SAMEH HABEEB: VICTIM'S VICTIM

AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
FROM THE RECENT WAR IN GAZA.

CURATED BY MOHAMMAD SALEMY

& PIROOZ NEMATI

MARCH 6 - APRIL 30, 2009

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WE ARE BACK AFTER THE WAR

As you noticed, the events of gaza war made this blog g into hibernation. We were busy with so much real time activities such as maintaining the JOIN BRIAN ENO IN CONDEMNING ISRAEL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF CIVIL LIFE IN GAZA. that we simply stopped putting links up and adding stuff here. We managed to receive over 2000 endorsement of the statement.

But we are back. and this is our debut. This video is based on a letter that the narrator of the video wrote to Obama on November 5, 2008, as America celebrated Obama's Victory and as the Israeli army initiated the attack that unilaterally ended the truce between Israel and Hamas, setting the stage for the following brutal war.

Please watch and pass it on for others to also see.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: US CONGRESS AND ISRAEL'S WAR ON GAZA

Following, in alphabetical order, is a record of the various statements, press releases, speeches to the Senate and the House, and interviews given by members, senators, and other top government officials, leading up to and following the resolutions of Thursday and Friday:

Rep. John Adler (D-NJ)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adler issued the following statement today, at the beginning of his first full day as a Member of the 111th Congress:

“The deadly rocket attacks originating in Hamas-controlled Gaza are not the work of a faceless aggressor. The terrorist organization Hamas is responsible. Israel’s only option is to defend its citizens and I strongly support their efforts to do so. In order for the peace process to begin again, Hamas must end these acts of terror and recognize Israel’s right to exist.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, today released the following statement regarding the situation in Gaza:

“I urge the American public to firmly support Israel as our longstanding ally takes measures to defend its people against indiscriminate assault from Hamas terrorists,” said Alexander. “Israel is absolutely warranted in defending itself and in taking all the necessary military steps to guarantee the safety and security of its people from the constant rocket and mortar attacks.”

“Hamas’ relentless disregard for the lives of innocent civilians serves as a continuous reminder that it subsists as nothing more than a terrorist organization,” said Alexander. “Until Hamas decides to permanently halt this relentless cycle of terror, I will firmly stand with our democratic ally as Israel fights to restore security in the region, and to protect its people.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ)

“The sovereign Nation of Israel has every right to defend itself against Hamas' continued acts of terror. Hamas’ unwillingness to agree to a durable ceasefire has led to the death of innocent civilians and hindered any progress that was made to sustain peace and security in the region. I strongly support Israel in their difficult decision to respond with force and the United States must stand by its democratic ally in its effort to protect its citizens.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

David Axelrod, Senior Adviser to President-elect Barack Obama

“The president-elect recognizes the special relationship between United States and Israel. It's an important bond, an important relationship. He's going to honor it.

“And he wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and deserve.”

“And obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks. As Hamas began its shelling, Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to.”

“He's going to work closely with the Israelis. They're a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the region. … But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace, and work closely with the Israelis and the Palestinians on that -- toward that objective.”

“The president-elect was on the phone with Secretary Rice yesterday. He's monitoring the situation closely. But the Bush administration has to speak for America now.”

“I think he wants to get a handle on the situation, so that, when he becomes president on January 20th, he has the advantage of all the facts and information leading up to that point.” (Interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” December 28, 2008).

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6) today issued the following statement on the actions taken by Israel against Hamas in Gaza:

“No country can stand by idly while its citizens are bombarded virtually daily by rocket attacks. Any nation that ignored such a provocation would not exist for long. Israel has a right and indeed a duty to protect itself and its people.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

“Well, any time you have a war, the consequences are tragic on both sides. You know, some Israeli soldiers were killed, in the last 24 hours, in friendly fire. You have missiles falling on their communities. And, obviously, for the people of Gaza, it's a tragedy.

But what we need here, Andrea, is a resolution, not just a temporary hiatus, where the war will continue in another six months or 12 months or 18 months and people will be killed then -- we need a real resolution.

And in order for that to happen, only two things, both of which are under the control of Hamas, need to occur. Number one, if they would just stop firing the missiles; and, number two, if they would just agree, at some point, to live in harmony with Israel and not swear to destroy them, then this thing could be resolved, not just once but once and for all.

And so a temporary cease-fire, I'm afraid, would just allow the combatant that is unwilling to agree to peace, Hamas, to rearm and to reperpetrate this conflict at a later date. And that's not in anyone's best interest.”
(Interview by Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)

On December 19, the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, ended a cease-fire with Israel and began indiscriminately shelling southern Israeli cities, targeting civilians and causing widespread fear and destruction. On Saturday, December 27, Israel responded to those non-stop attacks by targeting Hamas leaders and infrastructure.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation in Israel:

“I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’s unprovoked missile attacks on its citizens. While I am saddened by the loss of civilian lives on both sides, Hamas can –and must – stop this violence by ending their attacks. Hamas places their military installations in civilian areas, in complete disregard for human life, and Hamas deserves sole blame.

“It is essential we stand by our ally Israel at this time and not engage in a double-standard that condemns Israel’s response, but turns a blind eye to the unconscionable attacks that began the violence in the first place. Since leaving Gaza in 2005, Israel has done everything in its power to peacefully stop Hamas from smuggling in weapons. Yet the Arab nations and the UN have done almost nothing to stop this, as more than 4,500 rockets have fallen on Israel, resulting in the senseless deaths of innocent men, women and children.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)

Van Nuys, CA -- Howard L. Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has released the following statement concerning the security situation in Israel: “Israel has a right, indeed a duty, to defend itself in response to the hundreds of rockets and mortars fired from Gaza over the past week. No government in the world would sit by and allow its citizens to be subjected to this kind of indiscriminate bombardment. The loss of innocent life is a terrible tragedy, and the blame for that tragedy lies with Hamas.” (Press Release, December 27, 2008)

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)

As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, Congressman Bilirakis has a particular interest in monitoring progress in the Middle East, especially as it relates to Israeli security and has issued the following statement:

“Israel is our single most important, strategic ally in the Middle East, serving on the front lines in our joint battle against terrorism and weapons proliferation.

The events of the past few days in Gaza demonstrate unequivocally that the terrorist organization, Hamas, has no interest in attaining peace with Israel. Extraordinary restraint has been exercised by Israel in the face of the constant barrage of rockets that have rained down upon the Israeli civilian population. Last year I visited the traumatized citizens of Sderot, who relayed their heartbreaking stories of the constant fear and terror they live through due to the where it left off and continued their destructive bombardment in southern Israel.

I applaud Israel in her actions to protect her people and target only those Hamas militants that have engaged in these terrorist attacks in Israel. I will continue to work hard as we embark on the 111th Congress next week to assure our ally and friend, Israel, has the means necessary to resist existential threats from her hostile neighbors, and that she remains a beacon of freedom and liberty in the Middle East.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I-NY)

“I just wanted to say that I feel very strongly that Israel really does have a right, in fact an obligation, to defend itself against terrorist attacks. New Yorkers certainly know what it's like to be targeted by terrorists and we also know the importance of fighting back, and I really do want to strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Israel and Hamas's decision to break last summer's ceasefire. I think we all had great hopes last summer that people could live together in peace and that, unfortunately, at the moment is not the case.

“The last time I was in Israel I did see the effect of those attacks on the Israeli people. I visited Sderot where the mayor showed me what daily life is under a constant barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza, and, I saw and I heard during that visit, and it's come back to me time and time again over the last few weeks just as the holiday season shared this year by Jews and Muslims and Christians was shattered when Hamas broke the ceasefire and launched rocket attacks against - and mortar attacks - against Israel. I think both the Bush Administration and the Obama team have been clear that Hamas must end its terrorist attacks, and I stand firmly behind Israel and all we can do is pray for a more peaceful 2009.

"Everybody should have a right to live their lives without worrying about their safety, whether it's safety on the streets from criminals or attacks by terrorists coming in from the air or suicide bombers or anything else. We just have to find a way in 2009 to stop killing each other, which, unfortunately, terrorists seem determined to continue to do.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Outgoing House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Washington, D.C. - Southwest Missouri Congressman today issued the following statement regarding the ongoing conflict in southern Israel and Gaza: “Nobody, and certainly not innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians, wanted to see this conflict break out yet again. This violence was uncalled for and avoidable, but entirely provoked by the leaders of Hamas with months of rocket attacks on Israeli towns and cities. “I am hopeful - as are leaders around the world - that peace can return to the border between Israel and Gaza, but that peace is only possible if Hamas promises to cease their continued attacks on Israeli civilians.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Shortly after being sworn in as a freshman member of the 111th Congress, Congressman John Boccieri today issued the following words of support for Israel as it fights back against Hamas terrorists:

“In the past year alone, Israel has been barraged by nearly 3,000 rockets from Hamas terrorists. No sovereign state can be expected to endure constant attacks without acting to defend itself and its citizens, and I support the right of Israel fight back against Islamic extremists.

“Having spent time in the Middle East, I know that the Palestinian people are not to blame for the actions of the extremists that hide among them. Like them, I hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to the conflict currently taking place; however, that cannot happen as long as Hamas continues to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel while indifferent regional actors either passively watch or, even worse, support these cowardly attacks. Israel is a friend and ally, and the United States will stand behind Israeli leaders as they continue to defend their homes and their citizens.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement supporting a measure to reaffirm the alliance between the United States and Israel and condemn the terrorist group Hamas’ violent attacks against the country:

“The United States has stood with our Israeli allies for more than six decades, and we stand strongly with them during the current conflict. Hamas’ decision to break the ceasefire agreement last month in order to launch violent attacks against Israel is one that cannot be tolerated. Congress overwhelmingly supports Israel’s right to defend itself and its continuation as a democratic Jewish state. In the interest of long-term and long-sought peace in the Middle East, it is time for Hamas to end the violence and honor the ceasefire agreement with Israel.” (Press Release, January 9, 2009)

Washington, Dec 30 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement supporting the state of Israel as attacks continue in Gaza:

“Israel has the right to defend its citizens and territory, as it is doing. The current outbreak of violence is the result of Hamas’ decision to break the ceasefire agreement on December 19. The only way for the violence to end is for Hamas to stop its attacks on Israel immediately, honor the ceasefire agreement and work in good faith to establish a peaceful resolution.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today voiced his support for Israel’s response to Hamas-led attacks on the Democratic nation.

“Israel has every right to defend its borders and protect its people,” said Bond. “With their unprovoked attacks on Israel, Hamas is demonstrating their true commitment is to violence, not peace.”

Bond, who two weeks ago returned from a visit to Israel, pointed out that Israel offered an olive branch by fully disengaging from Gaza in August of 2005. Unfortunately, the Israelis’ peace offering has been met with continued rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. These Hamas-led attacks have increased by 500 percent since disengagement and during the informal six-month cease-fire some 215 rockets were launched at Israel.

Bond urged President-elect Obama and the new Democratic-led Congress to continue strong support for Israel. Bond emphasized that America and the international community must also be committed to securing a just and peaceable agreement between Israel and Palestine through a two-state solution.

“It is critical that America remain steadfast in our support of Israel’s right to exist and protect its borders,” said Bond. “I hope President-elect Obama uses his new momentum in office to push for a two-state solution that will bring lasting peace to Israelis and Palestinians living in this troubled region.”

Essential to supporting Israel’s sovereignty is continuing American-Israeli defense cooperation, said Bond. The United States must provide Israel with anti-missile defense systems, like Arrow 3 which Bond supported funding for, that will help keep the Israeli people safe from the multiple dangers they face in the region.

In addition to diplomatic and military efforts, Bond noted the importance of American support for humanitarian – or “Smart Power” initiatives to promote peace. While in Israel, Bond was briefed on the success of these initiatives in influencing hearts and minds, like USAID clean sewer and water infrastructure projects in both Israel and Palestinian communities. Bond also pointed to the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, which predominantly serves pregnant Palestinian mothers and babies, as a shining example of promoting peace through serving the poor. Bond secured federal funding for Holy Family Hospital which provides quality health care regardless of religion or ethnicity. (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK)

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Congressman Dan Boren issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza:

“I affirm the right for Israel as a sovereign nation to militarily defend its people against attacks from Hamas. The continued rocket-fire into Israel from Gaza by Hamas militants must stop immediately. I am greatly concerned by reports from the international media and humanitarian organizations about the mounting tally of civilian casualties on both sides of this conflict. I urge President-elect Barack Obama, once he is sworn into office, to take swift and decisive action through diplomacy to reach a peaceful settlement to the crisis.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA)

“Madam Speaker, I strongly support Israel's right to defend itself against the rocket attacks by Hamas--attacks which have killed and injured many Israeli citizens. Israel's actions are understandable. We must stand by our ally and be involved in any negotiations. I'm heartened to learn of a possible cease fire proposal. However, any cease fire must ensure an end to the terrorist attacks by Hamas.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

"The promise of peace in the Middle East will not be realized until attacks against Israel by terrorist organizations stop completely. No country in the world would stand for its citizens being targeted by rockets without taking appropriate action in self defense.

"It is tragic that this crisis-which was initiated by Hamas- has come to this. It is time for a real and sustainable cease-fire with complete calm on all sides. The United States and all nations of goodwill must assist in the peace process for the good of all the innocents and for the good of the world." (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kevin Brady (R- The Woodlands) issued the following statement on the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas:

“Israel is well within its rights as a sovereign nation to defend itself from terrorist attacks. Since the Egyptian-mediated truce ended just over ten days ago, Hamas has bombarded Israel with thousands of rockets – one even struck an empty kindergarten in Beersheba, Israel’s fifth largest city. While I continue to hold out hope for a peaceful solution, I am disheartened by Hamas statements such as "Rockets will be on your daily agenda.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. I appreciate my Democratic colleague for bringing this very important issue to the forefront, and I support your effort to do so, and I trust that we across the aisle can continue to support Israel.

In the Torah, in the Old Testament of the Bible, we read: Blessed is the Nation that blesses Israel , and cursed is the Nation that curses Israel . We as a Nation have been extremely blessed by our creator, by God, and I believe a big part of that, a huge part of that is because we have blessed Israel and supported Israel . These people are under attack by terrorists who consider Jewish people dogs, less than human, and we need to support Israel.

I highly congratulate my Democratic colleague for bringing this forward, and I encourage our colleagues to continue to support Israel , to continue to do what we can to make sure that the Israeli citizens remain safe against these heinous attacks by Hamas, by Hezbollah, by the Iranian people who are funding both organizations. So we need to absolutely continue to support Israel so that God will continue to support America, and I congratulate my colleague for bringing this forward, and I look forward to working with you to continue to support Israel.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)

“I support Israel's right to defend its citizens against constant attacks from the Hamas terrorists. All Americans should be encouraged to reach out to our Jewish Brethren to let them know of our understanding of the situation and to loudly proclaim Israel's actions as justified. For over 8 years, thousands of rockets and mortars have been fired into Israeli territory threatening the lives and security of Jewish families, their homes, schools and sacred worship sites. The Hamas terrorists do not respect property or lives and are ruthless in their hatred and they have no intention of ever abiding by a cease fire agreement. In fact, the recent cease fire was never honored by the Palestinians because they engaged in over 540 continuous attacks launched from the Gaza strip into Israel.

“When I was in Israel I saw first hand the humanitarian compassion of the Israeli people whether through the Hadassah Hospital where they treat the terrorists or through truckloads of food and other necessary supplies sent into the Gaza area. It is unconscionable that Hamas terrorists act in such a barbarian manner toward the Israeli people who have reached out in peaceful actions to attempt to end the conflict. Until Hamas is serious about any kind of peaceful co-existence, it is imperative that Israel have our support for their actions to defend its people from continuous terrorism.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)

“All Americans should stand behind the courageous Israelis fighting to defend themselves from an incessant barrage of Hamas-sponsored terrorism.

“For far too long, Hamas has been launching rockets into Israel without penalty. Even after Israel fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas continued to launch thousands of rockets and mortars into the Southern part of Israel.
“Israel’s response this week proves that there will be consequences. This confrontation can be resolved by Hamas immediately ending its unprovoked attacks against Israel. Once that happens, efforts towards reaching a promising solution for long-term peace can resume.” (Constituent Letter, January 2, 2009)

State Rep. Armond Budish (D-OH)

I highly congratulate my Democratic colleague for bringing this forward, and I encourage our colleagues to continue to support Israel, to continue to do what we can to make sure that the Israeli citizens remain safe against these heinous attacks by Hamas, by Hezbollah, by the Iranian people who are funding both organizations. So we need to absolutely continue to support Israel so that God will continue to support America, and I congratulate my colleague for bringing this forward, and I look forward to working with you to continue to support Israel.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

“I believe the United States must stand behind its great friend and ally in the war on terror – Israel – in its own defense against the forces of terror supported by Hamas. Hamas has chosen to ignore repeated overtures for the Palestinians’ peaceful co-existence with Israel and, as a result, has put innocent families on both sides of this struggle in grave danger. Israel’s government has the right and responsibility to defend its land and its people from terror. In that same vein, innocent Palestinian families should not be punished because of their own leaders’ failings. I hope all parties involved – with help from America’s leaders – find a way to end the violence once and for all so that Israel can exist forever in peace with its neighbors.” (Public Statement, January 8, 2009)

President George W. Bush

Good morning. Over the past week, I have been monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely with the members of my national security team. Secretary Rice is actively engaged in diplomacy. And I've been in contact with leaders throughout the region -- including the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, the President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, and the Prime Minister of Israel.

This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel's destruction. Eighteen months ago, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a coup, and since then has imported thousands of guns and rockets and mortars. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but Hamas routinely violated that ceasefire by launching rockets into Israel. On December 19th, Hamas announced an end to the ceasefire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis -- an act of terror that is opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President Abbas.

In response to these attacks on their people, the leaders of Israel have launched military operations on Hamas positions in Gaza. As a part of their strategy, Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population, which puts innocent Palestinians at risk. Regrettably, Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days.

The United States is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people. Since Hamas's violent takeover in the summer of 2007, living conditions have worsened for Palestinians in Gaza. By spending its resources on rocket launchers instead of roads and schools, Hamas has demonstrated that it has no intention of serving the Palestinian people. America has helped by providing tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, and this week we contributed an additional $85 million through the United Nations. We have consistently called on all in the region to ensure that assistance reaches those in need. And as I told President Mubarak, America appreciates the role Egypt has played in facilitating the delivery of relief supplies in recent days.

In addition to reducing humanitarian suffering, all nations must work toward a lasting end to the violence in the Holy Land, and a return to the path of peace. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected. Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And promises from Hamas will not suffice -- there must be monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end. I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace.

In the days ahead, the United States will stay closely engaged with our partners in the region, in Europe, and in the international community. My Administration will continue to keep the President-elect and his team informed. And America's objectives in the Middle East will remain clear: We seek security and peace for our allies, the free people of Israel. For the Palestinian people, we seek a peaceful and democratic Palestinian state that serves its citizens and respects its neighbors. For all in the region, we seek an end to terror. And we seek an enduring peace based on justice, dignity, and human rights for every person in every nation of the Middle East. Thank you for listening. (Presidential Radio Address, January 2, 2009)

Rep. John Campbell (R-CA)

Washington- Today, U.S. Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) issued the following statement regarding the current situation in the Gaza Strip:

“I have been a long and vocal supporter of the rights of Israel and its ability to defend itself in accordance with international law. The facts are clear; the current outbreak of violence is a direct result of the decision by the leaders of Hamas to flagrantly break the ceasefire agreement on December 19.”

“I strongly support the right of Israel to defend its citizens and its territory. I sincerely hope that the leaders of Hamas will cease their attacks on Israel immediately and indefinitely. I pray that the violence will soon come to an end, and that both Israel and Hamas can negotiate in good faith toward the establishment of a peaceful and lasting resolution. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost their lives and who have been injured in this unfortunate occurrence.”

Campbell went on to say: “If the United States were attacked by one of its neighbors, or any other foreign power for that matter, we would respond accordingly, citing our national self interest and the right to defend our citizens and sovereignty. Israel is conducting its actions much the same as the United States would.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)

“During this difficult war in the Gaza Strip, we stand with Israel. Why? Because we have been to Israel. We have seen Sderot. In August 2005 and again in 2007, we visited the region of southern Israel that includes this embattled Israeli border town. Taken together, the trips helped us define the historical and military context for Israel's current action in Gaza. Our 2005 visit to Israel took place during the "disengagement" period, when Israel painfully uprooted its military and all Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the decision to leave in spite of significant domestic opposition. We remember how divided Israeli society was, with critics defiantly brandishing orange protest ribbons from their cars. Mr. Sharon's goal, however, was an international show of good faith to kick-start a moribund peace process by giving the Palestinians what they asked for: full control of Gaza.

