[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7269]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL

  (Mr. BARROW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my continued support 
for our strongest ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel.
  I recently traveled to Israel with a bipartisan group of colleagues 
to see firsthand the very real threats Israel faces every day. The 
relationship between the United States and Israel is based on a shared 
commitment to democratic values.
  Like the United States, but to a much greater extent and for a lot 
longer, Israel has stood against those who use terror against civilians 
as a means of bringing about political change.
  Recent reports suggest that the Palestinian Authority may form a 
union with Hamas, a terrorist organization that intentionally targets 
Israeli civilians for political gain. Unless and until Hamas renounces 
violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist, any such union with 
Hamas would mean that the Palestinian Authority chooses violence and 
extremism over peaceful coexistence among the family of nations.
  I urge all of my colleagues to stand up for Israel and to oppose any 
such alliance between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

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