he is ready to resume peace talks now and without condition. 
He even placed a 10-month moratorium on the construction of new homes 
in the West Bank to jump-start the peace talks.
  It is my sincere hope that Israel's willingness to make peace will be 
reciprocated and that the terrorist attacks will cease. But if attacks 
continue, Israelis must be allowed to defend their homes, and we in the 
United States must assist in that effort and support their basic right 
to do so.

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