The plan collapsed. Israel's good intentions were never reciprocated. Instead of building roads, bridges, schools and industry, Hamas and other terrorists wasted millions turning Gaza into an armory. The already flimsy notion that Palestinian terrorism was a consequence of Israeli occupation -- an article of faith among those currently decrying Israel's "aggression" -- blew up along with the 7,000 indiscriminate rockets Palestinian terrorists began to launch into Israel.

By the time we returned to the border area in 2007, formerly sleepy southern Israeli towns like Sderot were gripped by fear. Each day, scores of rockets pounded the region. It reminded us of how life was paralyzed in the Washington metropolitan area when just a single sniper fired random shots at civilians. But southern Israel was far worse. We remember Israeli families from Sderot describing how every facet of their lives was consumed by the "15-second rule": Each time a rocket was fired from Gaza, the Israeli government sounded a siren indicating 15 seconds to take cover. We were told by Israelis those tasks as simple as taking a shower or stepping outside to grab a newspaper felt like a game of Russian roulette. We met families whose children had lost the ability to speak, and who no longer had control of their basic bodily functions -- due to the profound and ever-present fear.

Prior to military action, Israel tried a number of other options to stop the rockets, all to no avail. Israel pleaded with Palestinian terror groups to stop their attacks. Israel raised numerous complaints at the United Nations that fell on deaf ears. Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza to deprive Hamas terrorists of the rockets and weapons being used to attack Israel. Israel pressed Egypt to cut down on smuggling tunnels used to deliver rockets and weapons to terrorists. And most recently, Israel worked with Egypt to broker a six-month cease-fire with Hamas.

As Israel negotiated for peace, Hamas built up its weapons supply, acquiring longer-range, more powerful rockets, which are now paralyzing almost 1 million Israelis. Israel's decision to go to war came late last month when Hamas declared that it would not renew the Egyptian-brokered, six-month cease-fire (a cease-fire, it should be noted, that Hamas frequently violated and was urged by Egypt to restore).
In any armed conflict, both sides are obligated by international law to seek to minimize civilian casualties. At a time when far too many civilians are falling victim in this conflict, we urge adherence to this essential principle just as we encourage all sides to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches civilians in Gaza.

What distinguishes the two sides, however, is their very aim. While Israel targets military combatants, Hamas aims to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible. Hamas, after all, is one of the Middle East's most notorious terrorist outfits. Since its inception in 1987, it has worked systematically to fulfill the goal laid out in its charter: the destruction of Israel. During the last Intifada, Hamas claimed credit for 52 suicide bombings that killed 288 Israelis, according to Israeli government figures.

A culture that celebrates death is only too happy to sacrifice its own people for the sake of rallying world support. In the heat of war, Hamas is holding true to its indisputable record as it launches rockets from neighborhoods, schools, markets and mosques. This is in stark contrast with Israelis, who drop leaflets and make phone calls to Palestinian civilians in targeted areas, alerting the civilians, but forfeiting the element of surprise.

Like most Americans, we identify strongly with Israel's ongoing, elusive quest to achieve peace and security in a dangerous part of the world. We recognize that by arming and training Hamas, Iran has made this latest Israel-Hamas war a key front in its effort to remake the region in its own radical image.

America would never sit still if terrorists were lobbing missiles across our border into Texas or Montana; and just as we assert our right to defend ourselves, Israel has every right to protect its own citizens from the implacable foes on its borders. Support for Israel in her time of need, from both Democrats and Republicans, is not just the logical choice. It is both a strategic and moral imperative.”
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor represents Virginia's 7th Congressional District. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer represents Maryland's 5th Congressional District. (Washington Times, January 9, 2009)

In response to the Israeli Defense Force’s operations against terrorism in the Gaza strip, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) released the following statement:

“The United States and our allies in the war on terror must support the actions by the Israeli government to protect its citizens from unprovoked violence."

“Israel’s campaign is a defensive measure to stop the daily rocket attacks against unarmed Israelis. The terrorist group Hamas increased the rocket attacks after ignoring entreaties by Israel and Egypt to extend a six-month ceasefire. Just yesterday it was reported that terrorists fired some 80 rockets into Israel.
“The Israelis have proven time and time again their willingness to work with their neighbors for peace. Despite their best efforts, the Israelis have been forced to respond to terrorism with justifiable and understandable force to ensure their security. In contrast, Hamas has once again demonstrated its willingness to murder innocent Israelis and Palestinian civilians to achieve their political goals."

“This period will be neither easy nor short, and will require the determination and perseverance of the world community to stand with Israel to dismantle the terrorist group Hamas and punish nations who sponsors terror like Iran.” (Press Release, December 28, 2008)

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA)

“Once again the world witnesses appalling carnage in the Middle East. The casualties are terrible, and any feeling person must sympathize with the suffering experienced by civilians in Gaza and in southern Israel. It is time to commit ourselves to a negotiated peace, a two-state solution that acknowledges the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and freedom. Israel has the right to defend its citizens from rocket attacks. Palestinians have the right to expect from their elected leaders realism in the face of history. Israel has defended itself successfully for sixty years and will continue to do so. I urge that its leaders also commit themselves to confidence-building measures with Palestinians who seek peace and to cooperation with them to improve the lives of the Palestinian and Israeli people.

I urge President-elect Obama to quickly designate a Special Envoy for Mideast Peace. This would be an important expression of our concern for freedom, dignity, and well-being of all peoples of the region. A ceasefire, observed by all parties, credibly verified and effectively monitored, could be an important first step, but it is not a substitute for sustained, purposeful diplomacy.” (Public Statement, January 7, 2009)

Gov. Donald Carcieri (R-RI)

“From the birth of the modern State of Israel, the United States has had a special relationship with Israel, relying on her as our strongest ally in that troubled part of the world, and sharing the ideals of freedom and democracy.
Today, once again, the sounds of conflict dominate that region. We stand with Israel to insist not only on the preservation of her sovereignty and freedom, but also on the desirability of a peace that is meaningful and long-lasting.

Those of us who stand watching, hoping for the benefits of peace for all involved, must pray and work for the highest good: that people be respected, communications be honest, agreements be trustworthy, the rights of all be protected, that freedom and human life be reverenced.

Gathering together in solidarity reassures each one of us that yearning for a resolution of conflict is not foolhardy; it multiplies the efforts of each person who prays or hopes or acts for that peace. Please know that I am with you in this journey of peace that is long but worth every step taken.” (Public Statement, January 4, 2009)

Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)

“Madam President, a nation's first responsibility is to defend its citizens against hostile threats. The United States exercised that responsibility when the Taliban Government of Afghanistan supported terrorist attacks against our country. Israel has the responsibility to protect its citizens from Hamas terrorist attacks.

I am deeply saddened by the continued violence and loss of innocent lives on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border.

I strongly support Israel's right to defend its citizens against threats to its security and its existence. I wholeheartedly agree with President-elect Obama who defined the problem very clearly:

If somebody was sending rockets into my house, where my family slept at night I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that.

The recent military action in Gaza is in direct response to numerous rocket and mortar attacks from militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza, which have killed and injured Israeli citizens and currently paralyzes the southern regions of Israel.

Southern Israel cities have been the target of over 4,000 rockets and thousands of mortar shells since 2001, the majority of which were launched after Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. During the more recent 6-month truce, more than 215 rockets were launched at Israel. Hamas has been extending the range of its striking capability, with new rockets supplied by Iran . The Israeli Government now knows that Hamas had acquired rockets that can reach Ashdod and even the outskirts of Beersheba.

Hamas' willingness to extend its reach deeper into Israel and its overall failure to end attacks exacerbates the already fragile humanitarian situation for the residents of Gaza and undermines efforts to attain peace and security in the region. As a result of the fighting, Gaza City and its main medical center, Shiffa Hospital, have been left without electricity and hospitals are pushed beyond their capacity to handle the number of victims. Hamas seems to care more about inflicting damage on Israel than the protection and welfare of its own citizens.

Hamas poses a critical challenge to the regional peace process. Labeled as a terrorist organization but holding seats in the Palestinian Government and acting as the controlling authority in Gaza, the organization's leaders encourage violence and cling to the belief that Israel itself should be destroyed. Questions remain as to whether or not the organization should even be included in peace negotiations, but the fact remains that the threat Hamas poses to Israel is an obstacle to any negotiation efforts.

I urge Israel and the Palestinians to take advantage of the current efforts to broker a sustainable cease-fire and a negotiated peaceful settlement. Any such cease-fire must include Hamas' ending its rocket and mortar attacks, recognize its neighbor's right to exist, renounce violence, and honor all past agreements in order to move toward a two-state solution based on mutual peace and security.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today:

“I strongly urge Hamas to bring an end to its rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza that have killed and injured Israeli citizens. Israel has taken actions to defend itself and its people in an effort to restore security in the region. It is in everyone’s interest, particularly the innocent lives at risk on both sides of the border, that Hamas bring an end to its aggression, recognize its neighbor’s right to exist, and work toward mutual peace and security.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)

“Madame Speaker, I rise today to strongly condemn Hamas for its repeated rocket and mortar 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.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

“Rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israel are designed to inflict fear into the lives of innocent civilians. The attacks are a cowardly act of terror and should immediately stop. Israel has an undeniable right to take action to defend its people. As we begin a new year I am hopeful both sides accept a truce that is respected by Hamas.

Shortly the United States will be swearing in a new President who is committed to taking a more hands-on approach to peace in the Middle East. Today the Palestinian and Israeli people have the opportunity to take the first step and show the world that they are willing to live peacefully with one another.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Christopher Carney (D-PA)

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Christopher P. Carney issued the following statement on the Israel/Gaza conflict:

“While I am saddened by the loss of innocent lives on both sides of the border between Israel and Gaza, no sovereign nation can be expected to absorb relentless missile attacks without defending itself. While I am not surprised by their actions, I am still disappointed by Hamas’ refusal to stop terrorizing the people of Israel. I remain concerned, too, that Iran’s ties to Hamas are only further exacerbating the current conflict. Despite being on his way out of office, I implore President Bush and his diplomatic team to help establish a ceasefire so that regional stakeholders can begin meaningful negotiations toward a more lasting peace.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA)

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cosponsored a resolution that recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirms the United States’ strong support for Israel. The resolution passed the Senate earlier today.

“Israel, like every other state, has the sovereign right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens. The situation we see today in Gaza is a tragedy, but we cannot afford a return to the status quo where Hamas continues to terrorize the Israeli people. I look forward to working with the incoming Obama Administration to restore American leadership on behalf of a durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with two states co-existing side by side in peace and security.”

The resolution, introduced by Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) resolves the following:

1) Expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism;
(2) Reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians;
(3) Encourages the Administration to work actively to support a durable, enforceable, and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, as soon as possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and mortars against Israel and allows for the long term improvement of daily living conditions for the ordinary people of Gaza;
(4) Believes strongly that the lives of innocent civilians must be protected and that all involved should continue to work to address humanitarian needs in Gaza;
(5) Supports and encourages efforts to diminish the appeal and influence of extremists in the Palestinian territories, and strengthen moderate Palestinians who are committed to a secure and lasting peace with Israel; and
(6) Reiterates its strong support for U.S. government efforts to promote a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a serious and sustained peace process that leads to the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure State of Israel.

Yesterday, Senator Casey met with Dr. Susan Rice, President-elect Obama’s nominee to be the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At the meeting, Senator Casey and Dr. Rice discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Senator Casey also spoke to Dr. Rice about the approach she will bring to the United Nations if she were to be confirmed. (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy (R–Baton Rouge) issued the following statement in response to Israel’s actions to defend its citizens against continued rocket attacks from Hamas:

“Every nation has the right to defend itself. By responding to Hamas’ rocket attacks, the Israeli government is exercising its fundamental duty to defend the lives of its citizens. The United States would respond similarly if a neighboring country fired thousands of rockets into our cities and towns. I strongly support Israel’s right to self-defense. Lasting peace requires an unconditional commitment from Hamas to stop targeting Israeli civilians.”

In the past two months, Hamas has fired more than 600 rockets at Israel’s civilian population. On December 27, the Israeli military began targeting Hamas’ combat and munitions facilities, first by air and later by ground.
According to published reports, France and Egypt have made progress in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but the hostilities are still ongoing. (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor: “I’m listening to all sides now, but I have to tell you that once someone begins firing rockets into your home you have a right to respond. I hope they can all work for peace now and turn the corner. It’s a difficult situation.” (Public Statement, January 9, 2009)

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

“Madam President, I also wish to discuss the security in the Middle East and to offer my support for Israel . Israel is an important foundation of stability and democracy in the Middle East. The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is important not only to the peace and security of the Middle East but also to the rest of the world.

The United States and Israel share common principles and a strong commitment to eradicate terrorism and to secure a better future for the world. Israel has been a steadfast ally of the United States and, I assure you, the United States will stand ready to assist our friends, the Israelis, to promote peace, defeat terrorism, and prevent hostile countries that sponsor terrorism from obtaining nuclear weapons.

With hopes for peace and a two-state solution, Israel evacuated all of its citizens and soldiers from Gaza in 2005, including the uprooting of homes, schools, and places of worship. Unfortunately and regrettably, following these actions, the Palestinians failed to develop fully the Gaza Strip and voted into power Hamas, a terrorist organization supported by Iran and whose true objective is to eradicate the state of Israel.

Following years where terror groups in Gaza launched rockets at Israel , targeting the Israeli civilian population, it became clear that it was time for action. After Hamas failed to renew its self-imposed cease-fire--one it, frankly, never enforced fully--Israel was forced to take appropriate action to protect her citizens. To that end, Israel has responded appropriately.

The United States-Israel alliance remains more critical than ever as Israel defends her people and works to end the threat posed from terrorist groups on its borders. The United States and Israel face an unprecedented array of shared threats--from Iran developing a nuclear program with unclear intentions and a clear track record of deceit, to the expanding military capabilities of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which are supported by Iran--and security and stability in the Middle East, especially for our ally Israel , has never been more precarious.

I do hope this conflict will soon come to a peaceful conclusion. Nevertheless, nd let me be clear, Israel has every right to defend its citizens while taking precautions, to the extent possible, to spare the civilian population in Gaza and reduce collateral damage.

I urge the people of Gaza to reject Hamas and surrender the terrorists' rockets in the most expedient manner to facilitate ending this necessary action by Israel . Israel remains committed to peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, despite Hamas's constant bombardment of Israel and its ineffective control over the Gaza Strip.

In order to improve the prospects for successful and lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, it is necessary for all Palestinians to work toward a solution. This cannot be done while Hamas is allowed to rain terror into southern Israel . I encourage the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to form a legitimate and authoritative body which can speak for all of Palestine, effectuate change, and exercise control over terrorists who reside in their territory. I commend President Abbas for taking part in the international discussions about the situation in Gaza.

I support the necessary requirements of any cease-fire which Secretary Rice discussed before the United Nations. Hamas must end the rocket, mortar, and other attacks on Israel, and Israel can then cease its military offensive and reopen Gaza's border crossings so that Palestinians can benefit from humanitarian goods and basic supplies. Most importantly, the smuggling of weapons into Gaza through hundreds of illegal tunnels must end. The Arab states in the region, especially Egypt, should be a part of this process, and I encourage the Palestinians to seek their guidance and support, and in return for them to offer guidance and political and financial support.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

“Since 1948 and the creation of the nation of Israel, it has been and remains one of the greatest and strongest strategic allies and partners of the United States. Our countries have worked closely together in the areas of national security, economic development, and trade.

Israel is an important foundation of stability and democracy in the Middle East. The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is important not only to the peace and security of the Middle East, but also to the rest of the world.

The United States and Israel share common principles including the strong commitment to eradicate terrorism and secure a better future for the world. Israel has been a steadfast ally of the United States, and I assure you, the U.S. stands ready to assist our friends, the Israelis, to promote peace and defeat terrorism.
Following years where terror groups in Gaza launched rockets at Israel targeting the Israeli civilian population, it became clear it was time for action. After Hamas failed to renew its self imposed cease-fire--one it had never enforced fully--Israel was forced to take appropriate action to protect her citizens.

The United States supports Israel or any nation that is responding to attacks in self defense on its country and its citizens. I do hope that this conflict soon will come to a peaceful conclusion.

Nevertheless, and let me be clear, Israel has every right to defend its citizens while taking necessary precautions to spare the civilian population in Gaza and reduce collateral damage.” (Letter to AIPAC, January 7, 2009)

Vice President Richard B. Cheney

(Interview with Wolf Blitzer CNN, January 9, 2009)

“Blitzer: Let's move on to foreign policy a little bit. Gaza right now, it's a mess as all of us know. Hamas was, correct me if I'm wrong, democratically elected by the Palestinians. And the U.S. supported those elections and certified that they were fair. So the question is this: Should the U.S. be dealing with the Hamas element of the Palestinian society?

Cheney: I don't believe so, because Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization, and is.

Blitzer: So why did you let them participate in the elections?

Cheney: Well, remember what transpired here. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, took out all of their troops, moved out the settlers who had settled there, then turned it all back to the Palestinians. At that point the Palestinian Authority was nominally in control. Of course, Hamas came in and, in effect, first won an election, but then kicked all the others out. And then, instead of building Gaza, creating the genesis for a Palestinian state, they turned it into a launching pad for terrorist attacks, and in the next three years launched 7,000 rockets at Israel.

And Israel finally reached the point where they felt they had no choice but to go in and go after Hamas and take down that threat that they perceived to their country. And we have always defended Israel's right to defend themselves against terrorist attacks. So it's what Hamas did once they got into office obviously that's created the current crisis.

Blitzer: So is there any prospect of a cease-fire from the U.S. perspective, a truce? What do you say? Because the U.N. Security Council did pass a resolution with the U.S. abstaining.

Cheney: Right, they did pass a resolution. I think we've learned from watching over the years, that there's a big difference between what happens at the United Nations in their debates, and the facts on the ground in major crises around the world.

This is a situation where I think there's not likely to be a cessation of hostility, if you will, until we see Hamas agree to end their terrorist activities, their rocket launches, for example, against Israel; until we come up with a durable, sustainable cease-fire; find a way, for example, to limit the resupply of Hamas by their main supporters, Syria and Iran. So a lot needs to be done here.

The real tragedy as I look at it, Wolf, is what's happening to the Palestinian people. They are innocent bystanders. This is not a struggle between Israel and the Palestinians. This is a struggle where Israel is trying to defend itself against what's been designated by many people as a terrorist organization.”

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

Fairfax, VA -- Congressman-Elect Gerry Connolly made the following statement today concerning the ongoing security situation in Israel:

“The current tragic circumstances in the Gaza strip were triggered by Hamas' decision not to renew the cease fire with Israel and to resume mortar shelling of Israel proper. Israel has been forced to respond with air strikes to protect and defend innocent civilians exposed to such wanton violence. This relentless cycle of terror and retaliation will not cease until there is clear recognition of the right of Israel to exist within secure borders, at peace with its neighbors. That will require the re-engagement of intense U.S. diplomacy in the region and the willingness of all parties to return to the negotiating table.” (Press Release, January 3, 2009)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, made the following statement regarding the current situation in Gaza:

“It is the fundamental right of every sovereign nation to defend itself and its people when attacked by an enemy, Israel’s recent defensive military operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas have been both warranted and fully justified. Recent actions by Hamas – deliberately targeting innocent civilians for death and destruction and using innocent Palestinians as human shields – have reminded the world that Hamas is nothing more than a terrorist organization driven by hatred, fear and radical ideology. Hamas continues to stand as a roadblock to peace in the region, and it must be dealt with accordingly.

“Israel is and has been a great friend to the United States, and the Israeli people remain our steadfast allies in the war on terror. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that the United States continue to stand beside Israel as we continue the shared struggle against extremists
whose primary objectives are the destruction of both our nations and our shared values of freedom and liberty.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement regarding the current crisis in the Middle East:

“The current crisis in Israel and Gaza reflects a fundamental truth: Violence begets violence. What is happening now in the region underscores two important issues:

“First, all countries around the world have the absolute right and the responsibility to defend themselves against attacks on their people and their sovereignty. Israel has justly asserted that right and responsibility, as any country would, in the face of consistent and recently-increased destructive rocket bombardments against its territory and its citizens by Hamas. Civilized people everywhere must speak out against terrorist acts.

