[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15372]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today from both sides of 
the aisle to stand with the people of Israel in support of their 
sovereign right to defend themselves against Hamas terror. Over the 
past year alone, Hamas has launched approximately 900 rockets and 
artillery shells from Gaza into Israeli civilian neighborhoods. My 
colleagues, think for just a minute: if rockets were coming from Mexico 
or from Canada, we would not stand for it for one minute.
  This week, we saw Hamas fire rockets that struck as far north as Tel 
Aviv. And today, we have disturbing reports that at least one rocket 
hit near Jerusalem--the seat of Israel's government and a city holy to 
Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. That Hamas would specifically 
target Israel's Parliament building, as reports indicate, shows the 
great disregard Hamas has for the very idea of democracy, which does 
not exist in Gaza.
  By strengthening the United States relationship with Israel, this 
Congress will send a powerful message to Hamas and all in the region 
who would cause Israel harm. The right of self-defense cannot be 
allowed to go unexercised by a government dedicated to the protection 
of its people. We will stand with Israel. And we also, Mr. Speaker, 
lament the loss of life of Palestinians. Every life is important, so it 
is not that we stand insensitive to the lives of Palestinians, but they 
need to stop the violence and the attacks. Israel has the right to 
defend itself, and we will stand with them.

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