“Second, the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire and resumption of violence are tragic reminders of the urgency to work toward comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

“Along with people of all backgrounds and faiths, I mourn the loss of innocent life and believe we are compelled by our common humanity to ensure that critical aid and assistance flow unhindered to innocent civilians in Gaza. I hope all parties respond to the urgent needs of the civilian population, and applaud Israel’s decision to open the borders for the life-saving work of United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations.

“I pray the New Year will bring renewed efforts toward peace.” (Press Release, January 3, 2009)

Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) made the following statement on the situation in Gaza:

“These unprovoked attacks on Israel have shown the world yet again the ultimate goal of Hamas: the destruction of Israel. It is unfortunate that Hamas is not interested in a peace agreement, but rather killing innocent people and forcing Israel to protect herself, while the people of Gaza suffer. It is incumbent now for the rest of the world to act and bring a lasting peace to the region, and ultimately end the violence and destruction. I support Israel’s right to defend itself against these rocket attacks from Gaza, and urge the rest of the world to stand with Israel during this perilous time.”

Costa is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL)

“Madam Speaker, for the past several years, Israelis living near Gaza have endured a continual state of fear due to the thousands of rocket attacks launched from there by Hamas. When the six-month cease fire between Hamas and Israel recently ended, Hamas responded almost immediately by firing more than 70 missiles at civilian targets within Israel. On December 27th, Israel, in an act of self defense, struck at Hamas targets in Gaza in response to these continued attacks, and I want to express my strong support for Israel's right of self-defense.

Israel has taken meaningful steps in recent years to push the peace process forward, including unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza in 2005. Unfortunately, Hamas has not met Israel's efforts towards a peaceful coexistence, and has instead increased military operations against its neighbor and continues to deny Israel's right to exist.

These unfortunate developments are tragic, but have been precipitated by Hamas' aggression. Hamas must stop the rocket attacks and all parties in the region need to commit to renewing efforts at peace. The U.S. should remain involved in the peace process and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress towards this goal.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding Israel’s recent military action in Gaza: “For the past several years, Israelis living near Gaza have endured a continual state of fear due to the thousands of rocket attacks launched from there by Hamas. When the six-month cease fire between Hamas and Israel recently ended, Hamas responded almost immediately by firing more than 70 missiles at civilian targets within Israel. On December 27th, Israel, in an act of self defense, struck at Hamas targets in Gaza in response to these continued attacks, and I want to express my strong support for Israel’s right of self-defense. “Israel has taken meaningful steps in recent years to push the peace process forward, including unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza in 2005. Unfortunately, Hamas has not met Israel’s efforts towards a peaceful coexistence, and has instead increased military operations against its neighbor and continues to deny Israel’s right to exist. “These unfortunate developments are tragic, but have been precipitated by Hamas’ aggression. Hamas must stop the rocket attacks and all parties in the region need to commit to renewing efforts at peace. The U.S. should remain involved in the peace process and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress towards this goal.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- “Since seizing power in Gaza two years ago, Hamas has consistently escalated its confrontation with Israel. They have constructed a sophisticated military infrastructure, smuggled in longer-range missiles, and regularly violated a truce negotiated in June 2008. Hamas recently launched hundreds of rockets into southern Israel, and in response, Israel acted to protect its citizens from further terrorist attacks.

“Israel's response to Hamas was necessary, appropriate, and focused on the military capabilities of Hamas. Additionally, Israel targeted associated personnel and facilities used in planning and conducting attacks on Israeli civilians.
“Unfortunately, Hamas has mingled its political and military infrastructure throughout Gaza. This strategy has led to the unavoidable loss of innocent lives and I am saddened by the civilian casualties.

“Hamas is responsible for the current situation in the region and only Hamas can end the crisis by adopting an immediate cease fire and ending the attacks on innocent Israelis.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my overwhelming support for Israel’s right to defend her people against terrorist attacks. Over the past six months, we have seen a relative calm between Israelis and Palestinians due to an Egyptian brokered cease-fire.

Unfortunately, however, this calm was used by Hamas to rearm themselves with more technologically-advanced rockets and weapons, which were smuggled through tunnels from Egypt and over the Syrian border.

When the cease-fire expired on December 19, 2008, Hamas refused to extend it and began to fire its updated arsenal of rockets deep into Southern Israel.

Sadly, rocket fire is nothing new to the Israelis, who have seen 6000 rockets land in Southern Israel since unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza in 2005.

Hamas had a choice this past December – extend the cease-fire or continue hostilities. They chose war over peace.

Israel was forced by Hamas’s action to make a choice too, either live with the threat of rocket fire against her people or take action to keep its people safe from harm. They made the choice any reasonable nation would make – to defend its citizens.

It is time for the Palestinians in Gaza to have better representation – representation that puts the peoples’ well-being before Hamas’s unachievable goals.

The U.S. Congress and the people of the United States will not allow a terrorist organization, like Hamas, to destroy the thriving democracy that is Israel.

We stand with Israel and her goal of peace.” (Congressional Record, January 9, 2009)

“I stand with Israel as she defends her people in the south against a constant barrage of rocket fire from Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must renew the truce and end its self destructive actions against the Palestinians living under their control.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. John Culberson (R-TX)

“I do not believe that the United States has a stronger ally in the Middle East than Israel. Israel gained the West Bank and other occupied territories in response to attacks on its borders, and had a right to defend itself under normal terms of war. I believe that criminals who use violence to achieve their ends deserve any type of similar reprisal. Finally, Palestinian leadership must show that they are serious about stopping terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel so the Middle East peace process can move forward.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

“We cannot realize peace between Israelis and Palestinians as long as Hamas is launching daily rocket and mortar attacks provoking Israel into exercising self-defense. Hamas must end this most recent front of aggression immediately. Just as previous attacks have not led to resolution, these most recent attacks will only drive both parties further from finding a common ground.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY)

Washington, DC— Congressman Geoff Davis issued the following statement on the situation in Gaza:

“The citizens of Israel have the right to defend themselves against the repeated attacks on their country. Despite Israel’s voluntary withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas continues to instigate violence in the region. The United States must engage diplomatically and encourage all parties involved to achieve a peaceful end to the cycle of violence. Our nation’s involvement in this conflict cannot wait pending the transition of our government. I encourage President Bush and President-elect Obama to immediately join together to facilitate a diplomatic solution that will assure the security of Israel.

“In 2007, while visiting Israel, I met with victims of Hamas rocket attacks. Clearly, Hamas has targeted civilians to draw Israel into retaliation. For Hamas to achieve a lasting peace, they must be willing to revoke their commitment to destroy Israel and control the provocations of their militias. Tragically, innocents on both sides have been caught in the middle of this struggle.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) today issued the following statement concerning the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip:

“The events leading up to the recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza are the responsibility of the reckless, terrorist leaders of Hamas. Regrettably, innocent civilians have been killed in Gaza, and that is, in part, a consequence of Hamas using civilians and their homes as storage sites and launching pads for their unguided missile attacks.

“Many of the individuals and organizations who are protesting Israel's actions today never uttered a word of protest or condemnation over Hamas' rocket attacks against the innocent people of Sderot and other Israeli communities, including rockets that hit private homes, schools and shopping centers. Hamas has been raining Qassam rockets down on Israel starting before the Gaza disengagement in August 2005. The Israeli government has responded to the persistent, unrelenting attacks against Israeli civilians as a way to disable Hamas' capacity to further inflict harm and terror on Israeli civilians.

“Ideally, a sustainable ceasefire by Hamas and Israel would be a logical, desirable, outcome in the short term to the current situation. Unfortunately, since the disengagement, Hamas has never ceased the rocket attacks. It is past time that Hamas renounce terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist within defensible borders.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

“I’m deeply troubled by the recent rocket and mortar attacks on Israel launched by Hamas. No one should have to live in constant fear and no sovereign nation can stand by while their citizens are attacked daily by terrorists. Years ago, Israel controlled Gaza and surrendered authority over the area in order to broker a better peace. In exchange, Israel has patiently waited for Hamas to renounce its violent ways, act responsibly, recognize Israel’s right to exist, and come to the negotiating table.

However, it is clear Hamas has no intention of living peacefully with Israel. With an unwillingness to move forward, Israel has every right to take the necessary steps to protect and defend its citizens and target those who preach hate and violence. Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live in peace, and I have always hoped a safe and secure Israel could live side by side with a sovereign and peaceful Palestine. Through their actions, members of Hamas have made it clear the organization is nothing more than a mouth piece and aggressive arm of the Iranians that cannot act independently for the benefit of the Palestinian people. Hamas must renounce violence and act as an honest broker. If it does not, it will be the responsibility of every nation in the Middle East to shut down the long supply lines of rockets, bullets and bombs that run from Iran to Hamas in Gaza.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

State Sen. Ted Deutch (D-FL)

Tallahassee, FL- The Florida Senate on Friday threw its support behind one of our most important allies, unanimously passing a bi-partisan resolution in support of the state of Israel.

SR 66A, sponsored by Sen. Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) expresses solidarity with Israel and support of its right to defend itself from Hamas attacks. The resolution, sponsored in the House by Majority Leader Adam Hasner, reaffirms Florida’s commitment to those who fight terrorists around the world.

“I am honored by the overwhelming support of my colleagues in both the House and Senate. Israel has a right to defend herself at a time when it has endured consistent rocket attacks by Hamas. We must stand tall, together, in support of Israel’s actions to defend and protect her citizens,” said Sen. Deutch.

The vote comes on the heels of the passage of a Congressional resolution calling for an immediate cease fire in Gaza, but also voicing support of the right of Israel to defend itself. (Press Release, January 9, 2009)

Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

“Israel has the right defend itself. The terrorist group known as “Hamas” has launched countless deadly attacks on Israeli civilians from its sanctuary in Gaza. Israel is acting at this time to stop “Hamas” from being able to continue to attack Israel’s civilian population. Israel is absolutely justified in defending herself and in taking all necessary military steps to guarantee the safety and security of its people. Israel has our full support as it acts to defend itself.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

“I fully support Israel’s right to defend itself from rockets aimed at innocent Israeli civilians, fired by Hamas militants in Gaza. Hamas must end its support for and involvement in terrorist attacks against Israel. But there is no military solution to the conflict. I support the efforts of the Bush Administration to press both sides to accept an interim truce, and I am committed to working with the Obama Administration in using all of America’s diplomatic might to bring both sides to the negotiating table so that Israelis and Palestinians can finally live side by side in peace.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, on the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
“I understand and support Israel’s defense of its borders from rocket attacks by Hamas.
This defense has led to an escalation of violence and more death and suffering by innocent people on both sides. This crisis can only end with a ceasefire and honest negotiations for peace.

The Palestinian people deserve leadership that is committed to bringing an end to this violence.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX)

(Washington D.C) – U.S. Representative Chet Edwards released the following statement:

“Despite Israel’s complete withdrawal of all of its soldiers and settlements from Gaza in 2005, an effort aimed at reducing violence and improving relations with the Palestinians, Hamas has continued to launch thousands of rocket attacks at innocent Israeli citizens.

“No country should be expected to endure constant rocket and mortar fire on its own soil. Israel has every right to defend itself against these attacks by initiating military actions in Gaza.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)

“Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in support of the beleaguered people of the State of Israel. I rise in support of the only democracy in the Middle East. I rise in support of the country in the Middle East that has the same values that our great country, the United States of America, has, principles of democracy and principles that are so important to every man, woman and child.

The people of Israel have for 60 years been vilified by undemocratic powers and by powers that would wish to destroy it. For the past several years, day in and day out the people of Israel have had to endure rocket attacks coming from the terrorist organization that runs Gaza called Hamas. Israel is supposed to just accept these attacks on its citizens and do little or nothing about it if you would listen to the United Nations, if you would listen to the international community, if you would listen to these hypocritical demonstrations going on in London and all the Arab capitals and everyplace else, and even some in the United States.

Every country, every government's primary responsibility is to protect its citizens, and the people of Israel and the Government of Israel should not be held to any other standard than that.

The terrorist organization that runs Gaza called Hamas, bought and paid for by Iran , thinking that it can use terrorism as a way of somehow getting its state, must understand that in order to gain acceptance of nations in the free world, that it needs to renounce terror, that it needs to recognize Israel's right to exist, and that it needs to abide by all previous resolutions that were signed by the Palestinian Authority. It doesn't do it because it's a terrorist state. It doesn't do it because its vow is to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. It doesn't do it because, like Hezbollah and like Osama bin Laden and like al Qaeda, it thinks it can use terrorism to establish its aims and goals, but it cannot.

We stand in a bipartisan fashion with the people of Israel because if we in the United States had missiles being fired onto our innocent civilians from states across the border, we would move across the border and try to stop those terrorists from killing our people. That's what Israel is doing.

Many of us on the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning met with the Israeli ambassador and we saw a tape where Israel takes great precaution to try to prevent civilian casualties. But what Hamas does is it builds its bomb factories and it builds its terror weapons in the heart of the densely populated areas of Gaza and uses its own people as human shields. And so when the Israelis destroy these missile-making and bomb-making terror factories, innocent civilians very unfortunately get killed. But it is the Palestinians that support Hamas. It's the Hamas organization that is responsible for these killings. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself.

Now, we all want a cease-fire. We all want peace in the region. And we all know that ultimately peace will come when there is a two-state solution, an Israeli Jewish state and a Palestinian Arab state. The problem is most Israelis do accept the fact that there ought to be a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians, Hamas, does not accept the viability of Israel as a Jewish state.

And so let's put things in perspective here. If you have people that want to destroy you and want to kill you and don't recognize your right to exist, how can we have peace in the region?

We ought to note that Israel pulled out of Gaza several years ago and left Gaza to the Palestinians. And what did it get in return? It got missiles fired on its citizens in Syrot and other places in return for Israel leaving Gaza. The Palestinians used to say, well, it's the occupation, that's what drives everything. What occupation is there in Gaza? There is none. Israel has left Gaza. And the people of Gaza could have built a democratic government living in peace with its neighbors; instead, they chose to embrace terrorism and try to kill as many Israelis as they can.

So, in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let me say that support for Israel in this Congress is strong and it is bipartisan and will remain so because we understand that the democratic nation of Israel has a right to exist, and the government of Israel has a right to protect its citizens.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

“I stand firmly with Israel as it exercises its right of self-defense against the terrorist group, Hamas. Israel has done everything it could to avert war in the face of a constant rocket barrage from the Hamas terrorists in Gaza. It was Hamas that ended the six-month ceasefire after Israel urged that it continue. It was Hamas that ignored Israel’s warnings that the continued rocket assault would bring a response. Approximately 3,000 rockets and mortars landed on southern Israel this year alone. The world must stand with Israel as it rightfully acts to protect the security of its citizens against the Gaza-based terrorists. Israel is legitimately defending its people and its sovereignty.”

Facts:

o In the last eight years, more than 10,000 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel from Gaza.

o Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in September 2005.

o Since Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in June 2007, the frequency of rocket attacks rose 150% to more than 250 rockets and mortars per month

o In 2008 alone, approximately 3,000 rockets and mortars of increasing range have been launched at southern Israeli cities.

o Arab leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, urged Hamas to continue the ceasefire and have blamed Hamas for instigating the crisis.

Rep. Eliot L. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. In 2008, he was the lead Democratic sponsor of a resolution condemning Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations which passed the House of Representatives on March 5, 2008 by a vote of 404-1. (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Washington, D.C. – Senator John Ensign issued this statement in response to the continuation of attacks by Hamas on civilian targets in Israel:

“The right of the people of Israel to defend themselves is not negotiable. Leaders around the world should join together and call on Hamas to stop their civilian-aimed attacks immediately, and Israel will respond accordingly. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims—on both sides—of Hamas’ reign of terror.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Mary Fallin (R-OK)

Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Mary Fallin (OK-05) released the following statement regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas:

“In the wake of a series of deadly terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, Israel is now exercising its right to defend itself. As long as Hamas continues to fire rockets and mortars into Israel, targeting civilians and seeking to sow general terror and chaos, they are acting as an aggressor. Hamas started this conflict, and they can end it, by ceasing its attacks on the Israeli people. Until they do so, the Israeli government has every right to respond militarily to a terrorist threat.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. John Fleming (R-LA)

Shreveport, LA - Congressman-elect John Fleming issued the following statement today regarding Israel's response to the attacks of Hamas:

“In the past few days, Hamas has targeted Southern Israel with rockets and mortars, threatening the lives of nearly 400,000 civilian men, women and children. In response, Israel responded with forceful action to stop this terrorist threat. Israel has tried to find a peaceful solution and even agreed to a six-month cease-fire with Hamas. During that time Israel facilitated the transfer into Gaza of more than 14,000 trucks, 185,000 tons of foods and other supplies, more than 7,000 tons of heating gas and more than 10 million gallons of fuel. Hamas used the six-month calm to increase its rocket and other weapons capabilities by smuggling arms into Gaza from Egypt. I firmly stand behind Israel and their response to Hamas to protect the lives of the Israeli people and limit the loss of civilian casualties. Israel, like any other sovereign nation, has the right to self-defense.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009) (Congressman-elect Fleming was sworn in on January 6, 2009).

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

“It is important to remember that the current conflict in Gaza comes after a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from that area. Tragically, this was followed by a takeover by Hamas, which is dedicated to Israel’s destruction, and has constantly used Gaza as a base for physical attacks on Israel and Israelis.

This use of Gaza as a base from which to attack Israel left Israel with no choice except self defense, particularly after Hamas refused to continue the imperfectly observed ceasefire, and made clear its intention to resume attacks.
As it exercises this right of self defense, it is important for Israel to make clear its willingness to accept a genuine ceasefire - meaning an end to attacks from Gaza, and also Israel’s continuing commitment to a two state solution negotiated with Palestinians genuinely committed to that goal.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)

Arizona Congressman Trent Franks believes the United States should support Israel in its current fight with Hamas in Gaza.

“There's an old Abrahamic covenant that says, 'I will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse it,' and so I feel pretty confident it's a good idea to be on Israel's side," Franks said Sunday night on News/Talk 92-3 KTAR's "Jay Lawrence Show."

Franks, a Republican, added that Israel "is very much like we are and, if we turn our back on Israel, I believe that the equation will be so bad for America, so bad for the world, that we simply don't understand.” (Interview on KTAR’s Jay Lawrence Show, December 28, 2008)

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

“The United States must stand in support of Israel, its ally, as it defends its citizens against the ongoing violence and terror directed against it by Hamas. Israel has the right and the duty to protect its citizens. By rejecting repeated overtures for peaceful co-existence with Israel, Hamas has put its own people at risk. Innocent Palestinians should not be punished because of the failings of their leaders. I hope and I am prayerful that all parties involved, with help from America’s leaders, can find a way to end the violence so all people in the region can finally know peace.” (Press Statement, January 9, 2009)

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)

“These are the facts:

Israel is a sovereign state and a member in good standing in the international community with a recognized right to defend itself.

Hamas is a terrorist organization.

After Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Israel exercised uncommon restraint while Hamas fired more than 6,500 rockets into Israel from Gaza.

Israel respected the subsequent six-month cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas did not.

Then, since the cease-fire ended Dec. 19, Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
Hamas’ rockets have no guidance system to speak of. They are launched into civilian cities to indiscriminately kill civilians.

Last year, I traveled to Sderot, Israel, the principal city then under siege from Hamas rockets fired from Gaza, to see firsthand the devastation by the rocket attacks. Just hours before I arrived in Sderot, an 8-year-old boy lost both his legs to a Hamas rocket.

Sderot has no political or military importance. As Hamas has acquired rockets with a longer range, other civilian targets in Israel have come under attack.

Hamas fires its rockets from schools, mosques and other civilian targets to guarantee Palestinian civilians will be killed in the event Israel decided to retaliate, even firing rockets from buildings Palestinian citizens have sought as shelter. Hamas uses its citizens as human shields. Their blood is on Hamas’ hands.

Despite Hamas’ disdain for human life, Israel has been diligent in avoiding civilian casualties as much as possible. Civilian casualties are a tragic repercussion of any military action, but Israel has taken pains to minimize them. Precision airstrikes hit Hamas targets. Palestinian civilians in the targeted areas have been warned ahead of time as much as is feasible. Israel’s care has been rewarded. According to preliminary U.N. assessments, 80 percent of those killed before the ground campaign was launched were Hamas.

Given those facts, there is a right and a wrong in this conflict. No one favors war. But, given that a nation has a right to protect itself from attacks, Israel is right and the terrorists are wrong, as terrorists always are.

In addition to traveling to Sderot, I discussed ongoing U.S.-Israeli relations and Israel’s security with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and other Israeli officials. I also traveled to the West Bank to discuss Palestinian security and a Palestinian state with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. He is, I believe, a reasonable
and honorable man doing his best to protect the Palestinian people, a task made formidable by Hamas’ continuing terrorism.

Hamas does not represent the future of Palestine. It is, instead, a tool of Iran, which has been supplying Hamas with the longer-range rockets that can strike deeper into Israel.
Palestine’s true allies can help bring about peace. Egypt, in particular, could help the peace process by closing down the smuggling corridor between Gaza and Egypt. Tunnels built by Hamas and other criminal elements are used to smuggle supplies and arms from inside Egypt.

Israel has targeted the tunnels as part of its military operation, but once the fighting stops, Hamas undoubtedly would quickly reconstruct them. While it may not be feasible to find and bury all the tunnels, Egypt could set up inspection stations on the surface roads leading to Gaza, which would severely curtail, if not shut down, the smuggling operation.

Hamas’ destruction is a critical element for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Like al-Qaida, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations, Hamas has no constructive purpose, has no respect for the rule of law and no respect for human life. Peace will only come when terrorism is defeated.” (Ventura County Star, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)

“Last year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed one of my bills which recognized the plight of victims of rocket attacks in Sderot, Israel. I commend President-elect Obama for expressing similar concern for the residents of Sderot when he visited them last year. In light of the escalating violence, I now encourage him to take a strong stance in support of our ally, Israel, and their response to Hamas’s terrorist attacks. Israel is justified in its efforts to protect its citizens from violent missile attacks.

“Hamas’s actions exhibit willful disrespect for innocent human life, as civilians continue to be the targets of offensive actions. In addition, their shameful use of civilians as human shields creates unnecessary victims of terror. This flagrant disregard for the rights of innocent Gaza and Israeli residents is also a violation of international law. If Hamas cares about the citizens they purport to represent, they should cease their attacks and cooperate with international efforts to achieve a lasting peace.

“I sympathize with the families of the victims who have been injured and killed during the recent conflict. The loss of innocent life on both sides of this dispute is profoundly regrettable and is all the more reason for summoning every effort to resolve this matter and restore order. The president-elect has an opportunity to strengthen our nation's diplomatic hand and call for an end to the destruction of innocent lives, and I urge him to make it a top priority.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA)

What was supposed to be a visit to the Gaza Strip in August 2003 took an abrupt detour.
Our small group was driving along the gently rolling hills between the small southern Israeli town of Netivot and the Gaza border one minute . The next minute we turned around and headed for Tel Aviv. The Israeli security officers assigned to protect us the best they could in one of the world’s most volatile regions would not tell the group of American visitors why we had suddenly changed course.

But it was easy to tell from the urgency in their voices that the cause was something serious. The next day in the local paper a photo of the charred frame of a car provided the answer. Palestinian militants had launched a homemade rocket across the border.

The crude device destroyed an unoccupied car about a half-mile ahead of our vehicle, causing us to quickly change our destination. Memories of that close encounter with the radical Palestinians’ notion of diplomacy by terror resurfaced in recent days as the tensions – and rocket attacks on Israel – have escalated.

Israeli towns such as Ashkelon and Sderot have been targets of rocket attacks from the Gaza border for years. Attacks are so frequent in Sderot that in addition to swing sets and sliding boards, playgrounds are equipped with bomb shelters where children and their parents dash for cover.

The constant threat of attack from a neighbor governed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that for years has been sending suicide bombers with explosives strapped to their chests into markets and onto public buses to pursue its goal of destroying Israel – makes the Israeli response to the most recent unprovoked rocket attacks from Palestine justifiable.

Israel is simply protecting itself from a very dangerous neighbor. It’s a neighbor who has been emboldened to grow more bellicose by the support of a radical regime in Iran and by the criticism that has been leveled by some European governments.

All countries have the right to defend themselves and the safety of their citizens.
I’m pretty sure that if a radical group took over Canada and started lobbing missiles into Buffalo, the U.S. government’s response would be swift and decisive.

The world should not expect Israel to react any differently while it is under attack.

Some have suggested that the recent unrest resulted from the Bush administration’s failure to foster peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Certainly, Bush’s Middle East policy is open to plenty of debate. However, it’s extremely unfair and a completely inaccurate understanding of the region to blame Bush for the deteriorating conditions during the last week or so. The Israeli Air Force would not have flown one mission into Gaza if it were not for the rocket attacks sanctioned by Hamas.

The problem is the thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel, which have increased and become more sophisticated since Hamas came to power.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has clearly stated that the goal of Israel’s military response has been to end the rocket attacks, not to take over new territory.

And Israel deserves the support of the United States and the rest of the world as it struggles to achieve that goal. Otherwise, we can expect several more detours on the path to peace in the region. (Press Release, January 3, 2009)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

“Hamas has taken over the Gaza Strip. They are a very radical organization. They’ve got one foot in politics and one foot in terrorism, and Israel is just being shelled continuously. What would we do, Brian, if we got one rocket from Mexico or Canada? I mean – what would we do? We would go in with a lot of force and I just can not tell you how unacceptable it is. And the world is condemning Israel and the Arab world and I didn’t hear one person, other than Abbas, condemn Hamas for shooting rockets randomly at Israeli families.” (Interview on Fox News, December 29, 2008)

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)

“Hamas presumably doesn't want peace with Israel, so whatever their logic, Hamas tries to kill Israelis by lobbing rockets into Israel. Now, if they'd stop, Israel would not strike back at them in Gaza. But otherwise, what would you expect the Israeli government to do? It would be the same thing you'd expect President-elect Obama to do when he gets to be president. If Americans were being shelled, you'd expect him to defend America. If Israel is being shot at from Gaza by Hamas, Hamas should expect to be shot back at. I mean, that's just the way the world works.” (The Talk of Iowa broadcast, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Alan Grayson, one of three incoming Jewish members of Congress, issued the following statement on the situation in Gaza:

“The circumstances confronting Israel are remarkable and clear. Hamas has been firing or allowing the firing of rockets into Israel, killing and maiming Israelis and threatening and disrupting their lives on a regular basis. This is unacceptable. Israeli civilians must not suffer from rocket attacks from or permitted by Hamas. Any country would seek to end attacks like this on its citizens. Military action is always a last resort, but in this case it is apparently necessary.

The humanitarian crisis is of deep concern, and it is important to note that Hamas’s behavior has been especially brutal. By using Palestinians as human shields, the group is needlessly multiplying the casualties in the area. If Hamas had an interest in minimizing the loss of life, its leaders would not be putting civilians in harm’s way or firing rockets at civilian targets. That is just not a way to solve the thorny set of problems confronting all people in the region.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-KY)

“In 2008, I spent a week in Israel and visited southern Israel near Gaza. We stopped at a lookout point near a reservoir with a view of Gaza and were told we were 'outside of sniper range but inside of rocket range.' In fact, there was scarring along the wall of the reservoir from a Qassam rocket that had landed only a few hundred feet from where we were. In the past, visitors stood at an outlook closer to Gaza but since snipers have shot at visitors, no one goes to that lookout.

While there I met Tamar, an Israeli citizen who formerly lived in one of the Jewish settlements in Gaza. She described the 'old days' in Gaza when Arab and Jew interacted and attended festivals together - the days that we all hope to see return. Then, she described her present day life as a resident living right outside the border of Gaza since Israel completely withdrew in 2005. She shared her anxiety as a mother who must constantly be on the lookout for the next warning siren alerting an incoming rocket or mortar. A mother who must make a quick decision about her own safety and the safety of her children, and acting quickly knowing that she has only seconds to protect her two children, one of whom is disabled.

My hope is that some day Tamar and the other residents of southern Israel will be able to enjoy a normal life, free from constant rocket and mortar attacks. The State of Israel not only has the right to defend itself; it has the moral obligation to its citizens to do so.” (Public Statement, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)

Washington, D.C.- For three days, now, Israel has launched airstrikes in response to hundreds of Hamas-sanctioned rocket attacks on Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip. Today, Hamas-backed militants fired a new round of rocket attacks on the Israeli towns of Ashkelon and Sderot. The strikes began less than a week after the expiration of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas.

“I have been fortunate enough to have visited Israel on several occasions, and have seen the struggles Israelis face daily,” said Congressman Gene Green. “I have been to Sderot, Israel and have seen how close these attacks are and how they affect the families that live there. I have also seen the Israelis’ perseverance and determination to create a peaceful and prosperous state. Hamas must end this violence and commit itself to a real truce. Without this, there is little chance for peace in the region.”

Green said that Israel and the United States have been close friends and allies for the past sixty years. “Our relations have evolved from an initial American policy of sympathy and support for the creation of a Jewish homeland in 1948 to a key partnership based on common economic interests, common security interests, and most of all common values. We must continue to cultivate this relationship and encourage peace in the region.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)

"It's not good, but you can't say Israel shouldn't act," said Gregg. "Hamas is a terrorist group and I have no sympathy for them." (The Associated Press, December 29, 2008)

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC)

“Israel has a sovereign right to defend its people from terrorists like Hamas. It is detestable that these terrorists hide among innocent civilians who seek a peaceful coexistence with Israel. Israel is a strong ally of the United States and serves as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East. While my heart goes out to those innocent civilians in Gaza, Israel has the right to take whatever steps are required to protect its people and its way of life.” (Written Statement, January 9, 2009)

Rep. John Hall (D-NY)

“Following an intense barrage of rocket attacks into Southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces entered Gaza in December 2008 to put an end to the rocket fire. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter allows nations to engage in self-defense against armed attacks. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department and has repeatedly expressed the explicit goal of destroying the state of Israel.

During my first year in Congress, I witnessed the devastating effects of these rocket attacks first hand. I had the privilege of visiting Israel and during my visit I walked inside a home that was hit by rocket fire in Sderot, just outside Gaza. As I stood in the room with the rocket shell in my hands and peered through the open hole in the roof into the open blue sky, I realized that any nation would take drastic measures to make such attacks stop. Israel has the right to destroy those arms caches and organizations that support these attacks. In doing so, they must exercise maximum effort so that there will be minimum casualties.

The United States can and must play an integral role in ending the violence and establishing a lasting peace. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been displaced by the conflict, and isolated by Hamas’s aggressive posture. Every day that passes brings with it the loss of innocent life, the loss of hope, and the loss of future opportunities. The United States needs to work with the international community, especially the neighboring Arab states, to forge a peace agreement that disarms Hamas and brings order to Gaza and the surrounding region. I hope that this confrontation will be quickly resolved, and talks will continue to create a durable, sustainable peace in the Middle East.” (Written Statement, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) today released the following statement on the situation in Gaza:

“I am troubled by the violence in Gaza and deeply regret the loss of innocent life on both sides of the conflict. But Israel’s recent military action is not only appropriate, it is necessary to stop acts of terrorism against its citizens. For two years, Hamas has fired rockets into Israel, putting nearly a million people at risk in the process. Israel has the right to defend itself and America should stand strongly behind its ally. Last year on my trip to Israel, I visited the town of Sderot which has been hit by thousands of rocket attacks in the last decade. The families I met there refused to leave their homes, showing the true bravery of the Israeli people. Israel has made countless concessions in an effort to achieve peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, Hamas is more committed to the destruction of Israel than a truly sustainable 2009)

State Rep. Adam Hasner (R-FL)

House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) today announced his sponsorship of a bi-partisan resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Israel and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense from attacks by Hamas. Leader Hasner will be filing the resolution to be heard at the start of the Special Session scheduled to begin on Monday, January 5, 2009. Florida State Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) will be filing a similar resolution in the Florida Senate.

In conjunction with the filing of the House resolution, Hasner released the following statement:

“Since Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, the thousands of rockets and mortars launched against innocent Israeli civilian targets by the Iranian-sponsored Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations demonstrate in deed their declared intention of destroying the State of Israel.

“In a fully justified defense of its citizens and its democracy, Israel's government has been forced to respond to the terrorist attacks emanating from Gaza in order to change the current realities. In doing so, Israel has acted firmly against the terrorists' strongholds while exerting extreme effort to minimize suffering and casualty of innocent Palestinians, who are cynically being used as human shields.

“As an American and as a Jew, and with the support of those in the Florida House of Representatives from many religions, races, and regions across this great state, I am proud to lead the bipartisan effort in the Florida House of Representatives to express our firm solidarity with the people of Israel and support the government of Israel's right to protect and defend themselves against terrorism and destruction from these ongoing attacks.

“And as we begin the New Year, we pray for a peaceful end to these hostilities. May God Bless Israel, America's democratic ally in the Middle East.”

First elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2002, Hasner has been a consistent leader on Israel-related issues. In addition to sponsoring Florida’s first-in-the-nation Iran Divestment legislation, which prohibits the investment of public funds in companies doing business in Iran, Hasner has also sponsored legislation that prohibits life insurance companies doing business in Florida from denying coverage to individuals who travel to Israel. He has also been a strong advocate of the Florida-Israel Institute based at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) issued the following statement today regarding on-going events in Israel and the Gaza Strip:

“I, like so many others, am deeply troubled by the on-going events in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

“It is regrettable that in response to Hamas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel and continue its ceasefire, Israel was forced into this situation. Hamas has chosen war over peace. Israel has but no other choice to respond and protect its citizens.

“When I was in Israel earlier this month, I told Prime Minister Olmert that the United States would not tolerate Hamas attacks on Israel. I reinforced the overwhelming view in Congress that Hamas is not only an impediment to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but also to Israel’s efforts to establish normal diplomatic relations with many in the Arab world.

“In my meetings on that same trip with leaders and dignitaries in North Africa and the Middle East, I learned that this view is shared my many in the Arab world who see Hamas for what it is: a terrorist organization which feeds off of instability and fear rather than seeking to improve the lives of Palestinians.

“I stand with Israel and support President-elect Obama in his efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Earlier this month, Representative Hastings traveled to North Africa and the Middle East in his capacity as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) and as the Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. During the trip, Representative Hastings met with foreign leaders, parliamentarians, dignitaries and NGOs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, and Portugal. He also met with former Jordanian Foreign Minister and current Jordanian Ambassador to Egypt Hani al-Mulki who helped negotiate the Israel-Jordan peace accords in 1994. (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)

WASHINGTON — U. S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (TX-05) today issued the following statement on the recent Israeli retaliation against Hamas militants:

“Since Hamas has bombarded southern Israel with thousands of rockets, Israel has rightly retaliated by targeting Hamas’ center of power and weapons stockpiles. I offer Israel my full support in the efforts to protect her citizens. As Israeli ground troops move into the region, we pray for their safety and hope that a durable and sustainable peace will be reached.

“Unfortunately, peace can never be achieved in the region as long as terrorist groups like Hamas continue to attack Israel. It is vital to the security interests of Israel, the United States, and the rest of the Arab world that these rocket attacks on Israel cease.

“The loss of innocent civilian life is tragic and it is regrettable that Hamas complicates Israel’s attempts to avoid civilian casualties by stockpiling weapons in homes and mosques. The Palestinian people deserve better.

“Israel has been the United States’ staunchest ally in the Middle East. We must continue to support Israel’s right to defend herself against those who seek to destroy her and continue to support efforts to bring a lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)

"Israel's response to the repeated attacks from Hamas terrorists is entirely justifiable and understandable. Israel cannot stand idle while their citizens are the target of constant terrorist activities. For enduring peace in the Middle East to occur, Hamas must recognize Israel's fundamental right to exist, permanently stop attacking the people of Israel, and join with moderate Palestinians in pursuing an agreement where Israel's lasting security is unconditionally assured." (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY)

“While there has been far too much suffering on both sides of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, Israel has attempted to limit civilian casualties even as Hamas continues to directly target Israeli civilians and use women and children as human shields. Although Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in concession to the Palestinians more than three years ago, Hamas has responded with increased aggression and violence. Peace between Israelis and Palestinians will only be possible when Palestinian leaders reject violence; until then the United States must support Israel’s right to defend itself from this terrorist threat.” (Written Statement, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT)

“Over the past six weeks, the citizens of Israel have endured a torrent of over 600 rockets fired on their cities and towns by Hamas forces located in Gaza. Israel has endured a steady stream of thousands of rockets into its territory since 2005. The recent escalation in violence from Hamas has made the threat to Israel’s security intolerable. Like any sovereign state in the world, Israel has the right to respond to violent attacks directed indiscriminately against its people and its territory. Over the past several days, Israel has responded forcefully to the terror tactics of Hamas, specifically targeting military objectives such as Hamas' command centers, security installations, rocket-launching sites, weapons stockpiles, and weapons smuggling tunnels.

“The escalation in violence in the tense background of the Middle East is always regrettable, and the loss of innocent civilian life on both sides is tragic. But the world must stand with Israel in affirming its right to protect and defend its people. I was heartened to learn that even in the midst of the fighting, Israel has continued to ship over 100 truckloads of humanitarian aid and hundred of thousands of gallons of fuel into Gaza. Israel continues to provide a lifeline of electricity to civilian residents of Gaza as well.

“If Hamas wants to achieve peace and security for Gaza, it must immediately stop the reckless and indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel, without conditions or reservations. Israel has made it plain that its measures against Hamas will cease when Israel is secure in its own borders, and free from the threat of daily terrorist bombardments on its citizens. There is some hope that Hamas will recognize the advantage of a cessation of hostilities. My New Year's wish is that this hope turns into the reality of a stable and lasting cease-fire.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH)

Concord, NH--- Congressman Paul Hodes (D, NH-2) released the following statement on the ongoing violence in the Middle East. "It is extremely unfortunate that Hamas' despicable terrorist activity has necessitated a response from Israel to protect itself. I had the opportunity to visit Sderot last year and saw first hand the damage done by incessant rocket attacks launched from Gaza. The United States must stand by Israel's right to defend itself. We call on Hamas to renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist and to live in peace. The attacks from Hamas must end for a constructive peace dialogue to begin. Our thoughts are with the families in the region during this difficult time and our hope is for an end to the violence and peace negotiations to resume." (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

“Today this House stands united in support of Israel as it faces enemies bent on its destruction. For eight years, Hamas, aided by Iran and others, has sent deadly rockets and mortars into Israel. In 2005, Israel dismantled its settlements and withdrew its military from Gaza—and still the rockets came, more than 6,000 since Israel’s withdrawal. Each one of them—intended to kill the maximum number of civilians, and falling indiscriminately on southern Israel’s cities and towns—was a war crime, by definition. Their harm is undeniable, and I have seen it firsthand; when I travelled to the southern Israeli town of Sderot, I met families whose children had lost the ability to speak, who no longer had control of their bodily functions. That is the profound and ever-present fear that covers much of Israel today.

“But the situation in Gaza is no less tragic. As Secretary Rice said last week, ‘Hamas has held the people of Gaza hostage ever since their illegal coup against…the legitimate President of the Palestinian people.’ To the Hamas terrorists, the ordinary people of Gaza are not fellow citizens, but, all too often, propaganda props. As reporter Jeffrey Goldberg writes: ‘Hamas terrorists unblinkingly and ostentatiously use their own civilians as human shields. I’ve seen this up-close, and it’s repulsive.’ For Hamas, the lives of Palestinians are valued as cheaply as the lives of Israelis.

“Having exhausted diplomatic options and confronted with an enemy sworn to its destruction, Israel has had no choice but to take military action in order to relieve the threat against its people. By offering this resolution, we recognize Israel’s right to act in self-defense—the same right claimed by America, or any other sovereign nation, when faced with a similar threat. We urge both sides to protect the lives of civilians. And we urge the Administration to work towards a durable cease-fire that puts an end to the fighting and to its cause—Hamas’s ability to threaten Israel.

“Only when Israel’s enemies forswear violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist will we be any closer to a just and lasting peace: one in which the Palestinian and Israeli people can live in their own states, side by side.” (Congressional Record, January 9, 2009)

“During this difficult war in the Gaza Strip, we stand with Israel. Why? Because we have been to Israel. We have seen Sderot. In August 2005 and again in 2007, we visited the region of southern Israel that includes this embattled Israeli border town. Taken together, the trips helped us define the historical and military context for Israel's current action in Gaza. Our 2005 visit to Israel took place during the "disengagement" period, when Israel painfully uprooted its military and all Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the decision to leave in spite of significant domestic opposition. We remember how divided Israeli society was, with critics defiantly brandishing orange protest ribbons from their cars. Mr. Sharon's goal, however, was an international show of good faith to kick-start a moribund peace process by giving the Palestinians what they asked for: full control of Gaza.

The plan collapsed. Israel's good intentions were never reciprocated. Instead of building roads, bridges, schools and industry, Hamas and other terrorists wasted millions turning Gaza into an armory. The already flimsy notion that Palestinian terrorism was a consequence of Israeli occupation -- an article of faith among those currently decrying Israel's "aggression" -- blew up along with the 7,000 indiscriminate rockets Palestinian terrorists began to launch into Israel.

By the time we returned to the border area in 2007, formerly sleepy southern Israeli towns like Sderot were gripped by fear. Each day, scores of rockets pounded the region. It reminded us of how life was paralyzed in the Washington metropolitan area when just a single sniper fired random shots at civilians. But southern Israel was far worse. We remember Israeli families from Sderot describing how every facet of their lives was consumed by the "15-second rule": Each time a rocket was fired from Gaza, the Israeli government sounded a siren indicating 15 seconds to take cover. We were told by Israelis those tasks as simple as taking a shower or stepping outside to grab a newspaper felt like a game of Russian roulette. We met families whose children had lost the ability to speak, and who no longer had control of their basic bodily functions -- due to the profound and ever-present fear.

Prior to military action, Israel tried a number of other options to stop the rockets, all to no avail. Israel pleaded with Palestinian terror groups to stop their attacks. Israel raised numerous complaints at the United Nations that fell on deaf ears. Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza to deprive Hamas terrorists of the rockets and weapons being used to attack Israel. Israel pressed Egypt to cut down on smuggling tunnels used to deliver rockets and weapons to terrorists. And most recently, Israel worked with Egypt to broker a six-month cease-fire with Hamas.

As Israel negotiated for peace, Hamas built up its weapons supply, acquiring longer-range, more powerful rockets, which are now paralyzing almost 1 million Israelis. Israel's decision brokered, six-month cease-fire (a cease-fire, it should be noted, that Hamas frequently violated and was urged by Egypt to restore).

In any armed conflict, both sides are obligated by international law to seek to minimize civilian casualties. At a time when far too many civilians are falling victim in this conflict, we urge adherence to this essential principle just as we encourage all sides to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches civilians in Gaza. What distinguishes the two sides, however, is their very aim. While Israel targets military combatants, Hamas aims to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible. Hamas, after all, is one of the Middle East's most notorious terrorist outfits. Since its inception in 1987, it has worked systematically to fulfill the goal laid out in its charter: the destruction of Israel. During the last Intifada, Hamas claimed credit for 52 suicide bombings that killed 288 Israelis, according to Israeli government figures.

A culture that celebrates death is only too happy to sacrifice its own people for the sake of rallying world support. In the heat of war, Hamas is holding true to its indisputable record as it launches rockets from neighborhoods, schools, markets and mosques. This is in stark contrast with Israelis, who drop leaflets and make phone calls to Palestinian civilians in targeted areas, alerting the civilians, but forfeiting the element of surprise.

Like most Americans, we identify strongly with Israel's ongoing, elusive quest to achieve peace and security in a dangerous part of the world. We recognize that by arming and training Hamas, Iran has made this latest Israel-Hamas war a key front in its effort to remake the region in its own radical image.

America would never sit still if terrorists were lobbing missiles across our border into Texas or Montana; and just as we assert our right to defend ourselves, Israel has every right to protect its own citizens from the implacable foes on its borders. Support for Israel in her time of need, from both Democrats and Republicans, is not just the logical choice. It is both a strategic and moral imperative.”
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor represents Virginia's 7th Congressional District. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer represents Maryland's 5th Congressional District. (Washington Times, January 9, 2009)

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD):

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the developing situation in Gaza:

“Israel is acting in clear self-defense in response to heinous rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza. As a sovereign nation, Israel has an unequivocal right to take action to ensure the security and safety of her citizens. Indiscriminate attacks by Hamas are a serious detriment to the peace process in the region.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, issued a statement today on the conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas:

“There should be no question that Israel, like all sovereign nations, has a right and a duty to defend its citizens against the unprovoked rocket attacks launched by Hamas terrorists from Gaza.

“In 2005, as a conciliatory gesture, the Israelis pulled their military forces out of Gaza. Palestinian terrorists have since responded to that gesture by launching thousands of rockets from their safe havens in Gaza into Israel. These rocket attacks can have only one purpose – to strike terror in the hearts of their victims. These Iranian supplied rockets are not guided or precision weapons. No one launching them knows where they will ultimately land and once launched, they might just as easily land on a school house or a hospital as on a military target. The goal of these rockets, simply put, is to kill and terrorize all Israelis – be they civilian or military. No nation can or should tolerate that type of indiscriminate violence directed against their citizens.

“Unfortunately, Hamas leaders have demonstrated time and again that they have little interest in peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel. Indeed, their goal is, and remains, the complete destruction of Israel as a nation. To halt the rocket attacks, Israel has pursued an aggressive military campaign to once and for all destroy the terrorists’ capability to launch rockets and terrorize innocent civilians in Israel and to punish those responsible. Israel’s decision to respond with a ground invasion of Gaza, rather than retaliatory air attacks, is in fact proportional in its respect for innocent civilian life as a number of Hamas rocket launch sites and terror strongholds are located among neighborhoods and school districts. A ground invasion was the only way Israel could mitigate the loss of civilian life.

“I deeply regret the tragic loss of human life in Gaza and in Israel but there is no moral equivalency here, as some have suggested. Israel is doing what any nation must do – responding to terrorist aggression and protecting their citizens.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

“Mr. President, I rise for a few moments to address two subjects, the first will be about Israel and the second about the passing of Griffin Bell.

All of us are deeply concerned with the conditions in the Middle East, most recently in the last 12 days, the actions in Gaza, the loss of human life and the conflict.

But there is a necessary perspective we all must understand. In November of 2007, I stood at the last Israeli outpost overlooking Gaza. In fact, if you watch Fox or CNN or NBC or ABC tonight, where you will see those reports coming from, I stood on that very spot just a little over a year ago.

Also, I went to Sderot, the Israeli settlement outside Gaza, that since mid year last year has received 1, 2, 3, 10, 15 missile attacks, random attacks coming out of Gaza dropping on this Israeli settlement for no reason at all but the absolute ability or desire to terrorize the Israeli people and destroy that settlement.

What Israel has done by moving into Gaza is a major military operation. In some reports that you see on television or you read about in the papers, you would think it was unprovoked and unnecessary. The opposite is true. It has been provoked for 15 months by Hamas in Gaza. The Israelis have finally drawn a line in the sand and they have moved in to try to protect the best interests of their citizens.

For perspective, Gaza and Sderot are a little bit like Arlington and Washington. You are not talking about a large land mass, you are talking about a very narrow, tight area. It would be similar to South Carolina and Georgia lobbing missiles back and forth.

What would happen if one of those States did it? We would immediately react to protect our citizens and protect their lives and their livelihoods. That is what Israel is doing.
I pray every night that somehow and some way we can be a catalyst for ultimately a lasting peace in the Middle East. But surrendering to terrorism or the acts of terrorism such as Hamas has been taking out on the Israeli people is no way to go. I support the Nation of Israel. I believe they are doing the right thing to confront head-on the terror that has been imposed on them.

It should not be lost on any of us that the supplies that have gotten into Gaza through what is known as the Eisenhower Passageway, which is from Egypt into Gaza, have been military materials being flown in and then taken in through tunnels basically by operatives of Iran. Just as what happened in Lebanon a year ago with Hezbollah and the Lebanese, the same thing is happening today between Gaza and the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The catalyst for the conflict is another nation, Iran. It wants to diffuse the focus on its producing of nuclear weapons and instead keep turmoil in the Middle East to use it to its benefit.

As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I take very seriously my responsibility to look upon every nation in this world as a nation we should respect, as a nation we should dialogue with, and as a nation we should work with. But we cannot and we must not turn our head away from a nation that is causing terror to be invoked against innocent people such as Iran is doing against Israel through the Palestinians in Gaza.

So I hope and pray these difficulties end tonight. I hope and pray there is not another loss of life. But as long as Hamas is unwilling to enter into a meaningful peace, a meaningful effort to stop the terror, one that can be trusted and verified, then Israel is doing precisely what it should be doing in the best interests of its people. It is doing no less than we in this Congress and America would do were we attacked in the same way in the same time. In the first part of my remarks, I stand in solidarity with the people of Israel in hope and prayer that the hostilities end but not because of surrender; because ultimately we confront terror and get people to lay down their arms, not for a day, not for a cease-fire but for generations to come.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)

“Israel unconditionally left Gaza in the hopes that Palestinian leaders would build a State, build an economy, and build hope for their people. Instead, Hamas built rockets and fired them on innocent Israeli families. Israel is doing what any nation on earth would do under similar circumstances: defending its people from attacks by a neighbor sworn to its destruction. It's now time for responsible Palestinian and Arab leaders to assertively reject Hamas' strategy of destruction and attacks so there can be long term stability in the region.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)

“I have been closely following the troubling events and escalating violence in the Middle East. We in the United States must continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of our friend and ally Israel as it defends itself against Hamas' unrelenting rocket attacks from Gaza.

“I'm encouraged by the recent cease-fire negotiations underway in the region. The talks must seek to end the intolerable rain of rockets on southern Israel and stop the violence and killing of Israelis and Palestinians. Until a cease-fire agreement is reached, I hope that every effort and scrupulous care continues to be taken to avoid the death of innocent civilians.

“I've long believed that the only route to a sustainable peace in the Middle East is through diplomatic means, not military might. The United States must once again take a leadership role and actively engage in the multilateral effort to build a permanent path to peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)

“In the wake of the recent attacks by Hamas, Israel has no choice but to defend its people from violence and extremism.

“With daily rocket attacks against towns in Southern Israel, Hamas falsely believes it can use terrorism and intimidation as a bargaining tool. Israel has every right to defend the safety and security of its citizens from terrorist organizations like Hamas.” (Public Statement, January 4, 2009)

Rep. Peter King (R-NY)

Washington, DC--Rep. Peter King issued the following statement on the situation in Gaza: “The U.S. must stand with our ally Israel as it attempts to defeat the Hamas terrorists who continue to launch daily attacks from Gaza against innocent Israelis. While the IDF makes every attempt to minimize civilian casualties, Hamas does just the opposite. Israel's fight is an existential one and until its enemies are defeated it must be allowed to take actions to defend itself.” (Press Release, December 28, 2008)

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Steve King made the following statement today on the current situation in Gaza.

“We all want peace in the Middle East, but a true agreement that balances Israel’s security concerns with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people can only be obtained if senseless violence in this region ends.
“When Hamas chose to abandon a six-month peace agreement in favor of rocket attacks against Israel on December 19, Israel rightfully responded to defend its people. An estimated 500,000 Israeli citizens are now within range of Hamas’ rocket arsenal, and each unprovoked attack from Hamas puts thousands of lives at risk.

“Hamas should immediately suspend its attacks and pledge to work with Israel on an agreement bringing peace to this troubled region.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)

“Hamas is a designated terrorist organization responsible for the murders of at least 26 American citizens, some of them teenagers, children and infants. There can be no moral equivalency between a terrorist organization that targets civilians and a democratically elected government that acts to defend them.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL)

Boca Raton, FL – Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL), vice-chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, has released the following statement concerning the security situation in Israel:
“Once again, Israelis have endured a bombardment of hundreds of rockets on their homes and communities. Israel is doing what any sovereign government in the world would do and should do: defend its citizens and secure its borders. Hamas’ unprovoked actions, which broke the six month ceasefire agreement, clearly demonstrate that Hamas is solely responsible for the death and injuries on both sides. With the incitement and assistance of radical elements in the region, Hamas is destabilizing any chance for peace and security. Israel’s actions are justified, and I join all Americans who believe in democracy and freedom in standing by Israel in her time of need.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)


Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)

"Wake up, America. We have trillions for a war machine and the banks, while our government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians.

Here's today's Washington Post. It says, The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday that it found at least 15 bodies and several children, emaciated but alive, in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza Strip and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for 4 days. Twelve corpses lying on mattresses in one home, along with four young children lying next to their dead mothers. That's a quote.

Today, U.S. tax dollars, U.S. jets and U.S. helicopters provided to Israel are enabling the slaughter in Gaza. The administration enables Israel to press forward with the attack against defenseless civilians, blocks efforts at promoting a ceasefire at the U.N., and refuses to make Israel comply with conditions that armed shipments not be used for aggression.

Israel is going to receive $30 billion in a 10-year period for military assistance, without having to abide by any humanitarian principles, international laws or standards of basic human decency. Wake up, America.

We cannot truly celebrate a new year, a new Congress and a new administration if all we see is the same old destruction in the Middle East with U.S. weapons being illegally used to kill children.

I oppose Hamas' rocket attacks on Israel. The rocket attacks, even to try to end the blockade, have no moral justification, are illegal, and must stop. But how can Israel claim self-defense when it bombs Gaza, which has no army, no air force, no navy, and has been under a constant blockade? How can Israel claim self-defense when its bombs destroy U.N. schools, killing children?

The children of Palestinians and the children of Israel both deserve life. But the lives of the children of Gaza are cynically discounted as human shields. Massacres are being rationalized. Israel's “moral high ground'' in Gaza, a growing pile of small bones in a graveyard.

The administration knows Israel is using U.S. weapons, paid for by U.S. taxpayers, with disproportionate force, creating a collective punishment of Gazans, assuring an escalation of conflict, clear violations of the Arms Export Control Act.

Israel was given U.S. weapons on condition they would not be used for aggression or escalation. This outgoing administration must finally stand for the rule of law, not the rule of force.

"I'm hopeful that we do not support the inhumanity that has been repeatedly expressed by the Israeli army."

"We must take a new direction in the Middle East, and that new direction must be mindful of the inhumane conditions in Gaza". (Addresses to the House of Representatives January 2009):

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

“Mr. President, I hope--and I am joined here by Senator Lieberman--that the Senate will have an opportunity to consider before this week is out a resolution we believe has been drafted by the majority leader and the minority leader that deals with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and that we believe needs to express the will of the Senate. We believe as well that a similar resolution would be voted on in the House of Representatives to express the will of the House. So then the whole world--and certainly the administration--would know of this body's strong support for the State of Israel and our support for the actions Israel is taking right now. We hope that vote can occur before this week is out. I wish to commend Senator Lieberman for his considerable leadership on this issue.

We support this resolution. The first thing the resolution does is to remind people why the State of Israel had to act.

Last February, on a trip to the Middle East, I visited the Israeli town of Sderot, which is about 3 miles from the border of Gaza, and I learned from the town's mayor of the toll taken on the residents of this town and neighboring cities from more than 8 years of rocket attacks by the Hamas terrorists. At the police station, I saw rack after rack of these spent rockets, the remains of the rockets that had been launched by Hamas against the civilian population of this city. In fact, about 15 minutes after we departed the city, one of these Hamas launched a Qassam rocket. identical to the hundreds we had seen at the police station, which fell on an Israeli home in town, destroying it. Thankfully, no one in that attack was harmed.

Is there any doubt that if the United States were suffering an attack from just across the border similar to this, that we wouldn't react to stop that from happening? I think there is no question that we would act to stop this terrorism. It is our hope that the resolution would express our acknowledgment that a nation has the right to defend itself, that Israel has had to respond to this, to more than 6,300 rocket and mortar attacks on its citizens since it fully withdrew from Gaza in the year 2005. In fact, this town has been suffering for over 8 years from these attacks.

The second point the resolution makes is that there is no equivalency between the actions of Hamas and Israel in this case. Israel conducts its military operations to spare innocent life. They have specifically targeted Hamas command centers and security installations and rocket-launching sites, weapons stockpiles, and weapons smuggling tunnels. They have tried very hard to avoid civilian casualties. In fact, Israel has transmitted very specific warnings to Gazans. They have dropped leaflets and made phone calls to targeted areas to warn citizens to leave because an attack is imminent. This, of course, even means they lose the element of surprise and potentially put the lives of Israeli soldiers at risk. But Israel believes it is important where possible to avoid jeopardizing innocent life--quite the opposite from Hamas, which deliberately and cynically fires rockets from civilian areas to make it more difficult for Israel to target the terrorists and to increase the likelihood of civilian casualties when Israel does take action.

Hamas has ignored a plea by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on April 28 that Civilian areas in Gaza should not be used as a base from which to launch its actions against Israel.

Dozens of mosques in Gaza have been turned into weapons storage facilities and Hamas command centers. In fact, an airstrike on a mosque in the Tel El Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City last Wednesday set off numerous secondary explosions caused by the arms that had been stockpiled in the mosque.

Finally, Hamas openly admits that it uses women and children as human shields. A leading member of Hamas told Al-Aqsa TV on February 29, 2008:

For the Palestinian people, death has become an industry. This is why they have formed human shields of the women, the children, the elderly, and the mujahedeen, in order to challenge the Zionist bombing machine.

While targeting terrorists, Israel works to avoid a humanitarian crisis for ordinary Gazans as well. During the first week of Israel's operations, it facilitated the delivery to Gaza of 400 trucks loaded with more than 2,000 tons of food and medicine. This is not easy when you are in the middle of military operations. Ten ambulances and two thousand blood units were transferred to Gaza just in that week. More than 80 Palestinians have entered Egypt for treatment, in addition to a dozen or more who have entered Israel. On January 5, more than 93,000 gallons of industrial diesel fuel and gasoline for vehicles was transferred into Gaza from a fuel depot in Israel. By the way, that fuel depot comes under constant attack from terrorists in Gaza, as does the place where the electricity is generated for Gaza, which, of course, makes absolutely no sense.

Finally, this resolution speaks to calls for a cease-fire. Many voices in the so-called international community have been heard pleading for an immediate cease-fire, although I think it is instructive that one never hears those voices condemning rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists.

I believe the path to a halt in the violence is clear. A cease-fire is appropriate if and when it is durable and sustainable. A cease-fire, on the other hand, that would allow Hamas to rearm and rebuild its support in Gaza is, of course, not acceptable. Hamas cannot be given a cease-fire that only serves to provide it breathing room to regroup and then a month or 2 months or 3 months from now start firing its rockets and missiles again.

The United Nations could play a constructive role, but it must resist the temptation that it all too often falls into, and that is that of moral equivalency. I point to the press statement of the Security Council on December 28 which, among other things, said the parties should ``stop immediately all military activities.'' This is dangerous moral equivalency. Only one party to the violence carries out ``military activities.'' The other party--Hamas--terrorizes and murders innocent people. That is why the only Security Council resolution that could be acceptable in this situation--and I say this with the understanding that the Security Council is meeting as we meet here today--is one that affirms Israel's right to defend itself and calls on Hamas to immediately stop its terrorist activity.

I add that a Security Council resolution should look to all of those who support Hamas--primarily and most significantly Iran. For years, Iran has been the source of money, training--including training at the facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran itself--and weapons to Hamas. Hamas's relationship with Iran is so close that the Egyptian President said this past May that Hamas rule in Gaza means that Egypt has a “border with Iran.”

Since Israel launched its military operation against Hamas, Iran has announced stepped-up arms shipments. Senior Iranian clerics have organized recruiting drives to send Iranians to Hamas's aid. Just yesterday, a senior Iranian cleric announced that it had recruited 7,000 Iranians to join the cause of Hamas. Yet the international community has taken no action to counter Iran's support of Hamas terrorists.
A U.N. Security Council resolution sanctioning Iran for its assistance to Hamas would send an important message and would be a good place to start, as would unilateral sanctions by the United States.

Let me conclude by quoting the Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer, who recently wrote one of the most precise and succinct observations on the situation in Gaza that I have read. He wrote:

Some geopolitical conflicts are morally complicated. The Israel -Gaza war is not. It possesses a moral clarity not only rare, but excruciating.

The Reid-McConnell resolution we expect to be introduced shortly will be an important reaffirmation of the bond between Israel and the United States. It is one forged on the basis of common values and the tragically shared experience of terrorism. By passing this resolution, we are saying to the Israeli people: We stand with you, and we support you in defending yourselves against terrorist attacks.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

Standing with Israel against Terrorists
By U.S. Senator Jon Kyl:

“Imagine spending everyday apprehensively waiting for a loud siren to blare, signaling that you have 60 to 90 seconds to find shelter. What would you do? How would you send your children to school? How would you go to work? It is difficult – if not inconceivable – for most Americans to imagine living their lives like this. Yet, many Israelis have had to live with this threat from Hamas rocket and missile attacks day in and day out for years. In fact, in just the week before Israel launched its recent military operation against Hamas, hundreds of rockets and mortars shells were fired at Israeli civilian-areas, including the firing of 80 rockets on just a single day.
Last February, on a trip to the Middle East, I visited the Israeli town of Sderot, about three miles north of the border with Gaza. I learned from the town's mayor of the toll taken on residents from more than eight years of rocket attacks by Hamas. At the police station I saw rack after rack of the charred remains of rockets and missiles launched by Hamas against the civilian population of Sderot. In fact, not more than 15 minutes after we departed the city, a Hamas-launched Qassam rocket – identical to the hundreds seen at that police station – fell on an Israeli home in Sderot, destroying it, but thankfully, harming no one.

The fundamental obligation of any government is to protect its citizens. It is for that reason that, having exhausted every other option, Israel launched a military operation against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza strip. Israel is justified in taking action against the terrorists who have been attacking its citizens with impunity for years. While we wish to see the violence come to an end, Israel must be allowed to protect itself.

Unlike the terrorist attacks against innocent civilians that Hamas perpetrates, Israel takes every step possible to avoid the deaths of civilians. Hamas launches unguided explosive rockets into Israeli cities like Sderot, striking homes, schools, and hospitals with the explicit purpose of terrorizing the civilian population. Israel, on the other hand, puts its soldiers and pilots into extraordinary danger to avoid accidental harm to civilians in Gaza. Even now, Israel is working to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza. Don't let anyone ever tell you that the actions of Hamas and Israel are the same. In fact, one reason Palestinian civilians are sometimes killed or injured is that Hamas intentionally locates its facilities and even rocket launch areas near schools and hospitals.

There have been many voices heard in the international community calling for an immediate end to the attacks from both parties. This ignores the fact that every nation has the right to defend itself from terrorists; in fact, it is a basic element of the United Nations Charter. If the international community wants to take action to prevent unnecessary violence, there are two places it should start.

First, Hamas imports the weapons it uses against Israel, primarily by smuggling them through elaborate tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. The United States has taken steps to help the Egyptians find these tunnels and destroy them, but more should be done. The international community should follow our lead by working with the Egyptians to stop this destabilizing arms smuggling by training Egyptian police and military forces, and providing them with surveillance and detection equipment. The international community should also make clear that this support, and other multilateral assistance (like that from the World Bank and IMF), is contingent on Egypt taking concrete steps to cut off all support flowing across the border to aid Hamas. For its part, the United States should condition its $1.5 billion in annual aid to Egypt on such progress.

Second, nowhere is international action more overdue than in stopping Iran's assistance to Hamas. For years, Iran has been the source of money, training – including training at the facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran itself – and weapons to Hamas. Hamas’ relationship with Iran is so close that the Egyptian President said this past May that Hamas rule in Gaza means that Egypt has a “border with Iran.” Since Israel launched its military operation against Hamas, Iran has announced stepped-up arms shipments. Senior Iranian clerics have organized recruiting drives to send Iranians to Hamas’ aid. Yet the international community has taken no action to counter Iran's support of Hamas terrorists. A United Nations Security Council Resolution sanctioning Iran for its assistance to Hamas would send an important message and would be a good place to start.

Americans must support Israel because we understand since 9/11 that terrorism anywhere is a threat to free people everywhere.” (Column, January 5, 2009)

(On the passing of the resolution January 8 2009): “Mr. President, I would like to speak to two subjects. The first deals with a resolution the Senate unanimously adopted this morning.

Mr. President, today the Senate approved a resolution recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against terrorist attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas.

The first thing the resolution does is remind people why the State of Israel had to act.

Israel has had to endure more than 6,300 rocket and mortar attacks on its citizens since it fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005. In fact, the town of Sderot, which is about 3 miles from the border of Gaza, has been suffering for over 8 years from these attacks.

Is there any doubt that if the United States were suffering an attack from just across the border similar to what Israel is facing, that we wouldn't react to stop that from happening? I think there is no question that we would act to stop this terrorism, and this resolution expresses the United States' support of Israel's right to defend itself.

The second point the resolution makes is that there is no equivalency between the terrorist actions of Hamas and the defensive actions of Israel . Israel conducts its military operations to spare innocent life. It has specifically targeted Hamas command centers, security installations, rocket-launching sites, weapons stockpiles, and weapons smuggling tunnels. It has tried very hard to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas, on the other hand, deliberately and maliciously fires rockets into civilian areas from civilian areas, thereby making it more difficult for Israel to target the terrorists and increasing the likelihood of civilian casualties when Israel does take action.

Finally, this resolution speaks to calls for a cease-fire. Many voices in the international community have been heard pleading for an immediate cease-fire, although I think it is instructive that one never hears those voices condemning rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists.
I believe the path to a halt in the violence is clear. A cease-fire is appropriate if, and when, it is durable and sustainable. A precipitous cease-fire, on the other hand, that would allow Hamas to rearm and rebuild its support in Gaza is not acceptable. Hamas cannot be given a cease-fire that only serves to provide it breathing room to regroup and then start firing its rockets and missiles again.

By adopting this resolution, we have said to the Israeli people: ``We stand with you, and we support you in defending yourselves against terrorists.''

In short, the resolution expresses strong support for the defense of Israel by its military action today in the Gaza Strip, the fact that it has been repeatedly attacked by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip, and finally decided that the only way to stop those attacks on its citizens was to go into Gaza and try to remove the weapons and the launching sites and to try to arrest the terrorists who were involved in the launching of those rockets.

This resolution expresses strong support for Israel . It reminds us all why Israel was forced to act. It makes the point that there is no equivalency between the action of the Israelis and the terrorist action of Hamas, which deliberately seeks to harm civilians. Finally, it speaks to the question of a cease-fire, noting that the position of the United States is correctly that a cease-fire could only be supported if it is durable and sustainable; in other words, it ensures that the conditions that created the controversy today are not simply repeated another 6 months from now when the Hamas terrorists have had an opportunity to rearm.

I am pleased the Senate has spoken in such a timely fashion on this important issue. I commend my colleagues for supporting the resolution.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

“Israel has a responsibility to protect its citizens. Hamas has blatantly ignored any ceasefire agreement by assailing Israel with over 6300 rockets and mortars during the last eight years, nearly half within the past year (including the 6 month so-called ceasefire). Israel’s action has been a direct response to Hamas policy. We cannot forget Hamas is still regarded as a terrorist organization and publicly committed to destroying Israel. Demonstrating an extraordinary amount of restraint over the past years, Israel has the right to defend its people from terrorist attacks.

“Let us hope that the Palestinian people will not tolerate continued terrorist attacks upon Israel, that there will be no further civilian casualties on either side, and that there will be lasting peace in the region.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ)

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Leonard Lance (NJ-07) issued the following statement regarding Israel’s retaliation against Hamas in Gaza:

“As a new member of Congress, I am looking forward to working on many national security issues affecting our nation and our allies. I am also looking forward to being a strong advocate for one of America’s strongest allies – Israel.
“Israel is fully entitled to defend herself against terrorist aggressors. No nation can be expected to sit idly by while rockets are fired upon its citizens. Hamas is a terrorist organization and the current conflict cannot be resolved until Hamas stops firing missiles into Israel.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

WASHINGTON – United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today made the following statement about the ongoing conflict in Gaza:

“I continue to closely monitor the unfortunate events in Gaza,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Despite Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and efforts to advance Israel/Palestine negotiations, Hamas’ attacks into southern Israel have undermined the international peace process and prompted Israel’s current defensive actions.

“I strongly support Israel’s right to security and will work with President-elect Obama’s administration and my colleagues in Congress to promote a lasting peace along the Gaza border and throughout the region. I urge a quick resolution to this situation, beginning with Hamas taking immediate action to halt these attacks and return to good-faith peace negotiations.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)

WARWICK, R.I. – Congressman Jim Langevin today released the following statement about the ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza: “I have been fortunate to visit Israel on two occasions. My experiences there only strengthened my admiration for this great nation, and my determination to help provide the support Israel needs to ensure a secure and peaceful future for her people. “Unfortunately, Hamas’s increasing presence in the Gaza Strip has forced Israel to share a border with an organization that has pledged its destruction. With its constant rocket fire attacks on Israel, Hamas has become a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the Israeli people. I stand strongly in support of Israel’s right to defend herself and her citizens from threats and attacks by terrorists. “As we begin a new year, I am hopeful that all responsible nations will join together to reject terrorism and work harder to ensure peace around the world. I will work in Congress to support efforts to bring peace and stability to our friends in Israel and the region, and I look forward to a resolution that ensures both security and humanitarian needs are met.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH)

“I am horrified by the onslaught of attacks against Israel. Hamas must immediately halt its attacks. As a nation, we must continue our steadfast support of Israel, one of our greatest allies. Israel has every right to defend itself and its citizens against these terrorist attacks.” (Public Statement, January 8, 2009)

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Similarly, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) laid blame with Hamas. “Hamas is abusing the people of Gaza by using their homes as a base for terror operations,” he said. “The world should no longer tolerate a terrorist government in the Gaza Strip.” (The Hill, December 29, 2008)

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)

“Mr. President, I wish first to thank my friend and colleague from Arizona, Senator Kyl, for the statement he has just made, which was characteristically straightforward, clear, principled, and passionate, about what is involved in the current crisis in Gaza and the opportunity this Congress has to not just stand with our ally, Israel, which is critically important at this moment, but to take yet another stand against terrorism for the rule of law, for democracy, and for the peaceful settlement of disputes. I could not agree more with everything Senator Kyl has said. I wish to add just a few words in this regard.

As Senator Kyl has indicated, the United Nations Security Council was to convene shortly after 5 this afternoon, about an hour ago. I presume it has convened to hear speakers and consider resolutions on what is happening in Gaza today. Secretary of State Rice has gone there to speak on behalf of the United States, which indicates the importance of these deliberations. She will carry with her the policy of our Government since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza that I think has been strong and principled and consistent with the best of American values and, of course, consistent with our national security interest in the global war on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 because what is happening in Gaza is yet another battle front in the larger war against Islamist extremism and terrorism. It is, in another sense, also another battle front in the conflict going on within the Muslim world between the extremists and fanatics and terrorists and the majority of people who are more moderate, more law-abiding, obviously not violent and want to live a safe and a better life.

The Government of the United States has been very clear in articulating a policy which I presume and have confidence will be expressed in these Security Council deliberations tonight and the days to follow. No one wants to see violence occur. Yet, as Senator Kyl has said so eloquently, when a country such as Israel has been attacked literally thousands of times with rockets fired from Gaza at innocent civilians over a period of years, a cease-fire is negotiated and it goes on for approximately 6 months--negotiated with great help from Egypt--and then Hamas breaks the cease-fire and begins firing rockets again, the Government of Israel , our democratic ally, essentially said: Enough is enough; we are not going to tolerate this anymore, coming as it is from Hamas which is an openly avowed terrorist group with the aim of destroying the State of Israel.

In response to the violence, there is a natural reflex reaction heard often in world councils, and undoubtedly will be heard at the United Nations Security Council at this hour and the hours to follow, that there ought to be a cease-fire. I think we all have to ask ourselves: What is the end of a cease-fire? Of course, we don't like to see violence occurring, but let's remember this is being done by Israel in the exercise of the right of self-defense.

The Government of the United States--being President Bush and everyone else who has spoken--has made very clear that, yes, the United States wants a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas regarding Gaza but not just a cease-fire for the sake of a cease-fire that one side may follow and the other may not and that simply leads nowhere but back to the conflict that has been occurring.

The U.S. Government has been very clear and principled about the fact that the cease-fire our Government seeks is one that is durable and sustainable; in other words, that represents a real resolution of some of the issues in conflict and that also deals with the smuggling into Gaza of additional weapons which are being used to attack innocent civilians in Israel.
I know Secretary Rice will be expressing exactly this position. Yes, America wants a cease-fire but, no, not one that leads nowhere. We want a cease-fire that is durable and sustainable and will include a ban on smuggling, activities to carry out a ban on smuggling of weapons by Hamas in Gaza.

I am very pleased, very encouraged that as the initial action of this Senate this year, the majority leader, Senator Reid, and the Republican leader, Senator McConnell, are working together in a bipartisan way--totally bipartisan way--to bring before this body, hopefully in the next day or two, a resolution that does exactly what Senator Kyl has said: to express our unwavering commitment to the security, well-being, and survival of the State of Israel and recognizing its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against terrorism, that will reiterate again that Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hopefully do what the Palestinian Authority has done, which is to accept the right of Israel to exist and renounce terrorism and to begin to work toward a two-state peaceful solution.

This resolution really will, in essence, I think, say, as Senator Kyl has said, in this hour of crisis to the people of Israel , our allies, that we will stand with you, and also say to the peace-loving Palestinian people that we stand with you, too, and we continue to support a two-state solution, Israel and a Palestinian state, living in peace one against the other, but the Government of the United States, the Secretary of State, the President, but the Secretary of State who is at the United Nations is not speaking simply for the executive branch of Government but that the Senate, and we have reason to believe our colleagues in the other body, the House, will have an opportunity to say to not just the Israelis we stand with you, but to say to the world community that we as the representatives of the people of America, across party lines, stand together with Secretary Rice as she expresses the position of our Government: Yes, a cease-fire, but only one that is sustainable and durable and deals with the smuggling of additional weapons into Gaza. This will be critically important.

I thank our leaders on both sides. I thank Senator Kyl for the work he has done. Again, it has been a privilege to work with him.

I also say in a larger context that there is a lot of speculation about why Hamas broke the cease-fire and initiated the rocket fire against Israel deeper into Israel than they have ever done before. I do think, as Senator Kyl suggested, that the answer to that question probably comes as much or more from Tehran than it does from Gaza City and Hamas; that Hamas has become an agent of the Iranian Government. It is trained and supplied by the Iranians and secondarily by the Syrians. Therefore, there is a larger conflict being played out.

Iran is noted by our State Department to be the most significant state sponsor of terrorism. The leaders of Iran regularly not only call for the extermination of the State of Israel, but also lead tens of thousands in Tehran and elsewhere in Iran in chants of “death to America, death to America.” We have long since learned from the lessons of history that you cannot simply ignore statements that seem so extreme and fanatical that they are unbelievable because very often the people making them do believe them, and given the chance, as we have seen from Osama bin Laden in recent times, who told us throughout the nineties exactly what he intended to do--he happened to have done it on 9/11, but he did it earlier in other places--we have to take these threats seriously.

I want to say that a precipitous cease-fire simply for the sake of a cease-fire will allow Hamas to claim a victory. A victory for Hamas is not simply a victory for Hamas; it is a victory for Iran. And a defeat for Hamas, which is in reach if we allow the Israeli action to continue, is a defeat for Iran and a victory for the United States and for the forces of democracy as against terrorism and for the forces of moderation and the rule of law in the Islamic world as against fanaticism and violence.

This is all that is being played out. This is why I am so encouraged this resolution is coming forward. It is, yes, a statement of support for our ally Israel, but it is also a statement of policy for the Members of the Senate, across party lines, and I hope with an overwhelmingly positive vote that says the security of the United States is on the line in how this conflict ends. We cannot let it end in a way that strengthens Hamas and Iran.

I repeat, there has been a lot of speculation: Did Hamas break the cease-fire because of the end of the Bush administration? There has been some interesting speculation that has said the best thing that could happen for the incoming Obama administration is that Hamas be defeated here because then whatever happens between the new administration and Iran, Iran will not approach that next chapter with a sense of triumphant, but the country would have seen one of its major clients and agents of terrorism defeated.

We have the opportunity to speak to all that on this resolution in the days ahead. Most immediately, I hope we will speak to the Members of the Security Council and in the most direct way say: We stand with President Bush; we stand with Secretary Rice. This is not simply the position of a few people at the top of the executive branch of our Government. This position the American Government has taken with regard to the crisis in Gaza is the position embraced by an overwhelming majority of Members of both parties of both Houses.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today issued the following statement regarding the situation in Gaza:

“Over the course of this past year, Israel has endured bombardment by more than 2,900 terrorist rockets and mortar shells, fired indiscriminately and unilaterally by Hamas, with the intention of murdering innocent civilians. After repeated warnings, Israel is now exercising its legitimate right of self-defense to stop these terrorist acts. There should be no doubt that responsibility for the violence we see now falls squarely on Hamas, nor should there be any suggestion of moral equivalency between terrorist acts that target civilians, on the one hand, and legitimate military action that seeks to end these attacks, on the other. The sooner that Hamas abandons its unilateral campaign of terror against Israel, the sooner peace can be restored.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Dan Lipinski today issued the following statement regarding the security situation in Israel:

“Israel is one of America’s strongest, most important allies. Our two nations share fundamental moral and political values based on freedom and democracy.

“Last year, Israel continued its important work toward achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East by accepting a proposal for a six-month cease-fire with Hamas. At the same time, this agreement provided Hamas with an opportunity to embrace a peaceful means to resolving its differences with Israel.

“Unfortunately, Hamas utilized the six month cease-fire to significantly boost its arsenal, which culminated in renewed rocket assaults on southern Israel. In fact, more than 600 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza at innocent civilians in Israel over the past six weeks and almost 500,000 Israelis live with the constant risk of attack.

“Like every other sovereign nation, Israel not only has the right but the duty to defend its citizens from attack. It is clear that Hamas' actions left Israel with no choice but to take action.

“While I strongly believe all parties involved must work towards sustainable peace, the continued attacks on Israel by Hamas significantly undermine this effort, threaten the overall security in the region, and greatly exacerbate the humanitarian situation for those living in Gaza.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent victims of this crisis.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) issued the following statement in support of the state of Israel during the current conflict with the terrorist organization Hamas:

“The current conflict is a direct result of Hamas’ decision to break the ceasefire agreement and relentlessly engage in violent rocket attacks on civilian targets from areas relinquished by Israel in their ongoing efforts to achieve a peaceful compromise. The responsibility to end the violence is on Hamas to stop the terrorist attacks and work in good faith towards a resolution,” said LoBiondo, a member of the House Republican Israel Caucus. “The U.S. and Israel have long been close allies, and those regional issues that threaten Israel, threaten American interests. I will continue to stand strong with Israel in support of their right to defend its citizens and territory.”

Throughout his career, LoBiondo has consistently voted in support of Israel’s right to protect itself. (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)

“Continued and intensified missile and mortar attacks from Gaza into Southern Israel threaten the security of innocent families in Israel and Gaza. Hamas, which continues to deny Israel's right to exist, will stop at nothing to deny peace to the region, including exploiting and endangering Gaza civilians. Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens from these ruthless attacks by striking the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. It is my hope that this week's events will make clear to Hamas that its attacks on Israeli communities must end so that negotiations toward a peaceful coexistence in the region can continue.” (Press Release, December 28, 2008)

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)

The loss of life which is occurring currently in Gaza and Israel is a terrible tragedy. We should understand how this tragedy occurred and who is responsible for it.

Hamas broke the cease-fire that existed between the Palestinians in Gaza and Israel when they decided to launch rockets into the sovereign nation of Israel. This marked a departure from a brief period of time in which there was this cease-fire which seemed to present some opportunity for hope in resolving the terrible differences that exist between those living in Gaza and those in Israel.

Let’s be clear about this. My wife and I were in Israel three years ago during the very week when the Israeli government turned over the responsibility for governance of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Subsequent to that, Hamas took over, and Hamas has since been engaged in a series of attacks on Israel. These attacks are not for the purpose of bringing them to the negotiating table. They are not for the purpose of somehow trying to resolve the differences that may exist there. But rather, the attacks continue for the expressed purpose of attempting to eradicate the state of Israel and to ensure that there is no state of Israel.

This is unacceptable.

Every sovereign nation, including Israel, has the right to defend itself. One has only to ask oneself what would happen here in the United States if we were attacked by one of our neighbors along our borders. Even though that sounds incredible, imagine if Mexico or Canada started to launch rockets and missiles into the United States, aimed not at military targets, but aimed at civilian populations for the sheer purpose of attempting to cause terror among the population of the United States, to cause destruction of property and death of innocent civilians. We would not have to deliberate for long before responding. We would probably not only respond in kind, but also make sure that we took out those who were attempting to launch such attacks as well as those who supported them, while destroying any such infrastructure facilitating those attacks.

That is essentially what Israel is doing. They have a right to self defense. And we should never, ever forget it.

Again, I recall three years ago being in Israel when the decision was made to turn the responsibility for governance over to the Palestinian Authority. It was a controversial decision within the population of Israel. Ariel Sharon, in one of his last acts as Prime Minister, okayed this.

I recall meeting with him with other members of Congress in what was probably the last meeting Ariel Sharon held with a congressional delegation, shortly after he had been condemned by some in the Knesset for taking this step. Sharon was told that he was basically putting Israel in danger. His response was that he thought it was worth the risk, if it could lead to peace. Unfortunately, this effort at peace by the Israeli government and by the Israel people has had a response by those who rule in Gaza, that is, Hamas, that has been anything but peaceful.

That is the unfortunate tragedy that is unfolding. A step toward peace, a good faith effort to attempt to move beyond war and conflict, has been received, not as such an effort, but rather as an invitation to engage in even more violence.

We should all remember who is responsible for this latest round of tragedy and violence in that very volatile part of the world. It is not the Israeli government or the Israeli people. It is, in fact, Hamas. And Hamas should be held accountable for this.

It is my hope and my prayer that somehow this conflict will be resolved. That in the end Hamas will no longer be able to launch such attacks upon the people of Israel. That the peace-loving Palestinians in Gaza and other areas, such as the West Bank, will decide that Hamas is, in fact, not their leadership. And that they will turn toward peaceful means and negotiations so that they can move forward in bettering their own people and improving their living standards, giving them the opportunity to seek what we all seek: a peaceful live for ourselves and our children. (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) today blasted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for expelling the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela and for calling Israel’s fight against Hamas “genocidal,” stating his actions will have repercussions for Latin America and beyond.
Mack, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an outspoken critic of Hugo Chavez, said:

“By expelling the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela, Hugo Chavez is showing the world he is a true anti-Semite and that his ties to Iran continue to grow. His overt support of Hamas is dangerous and will have repercussions for freedom around the world.

“Chavez’s support of Islamic Fundamentalism as a means to protect and extend his Bolivarian revolution, coupled with his alliance with known terrorist organizations like the FARC, Hamas and Hezbollah, show that he is an enemy of freedom and democracy and is destroying the hopes and dreams of the people of Venezuela and Latin America.

“Israel is one of our staunchest allies in the war on terror and one of the only democracies in the Middle East. Israel has a right to defend itself. It’s as simple as that. Hugo Chavez was wrong to expel the Israeli ambassador and he’s wrong to support Hamas.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

“Israel has the right to defend itself. Hamas cannot be allowed to fire rockets into Israeli territory, putting at risk innocent civilians, without facing the consequences. The United States should stand with Israel as it weakens the terrorist organization’s capabilities to launch these attacks. Hamas must end its destructive campaign against Israel so that negotiations to achieve a lasting peace can resume.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

State Representative Josh Mandel (R-OH)

“In August 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip and closed its own settlements to turn the land over to the Palestinians. In June 2007, Hamas overthrew the Palestinian leadership to set up an illegitimate government in Gaza, and since that time thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel. An Egyptian brokered cease-fire was in place from June 2008 to December 2008, and upon the expiration of that cease fire, Hamas launched hundreds more rockets into Israel. For many years the terrorist group Hamas has attacked innocent Israeli civilians. Israel not only has a right, but indeed a duty, to defend its citizens against these terrorist attacks. Just like Americans demand that our government fight terrorists until the threat against our citizens is eliminated, Israel has the same obligation to its citizens. America and Israel are in a fight against a common enemy, Islamic Jihadists, and both governments are right in fighting to eliminate this common threat to our democracies and innocent citizens.” (Press Statement, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) released the following statement in support of Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’ unprovoked rocket attacks:
“I, in no uncertain terms, provide my staunch and steadfast support to Israel, as a Democratic ally and friend of the United States, in their effort to protect their citizens and territory from unprovoked and indiscriminate rocket attacks.

“As a member state of the United Nations, Israel’s measured response in defending herself is appropriate and justified, and should be rightly viewed as an act of self defense.
“Hamas revealed its true intentions – to destroy the State of Israel – when it launched thousands of rockets from Gaza into nearby Israeli neighborhoods injuring and killing innocent civilians. Lasting peace with its neighbors, Israel’s long-coveted goal, cannot be achieved if Hamas continues to sanction acts of terror against the Israeli people.

“The humanitarian crisis and any further loss of innocent civilian life can be averted if Hamas ceases its gratuitous acts of vengeance upon Israel.”

“Unfortunately, as many have said before, the Palestinian people will only have peace when their desire for a healthy and prosperous future living at peace with their neighbors is stronger than their desire to destroy Israel.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)

“Rather than laying the foundation for an independent state following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza more than three years ago, Hamas instead turned Gaza into a launch pad for rockets targeting Israeli civilians. Israel has the right and obligation to protect its citizens from the thousands of rockets that have rained down on its cities and towns since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. These rocket attacks must stop. Hamas is not only indiscriminately firing rockets at Israeli civilians; it is also damaging the future for all Palestinians who seek a normal life for themselves and their families. Peace will only result from a process of engagement and negotiation, not from volleys of rockets. The loss of innocent life on both sides is deeply saddening. Clearly, the United States must forcefully engage to restart the peace process so that the dream of two states living side by side in peace finally can be made a reality.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL)

Orlando, FL – U.S. Senator Mel Martinez today issued the following statement about the ongoing fighting in southern Israel and Gaza. “Israel has a right to defend itself and its citizens. Terrorist organizations like Hamas cannot be allowed safe haven in any territory. I'm deeply concerned about the civilian casualties and remain hopeful a new cease fire agreement can be reached very soon.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)

“Israeli and Palestinian civilians deserve the same thing as all people: to raise their families in peaceful communities free from and unthreatened by violence. However, as long as Hamas engages Israel only with terrorism and rocket fire, prospects for peace will dim while people and families suffer. This is unacceptable for Israel and for the United States, which will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens from attack. At the same time, Gaza must not become the scene of a humanitarian catastrophe, just as it must not be allowed to serve as a base for firing rockets at Israel.

“With this in mind, I urge the international community, Hamas’s militants, and the Israeli government to agree to a cease-fire that halts hostilities and addresses the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ultimate goal of such a cease-fire must be to lead to a sustainable peace agreement that dismantles Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure, eases the alarming humanitarian situation in Gaza, and guarantees the safety and security of innocent Israelis and Palestinians alike. Achieving peace through a renewed emphasis on diplomacy and negotiation is critical in order to craft a long-term settlement that strengthens Israel’s security, improves Palestinians’ quality of life, and breaks the region’s cycle of violence and suffering.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

U.S. Sen. John McCain denounced the escalation of Israeli violence in the Gaza Strip Monday, but added that he has seen Israel's residents running to shelters to escape border violence, too.

“If we were being shelled from across our border, the American people would have demanded action,” McCain said during an interview with The Daily Courier's editorial board Monday. (The Daily Courier, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)

“After months of violent rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled region of Gaza, Israel is exercising its right to defend itself. The acts of aggression against Israel will no longer be tolerated. Israel is one of our nation's greatest allies and the United States remains committed to standing with Israel to ensure security for its citizens and promoting peace in the region. It is my hope that the current conflict will come to a quick and peaceful resolution.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

“This resolution in support of the State of Israel has strong bipartisan support. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It clearly started this current conflict by launching rockets on to civilian sites in Israel. The Israelis, as the Majority Leader has indicated, are responding exactly the same way we would if rockets were being launched into the United States from Canada or Mexico or some situation like that. The Israelis have every right to defend themselves against these acts of terrorism. And so I enthusiastically support this, as does Senator Lugar, our Ranking Member on the Foreign Relations Committee.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

“Hamas is a terrorist organization. Imagine in this country if somebody from a neighboring country were lobbing shells at our population. We'd do exactly the same thing. I think the Israelis are doing the only thing they can possibly do to defend their population.” (ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, January 4, 2009)

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

“I believe the international community must press for an immediate cease-fire. A cease-fire would allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered most effectively and facilitate the revitalization of the peace process.
“I believe that the United States has dis-engaged from this process for far too long. President-elect Obama should indicate that he will appoint a Special Envoy to the region to revitalize stalled peace negotiations and to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to finding a long-term two-state solution.
“Every nation, including Israel, has the right to defend itself from attack. Hamas’s continued rocket attacks against Israeli civilians are unacceptable. Hamas should have agreed to extend the recently expired cease-fire. They must also recognize Israel’s right to exist and drop their objection to negotiate a two-state solution.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. John McHugh (R-NY)

Congressman John McHugh released the following statement today on the situation in Gaza
“As a sovereign nation, it is clearly within Israel’s rights to act in its own self-defense against all terrorist actions. The safety and security of Israel’s citizens must be its preeminent concern, and indiscriminate rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli civilians cannot be tolerated. Israel is a close ally and friend to the United States, and I strongly condemn the actions of Hamas, particularly given the serious and lasting impact this has on the Middle East peace process.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY)

“I stand with the people of Israel in their fight against terrorism and Hamas and support the ability of the government of Israel to protect its citizens from attacks launched from Gaza.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers issued the following statement regarding the escalating military action in Gaza:

“Israel is taking the right and necessary steps to defend its citizens and territory. Israel’s full military response against Hamas’ terrorist attacks is justified, just as the United States would respond to a terrorist attack on its soil. I urge Hamas to stop its attacks on Israel, honor the ceasefire agreement and work to establish a peaceful and long lasting resolution.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA)

“Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to express my concern about events in Israel and Gaza, and my support for Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks launched from the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. The region must have a meaningful resolution that will permanently end these rocket attacks and open a pathway to alleviate civilian suffering and develop a secure and prosperous Palestinian society. Hamas’ rocket attacks targeting civilians triggered the current crisis. Any country is compelled to defend its civilians against attack.

“The situation in the region has reached a new level of violence, and each civilian death is tragic. The images of suffering innocents, especially children, in both the Gaza Strip and Israel are a stark reminder that it is long past time for this region to know peace. The United States must be deeply involved in the peace process while vigorously working for short and long term solutions that will provide security to Israel and the means for a better future to Palestinians.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) issued the following statement today regarding on-going events in Israel and the Gaza Strip:

"Following Israel's historic disengagement from Gaza in 2005, Hamas has never relented in its quest to terrorize Israel and all of her citizens. Hamas' charter still calls for the destruction of Israel and rejects any peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A Palestinian government that includes an armed Hamas undermines the safety of the Palestinian people and threatens the future of the peace process. "For years, Hamas militants have indiscriminately fired rocket attacks killing innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians living on both sides of the border. Since Saturday, Hamas has fired more than 100 rockets and mortar shells at Israeli towns and villages. Palestinians must understand that Gaza will not be allowed to be a haven for terrorists to attack Israel. "Israel is justified in protecting its citizens against these acts of terror and has every right to secure its borders. I ask all Americans to stand in solidarity with Israel in its defense of democracy and freedom." U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Floridian sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also sits on the House Armed Services Committee. (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

“I stand firmly with Israel as it exercises its right of self-defense against the terrorist group, Hamas. Israelis have endured a bombardment of hundreds of rockets on their homes and communities. Their government has the right and the responsibility to protect its citizens and its borders. Hamas’ unprovoked actions, which broke the six month ceasefire agreement, make them solely responsible for the death and injuries on both sides. The world must stand with Israel as it rightfully acts to protect the security of its citizens against the Gaza-based terrorists.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

“Mr. President, a few days ago, we all counted down the final seconds of 2008. In Israel they had something else to count all through last year. From January until December of 2008, a terrorist group launched more than 3,262 rockets and mortar shells into Israeli cities. These were deliberate acts of violence, provocation, and murder. The group responsible was Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization founded on one principal goal: destroying the state of Israel . Its charter says there is no value to international conferences, political initiatives, or dialogue. It says there is only one approach to the political situation in the Middle East, and that is jihad.

So it was no surprise when the terrorist group Hamas staged an illegal coup against the forces of President Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate President of the Palestinian people. It was no surprise that Hamas rejected Egyptian and Arabian calls for an extension of the cease-fire Egypt had negotiated.

It was no surprise that when Israel voluntarily and unilaterally dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005 that Hamas saw this not as an opportunity to build peace but to instigate war, to continue to terrorize and kill Israelis in their places of worship, their schools, and their homes.

Since that year, Hamas terrorists have used Gaza to fire more than 6,300 mortars and rockets into Israel , reaching major cities, and pushing ever closer to the capital.

No country would be expected to sit on its hands and simply allow its citizens to endure these kinds of vicious attacks without taking action to stop the responsible party. If I am sitting in New Jersey, and rockets are landing around my house, near my children, and near our schools, my No. 1 goal, my immediate goal, is to stop the rockets. So in December of 2008, Israel sent its military to Gaza to achieve a direct goal: stop the rockets.

And now we all hope strongly that this goal can be achieved as quickly as possible. But we recognize it must be pursued if Israel is to have the sovereign right to protect itself and its citizens. Israel's acts to stop the Hamas rocket attacks are a response to the daily risk of death faced by the 900,000 Israeli citizens who live within rocket range. These innocent civilians have been forced to live constantly under the threat of mass casualties. No nation--no nation--should have to wait for the death toll to rise enough before it can act. No nation needs to wait until enough schoolchildren have fallen victim to a rocket attack before it stops rockets from falling on its cities. The launching of rockets and mortar fire is an invasion of Israel's sovereign territory. It is no different from dropping bombs out of airplanes. It is no different from any other act of war. There is no question that Israel has a right and an obligation to defend its people.
We mourn the loss of all innocent life, and the death of Palestinian civilians as a result of this conflict is tragic. There are a great many Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank who completely reject the Hamas ideology. They want to live in peace and build the Palestinian state for themselves and for their children. They are, however, Hamas hostages. Hamas has hijacked Gaza, not to build a state in which you can live in peace and prosperity but to use it as a base to launch attacks against innocent civilians in Israel.

Let us remember it was Hamas that chose to end the cease-fire, Hamas that chose to fire a continuous barrage of rockets. To date, it is Hamas that deliberately uses civilians as human shields and launches its attacks from heavily populated civilian areas, putting them at risk. It is Hamas that has spent its money on rockets rather than on food for the hungry. It is Hamas that would rather focus on the rhetoric that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel than on relief for its own people.

Israel and the United States have proven their commitment to helping innocent civilians in Gaza. In stark contrast to the terrorist group of Hamas, Israel has taken significant steps to prevent civilian casualties. They give warnings of impending attacks, they drop leaflets, and make phone calls to targeted areas to warn the citizens they are in danger, even if that means losing the element of surprise and putting the lives of their own soldiers at risk.

Israel and the United States have actively provided humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Since December 26, 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza in coordination with Israel , the Palestinian Authority, international organizations, and various other donors.

The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, is continuing to deliver humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. The United States has provided medical and food supplies to health care facilities. We support the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other nongovernmental organizations as they continue their relief efforts.

We all want peace in Gaza and hope it can come very soon. But peace cannot be achieved so long as Hamas continues its missile attacks. If a just and lasting cease-fire is to occur, it is incumbent upon Hamas to immediately and permanently halt all attacks against the Israeli people.

I rise today to express unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the state of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. That is what the resolution before us affirms. As the resolution states, the ultimate goal of the United States is a ``sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that will allow for a viable and independent Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel .'' This will not be possible as long as Israeli civilians are under threat from rockets. As this resolution correctly lays out, Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

Today, the Senate must stand in support of the state of Israel , stand in support of its right to defend itself against terrorists, stand in support of its right to exist. Having said all of this, of course, we urge Israel as it defends its sovereignty and its people to use every option it can to limit the loss of innocent lives. So let us vote for a resolution that demonstrates our commitment to one of the strongest allies the United States of America has in the world, and let us do all we can to make it a peaceful 2009.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in support of Israel’s right to self defense:
“For months – even before it officially violated the so-called cease-fire – the terrorist organization Hamas has been relentlessly firing missiles into Israel from Gaza, spreading terror, inflicting damage, and killing innocent civilians. No country would be expected to sit on its hands and simply allow its citizens to endure these kinds of vicious attacks without retaliating against the responsible party. I strongly support Israel’s right to self-defense and its decision to go after Hamas in response to the unyielding and increasingly far-reaching missile attacks. We all want peace in Gaza and hope that it will come very soon, but peace cannot be achieved so long as Hamas continues missile attacks. If a just and lasting cease-fire is to occur, it is incumbent upon Hamas to immediately and permanently halt all attacks against the Israeli people. As for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, I believe the United States and other countries can and should play a role in helping civilians in Gaza meet their basic needs through international assistance – without interference from Hamas – and I believe Israel has taken the right action with temporarily halts in military operations and creation of a humanitarian corridor to allow civilian aid into Gaza.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009

Rep. John Mica (R-FL)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman John L. Mica (R-FL) today made the following statement in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza:

“I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorist attacks, and until Israeli citizens can live without fear of these attacks, Israel is justified in its effort to maintain national security for its citizens.
While we all hope for peace in this region, it must not come at the expense of Israeli’s sovereignty or right to exist.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

“Rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from Hamas-controlled Gaza must stop. Hamas’ failure to end this aggression is destroying lives, destroying hope and destroying the opportunity for peace in the region. Like all nations, Israel has a right to self-defense and to restore security to its citizens. Ending rocket attacks on Israel and recognizing Israel’s right to exist are first steps Hamas must take to build peace in the region.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ)

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that is very much on the minds of my constituents right now – the violence in Israel and Gaza.

This is a difficult time for Israel, and as its ally, I believe we must support its right to self defense.

Before I joined Congress, I had the privilege of visiting Israel. It was a trip that I will never forget. I have always considered myself a friend of Israel, but that trip made me realize just how much our two nations have in common.

We all want peace, Madam Speaker, but clearly there can be no peace while Hamas continues to launch unprovoked rocket attacks into Israel.

We would not let Hamas launch rockets into the United States, and I do not know how we could expect Israel to hold itself to a lower standard.

I am deeply saddened by the casualties the recent conflict has inflicted, especially the civilian casualties. Each one of these is a tragedy, and I sincerely hope that both sides will do everything possible to avoid them.

I am encouraged by Israel’s decision to temporarily pause its military operations to allow delivery of humanitarian aid, and by Hamas’s decision to cease rocket launches during these deliveries. While only three hours, this is an important step forward. I hope that a longer lasting peace can be achieved soon.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerry Moran made the following statement today in regard to Israel’s recent military action against Hamas attacks in Gaza on Israeli civilians.

“Israel is right to defend its citizens against current rocket and mortar attacks launched by Hamas terrorists,” Moran said. “Israel has been, and continues to be one of America’s strongest allies in the Middle East and U.S. leaders repeatedly have encouraged peace efforts between Israel leaders and the Palestinian government. This renewed violence sparked by Hamas terrorists warrants a strong Israeli response. I hope both groups will implement a swift ceasefire to put an end to this conflict and stop unnecessary civilian casualties.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA)

“Having been to the town of Sderot in Israel and visited with families there, I can say with certainty that nobody should have to tolerate these persistent and indiscriminate rocket attacks. While continued violence will not lead to peace, Israel has the right to defend herself -- especially against terrorist groups that fire rockets at civilians on a weekly basis.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

“Hamas has left Israel with no choice in this situation, faced with incessant barrages of rocket fire by Hamas into Israeli cities like Ashdod, Ashkelon and Sderot, Israel must defend her citizens against these deadly attacks. We would expect nothing less from any other government. And, unfortunately, by hiding its military operations behind the cover of civilian life, Hamas has needlessly imperiled innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)

(SPRINGFIELD, MASS) Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement today regarding the crisis in the Gaza Strip:

"I join President Bush, President-elect Obama and the bi-partisan leadership of the United States Congress in support of Israel's right to defend itself against the rocket and mortar attacks by the terrorist group Hamas. In the past six weeks, more than 600 rockets and mortars have been fired from the Gaza Strip at innocent Israeli civilians. Nearly 500, 000 Israelis are with range of Hamas' deadly arsenal. The State of Israel is a sovereign nation that has a right to defend itself. And there is no doubt that the United States and its allies holds Hamas responsible for the current crisis in the region.

For many years, I have been an outspoken supporter of the efforts to bring peace and security to the Middle East. A negotiated settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians is the only way to resolve the conflict between the two parties. I welcome the call for an immediate ceasefire and support humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. But the attacks and aggression on innocent Israelis by Hamas have to stop immediately." (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)

“I strongly support Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself and its citizens against terrorism,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. “For years, Hamas has terrorized the citizens of Israel through deadly rocket and mortar attacks from its sanctuary in Gaza. Hamas must be held squarely responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for causing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)

“On December 27, 2008, Israel began its Operation Cast Lead against known Hamas terrorist facilities throughout the Gaza Strip, including Hamas terrorist training camps, rocket factories and storage facilities, rocket launch sites, symbols of Hamas dominance, Hamas recruitment and propaganda facilities, Hamas headquarters and other military and strategic sites. Hamas itself bears the blame for these strikes, which are in response to Hamas’ breaking of a cease fire by attacking Israeli civilians with hundreds of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. As Israel tried all diplomatic means to reinstate the cease fire, Hamas intensified its attacks. A government’s primary responsibility is to protect its citizens from harm, and that is what Israel is doing.

Americans support Israel as it acts to protect its civilians from terrorist attacks – just as we would expect our government to protect its citizens if terrorists were attacking Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena or Clear Lake with rockets launched from southern Houston. No people should live in a constant fear of rocket attacks, and no children should spend their days and nights in bomb shelters hiding from those rockets. The people of the 22nd congressional district would not stand for that situation, and neither should the people of southern Israel. America stands with Israel and other freedom-loving countries against terrorist groups like Hamas and their supporters, who seek to destroy our democratic way of life.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. John Olver (D-MA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman John W. Olver (D, MA-1) released the following statement today regarding the situation in Gaza:

“With grave concern I have been following the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. The people of Israel have a right to be safe in their homes and daily lives.

I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself as well as the right of Palestinians to realize a viable and sustainable state. I call upon the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the broader international community to secure an immediate and lengthy cease-fire and encourage both sides to begin serious negotiations to avoid repetition of this latest round of violence.

Right now, immediate humanitarian assistance—especially food and medical supplies—is needed for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the future, the United States must lead the effort towards achieving a permanent and sustainable peace agreement; only then will Israelis and Palestinians be able to live in peace and security.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON
“As Americans, we are blessed to live in a democracy which embraces different religions, cultures and ethnicities. More than seven years ago, New Yorkers’ faith in that democracy was tested when we suffered our own tragedy at the hands of terrorists. But we did not let that dark day in our history diminish our resolve to fight for our freedom. We continue to stand in solidarity with those who defend themselves in the pursuit of peace. “Over the past few days, I have closely monitored the current escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. I hope and pray for a peaceful solution for both sides and I strongly condemn Hamas for breaking the current ceasefire. I believe the Israeli people, under constant attack from the Palestinian territories, have a right to protect themselves and I stand with them as they fight to defend the basic rights of humanity. “I traveled to Israel in 2007 and I discovered firsthand what I had always known to be true – Israel is an extraordinary democracy blessed with very courageous citizens who refuse to live their lives in fear. New Yorkers have experienced the horror of terrorism; we must not and will not let senseless acts of terror undermine our commitment and resolve to fight for democratic principles both at home and around the world.” (December 30, 2008)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

“Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House underscores the more than 60-year commitment of the United States to the security of Israel.

“I proudly sponsor this resolution and I thank the other original co-sponsors of this legislation, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Republican Leader John Boehner, as well as the many Members who have voiced their support for this measure and for the State of Israel.

“Today, we reaffirm that Israel, like any nation, has a right to self-defense when under attack. The rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza, which were increasing in frequency and range, constituted an unacceptable security threat to which Israel had a responsibility to respond.

“All of us regret the loss of life, injury, and destruction of property of innocent civilians that has occurred on both sides of the conflict. When I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert last week, I made clear our concerns about the loss of life among civilians. We must do all we can to relieve the pain of the innocents and to bring about a real peace that will avoid further loss of life on both sides.

“If we are to achieve a real peace, we must begin with a ceasefire to the current conflict, which is why this resolution calls for the Bush Administration to work toward that end. But a ceasefire must do more than just end the current fighting – it must address some of the root causes of the conflict so we may attain a peace that is, in the words of this resolution, ‘durable and sustainable.’

“Security for Israel and an improvement in the lives of the people of Gaza cannot be achieved as long as Hamas uses that impoverished land as a launching pad for attacks against Israelis.

“The goal of any ceasefire must be more than a return to the status quo; it must be a positive and measurable step toward a final, just resolution of the differences between Palestinians and Israelis. Our goal must be to achieve an agreement between Palestinians and Israelis that results in a secure Israel living side-by-side with a viable and independent Palestinian state—and with both finding peace and prosperity.

“The cycle of violence that feeds the fury of despair must be broken; the hard work of negotiation must be done; and the difficult but necessary decisions made so that such an agreement can be achieved.

“The United States must be an active, constant, and engaged partner in this effort. With the new energy and fresh thinking of the new Administration, we pray that an enduring settlement can be reached.

“From the moment in 1947 that President Harry Truman took the bold step of recognizing the state of Israel to this very day, America has stood and will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our democratic ally in the Middle East.” (Congressional Record, January 9, 2009)
Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the situation in Gaza: "Peace between Israelis and Palestinians cannot result from daily barrages of rocket and mortar fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza. Hamas and its supporters must understand that Gaza cannot and will not be allowed to be a sanctuary for attacks on Israel.

"The United States must continue to do all it can to promote peace in the region and a negotiated settlement to differences between Israelis and Palestinians. Humanitarian needs of all innocent civilians must also be addressed. But when Israel is attacked, the United States must continue to stand strongly with its friend and democratic ally." (Press Release, December 27, 2008)

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)

“For millennia, Israel was a dream. In 1948 it became a reality. But in recent days the periphery of Gaza has become a nightmare for Israeli men, women and children. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 34, a bipartisan measure which recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirms the United States’ strong support for our partner. And time is of the essence.

“This very morning, Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel despite the United Nations ceasefire resolution passed last night. Israel has a right and a duty to defend her people against the attacks of a terrorist group that victimizes the people of Gaza and Israelis on her border. In the face of these evil acts no nation could tolerate, I commend Israel for working to minimize civilian casualties.

“In these dire circumstances, we must stand with Israel as she defends herself, we must show the resolve of our relationship as peaceful democracies, and we must show the resolve of a relationship born of the intimate and deepest held values of both of our people, for the history of Israel is a history of struggle.

“Over sixty years ago, the state of Israel, under the leadership of a small band of courageous Zionists, declared independence in its ancient homeland. It was promptly recognized by the United States, and it was promptly attacked by its Arab neighbors.

“The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same.

“Israel prevailed against the long odds then, again in 1967, again in 1973, and countless other times and Israel will prevail again today. But she will not do so alone.

“We and all the freedom-loving nations of the world must stand with Israel and condemn the violence that’s been perpetrated against her people. We cannot stand idly by while a gathering menace grows in the region, and a menace perpetrates such acts of evil against our cherished allies.

“We must come together to rededicate ourselves to the preservation and the protection of Israel as a Jewish state and to Jerusalem as her eternal capital.

“I commend all of my colleagues for bringing this timely resolution to the floor.” (Congressional Record, January 9, 2009)

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)

Washington DC - U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) issued the following statement about the situation in Gaza:

“I am disappointed that Hamas unilaterally chose to end the cease fire with Israel, and that they recommenced firing rockets and mortars at Israeli population centers. Since handing control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority in 2005, Israel has been the victim of over 2000 rocket attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups. Israel has the right and obligation to defend its citizens against these attacks. Hamas has the ability to end the crisis by ceasing further rocket attacks. For the sake of the Palestinian and Israeli people, I call on Hamas to end their attacks and encourage both parties to pursue peace,” stated Perlmutter. (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)

Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement on the ongoing conflict in Gaza:

“Hamas must cease its attacks on Israel. No other nation on earth would be expected to stand idly by while a neighbor fired missiles and mortars into its cities, but Israel is being held to an unreasonable, irresponsible standard of restraint. Instead, the world community should be united in its support of Israel’s right to defend its citizens and clear in its condemnation of Hamas.

“While I am saddened by the loss of life on both sides, a suitable resolution to the conflict is possible if Israel's neighbors will acknowledge Israel's sovereign right to defend its people. That acknowledgement would be an essential first step toward a lasting peace.

“The world community must not tolerate terrorism in any form, regardless of any false nobility assigned to its perpetrators or their motives.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI)

“Israel has been under attack, and like any sovereign nation it has the right to defend itself. Israel is America’s friend and ally and I support its pursuit of security and acts of self defense in the face of continued attacks on the existence of the Jewish state. Israel’s current objective in Gaza is to provide security for its citizens, and that is a goal that must be achieved.

“In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and settlements from the Gaza Strip in a move designed to set the stage for a future peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, since Israel's withdrawal, Hamas has used Gaza as a launching pad, firing over 6,000 rockets into southern Israel.

“Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel.T The U.S. should do everything it can to help reach a resolution that begins with an immediate end to Hamas rocket fire and provides for Israel’s continued security.” (Public Statement, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)

“Madam Speaker, Israel and Hamas are fighting each other in the Gaza Strip. The question is, what is this fighting all about?

For centuries, the Jews and Muslims have fought over a strip of land in what we call the Holy Land called the Gaza Strip. It's a territorial dispute, but it's also a conflict of a religious nature.

The Gaza Strip is a tiny sliver of land about two times the size of Washington, D.C., with a population of about 1.5 million people. It is bordered by the State of Israel on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea to the West.

The modern war between Israel and the Palestinians began after Israel became a sovereign nation in 1948, after the end of World War II. After the Egyptian invasion of Israel in May of 1948 and the subsequent occupation of the Gaza Strip, large groups of Palestinian refugees began to arrive and live in Gaza.

In the last half of the 20th century, territorial control bounced back and forth between Israel and its Muslim neighboring countries. In the 1990s, Israel transferred security and civilian responsibility for the Palestinian-populated areas of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. After that transfer, Palestinians elected Yasser Arafat to be their leader, a person who was by no means pro-Israel, but a leader at the very least who worked for peace between Israel and Palestine.

In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip on the condition that the Palestinian terrorist groups, like Hamas, would stop terrorizing innocent civilians in Israel near the Gaza border, but that did not happen. Hamas continued its relentless attacks against the Jews, causing an escalation of tension in that region.

Then in January of 2006, the people of Palestine elected Hamas to head the Palestine Legislative Council. The international community did not accept the Hamas-led government because it refused to renounce violence, refused to recognize the State of Israel, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

After a series of infighting between Hamas and more moderate Palestinians, Hamas militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all the military and government institutions in the Gaza Strip.

So since 2000, Hamas terrorists have targeted over 1 million Israeli civilians in Gaza and Israel literally firing thousands of rockets, missiles and mortar shells into Israel. In just the past 10 days, Hamas has fired more than 500 rockets at innocent Israeli civilians, and there is no end in sight.

The anti-Semitic hate speech propagated by Hamas leaders is no figment of anyone's imagination. It is real. It's enticing an entire generation of young people to become terrorists, all in the name of religion. Even our State Department has designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization for as long as that list has existed.

But we don't have to take our own government's word for it. In 2005, a Hamas leader in Gaza told the media that, “Neither the liberation of the Gaza Strip nor the liberation of the West Bank or even Jerusalem will suffice us. Hamas will pursue the armed struggle until the liberation of all our lands. We don't recognize the State of Israel or its right to hold onto one inch of Palestine. Palestine is an Islamic land belonging to all the Muslims . Later in 2006, another leader said, ``Israel is not a legitimate entity, and no amount of pressure can force us to recognize its right to exist. Israel must be humiliated and degraded."

These are not the words of a people who desire peace and reconciliation. These are the words of a people who blatantly call for the complete destruction of Israel and will not stop at anything until that happens.

What's worse, Hamas doesn't care what it takes to make this happen, even if that means killing its own people.

Since the fighting began, Israel has allowed over 200 truckloads of food and medicine to enter Gaza, even under shellfire. Just today, Israel agreed to cease its ground operations for 3 hours every day so that humanitarian supplies can be taken into Gaza.

But meanwhile, Hamas is not only preventing its own wounded civilians from crossing into Egypt to receive medical treatment, but they're stealing medicine and supplies meant for civilians and using them for their wounded terrorists.

What makes Hamas even more inhumane is their willingness to put their own people in harm's way. Time and time again, Hamas has intentionally launched missiles into school yards and residential areas, putting Palestinians at risk, daring Israel to try and come after them, even hoping for Palestinian civilian lives to be lost in these attacks.

It's time for the rest of the world to stand in solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism and demand that Hamas immediately end its rocket fire attacks on Israel and stop smuggling through tunnels between Egypt and Gaza. However, Hamas says it will never end their war against Israel until Israel ceases to exist.

In the face of such hate, Madam Speaker, Israel is left with no other choice but to defend its people and its sovereign territory from these murderous terrorists. And that's just the way it is.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

“Madam Speaker, the radical hate group Hamas in Gaza has refused to renew a truce with Israel . It has begun once more firing thousands of Iranian-made rockets into Israel . Numerous Israelis have died in the last 11 days.
Hamas wants to annihilate Israel because, well, they're Jews. Hamas kills people that aren't radical Muslims like themselves. That's why they're called terrorists.

Hamas cowardly hides among civilians for cover, fires rockets, then is indignant if Israel defends itself. But Israel has moved into Gaza to find these bad guys.

Some world leaders, rather than mounting pressure on Hamas to stop the rocket attacks, are calling for a ceasefire, even a unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In other words, peace at any price. Peace ought to be a goal, but not at all costs. Actually, some things are worth fighting for. Now is not the time for unrealistic, hopeful idealism. Lives are on the line.

Men may cry peace, peace, but there can be no peace as long as Hamas kills in the name of religion.

And that's just the way it is.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

“Madam Speaker, it looks like the days of the Old West have returned and are being played out in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.

Innocent Israeli civilians have been targeted by Hamas terrorists. These terrorist outlaws have fired over 8,000 rockets and mortar shells at Israel since 2000, and they still won't quit.

These extremists call for the total destruction of the nation of Israel. They are shooting at Israeli civilians in southern Israel with the help of Iranian-made long-range rockets.

Self-defense is a basic human right, Madam Speaker. It is a principle that goes back to the Wild West: If you are getting shot at, you have the right to shoot back to defend yourself. And Israel is fighting back. Israel has the moral right and duty to protect its people from Hamas militants waging war against them.

Hamas is nothing more than a ragtag gang of terrorists intent on kidnapping, killing and terrorizing as many Israelis as possible. These attacks cannot go unanswered. The United States must stand with Israel.

Hamas doesn't want peace. They want a war of destruction against Israel. In the face of such hate, Israel is left with no other choice but to defend its people and its sovereign territory from these murderous outlaws.

And that's just the way it is.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) expressed support for Israel’s response to attacks by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip in a statement released today:

“Every country has the right of self defense and Israel is exercising its duty to protect its people. Our democratic allies were left with no choice but to defend their people and do what is necessary to eliminate Hamas militants waging war on their country. The US must stand with Israel and support their ongoing efforts to protect themselves from Islamist terrorist attacks. Their continued attacks cannot go unanswered and I urge other world powers to stand with Israel in its fight against terrorism.”

Congressman Poe serves on the House Committee on Foriegn Affairs and Terrorism Subcommittee. (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

“The restraint exercised by Israel prior to the current conflict was commendable and remarkable. We all appreciate that the defense of sovereignty ultimately dictated action. Hamas must not be allowed to perpetuate a violent, open-ended threat to the Israeli people. Like all those who stand for peace and democracy, I urge the leadership of all nations to work for a responsible resolution. Especially during this time of transition in our nation, we must ensure the United States does not waiver in its support for Israel or democracy.” (Letter to AIPAC, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL)

BARTOW, Fla. – Following demonstrations against Israel in two Florida cities yesterday, Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) issued the following statement in support of the Jewish state:

“Israel not only has the right to defend itself, but the responsibility to its citizens to protect them from the rocket attacks that Hamas has initiated. The loss of civilian lives in recent days is very tragic, but we must also be clear: It is the actions of Hamas that are unacceptable and must come to a stop immediately. Hamas initiated the attacks and now cynically cries foul when Israel responds in the only way it had available. Those who would blame Israel are playing into the hands of the extremists who are opposed to peace.”

According to news accounts, demonstrations against Israel’s actions occurred in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale yesterday.

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties. (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA)

Washington DC – Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement regarding the current situation in Gaza:

“The recent escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip is sad and discouraging. Unfortunately, Hamas has proven their unwillingness to allow our friends in Israel to live in peace, which has given Israeli forces no choice but to defend their sovereignty.

“An immediate end to the violence in the Gaza region is desired by all; however it is imperative that Israel has the freedom to defend their people and their democracy from blatant terrorist actions.

“The Palestinian people deserve better than the destructive leadership provided by Hamas and I encourage the international community to help facilitate a resolution to the current conflict and ultimately, peace in the region.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

“Israel, like any other sovereign nation, has the right to provide for her own security against terrorist campaigns. A cease fire does not seem plausible until the rocket attacks by Hamas and the threat for future rocket attacks have ended. Of course, it is in everyone's best interest to end the constant threat of violence. We must do more to build an environment where we can grow new economic opportunities for both sides which will provide Palestinians with a sense of economic hope and allow Israelis to live in peace. I am confident and hopeful that President-elect Barack Obama will be able to bring together the peace loving people of the world in order to create economic and political stability for the Palestinian people and a two state solution without having to fear the terrorism instituted by Hamas.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

“Like you, I am deeply concerned about the escalating violence and its toll on innocent civilians in the region.

I stand by Israel’s right to defend its citizens against rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas from Gaza, which have killed and injured many Israelis over the last several years. I also believe that Israel, like all states, has an obligation to restore security for its residents.

We need a cease fire that is durable and sustainable. I hope such an agreement can be reached quickly.

I believe that the United States needs to be energetically engaged in bringing the parties together to form a long-lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and that the United States has an obligation to support the emergence of a peaceful, democratic Palestinian leadership.

I continue to support the implementation of a two-state solution, in which Israelis and Palestinians agree to live as neighbors in peace and security. I remain hopeful that under the incoming Administration, the United States will encourage the parties to accomplish this necessary goal.” (Constituent Letter, January 4, 2009)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

“I rise to voice my strong support of a resolution in support of Israel that I have introduced with Leader McConnell, along with an overwhelming number of bipartisan cosponsors. When we pass this resolution, the United States Senate will strengthen our historic bond with the State of Israel by reaffirming Israel’s inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza, as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

“I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert last week and again expressed my understanding of and appreciation for the terrible situation that Israel has faced. Hamas has been firing rockets and mortars into Israel, killing and maiming innocent Israeli civilians, for more than eight years.

fire was coming from Vancouver, Canada, into Seattle. Would the United States react? Of course we would. We would have to react to protect our people, and it would be not only our right but our obligation to do so. That is what the Israelis have done.

“Hamas must stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. That is the stated objective of the Israelis.

“I acknowledge and appreciate the calls by some for a cease-fire. Certainly we must encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict. But we must be certain that any cease-fire is sustainable, durable, and enforceable.

“Our resolution reflects these sentiments. It states that:

• The United States Senate stands with Israel at this critical moment and recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense;

• Hamas must end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel;

• Any cease-fire must be durable, enforceable and sustainable;

• The lives of innocent civilians should be protected; and

• We support a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a strong and secure Israeli living in peace with an independent Palestinian state.

“I encourage all of my colleagues to support this critical expression of support for our steadfast ally, the State of Israel.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today:

“I continue to closely monitor events in Gaza. I strongly support Israel’s right to defend its citizens against rocket and mortar attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza, which have killed and injured Israeli citizens, and to restore security to its residents. Hamas’ failure to stop these attacks only exacerbates the humanitarian situation for the residents of Gaza and undermines efforts to attain peace and security in the region.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

“The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza. The ceasefire should be restored immediately. The United States calls on all concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza.” (December 27, 2008)

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL)

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the devastating situation in Gaza. Each of us in this Chamber knows what it's like to deal with a terrorist attack on our soil and against our people. Over the last several years, the Israeli people have been constantly bombarded by terrorist attacks on their soil and against their people. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in late 2005, more than 6,000 rocket and mortar attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups were fired into their territory.

The Government of Israel has a right and a responsibility to defend and protect its people. To stand idly by while hundreds of bombs explode on Israeli territory would have indeed been an irresponsible position for Israel's government to take, and continuing to do nothing could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel's security in the region.

So Madam Speaker, critics who have said that Israel responded to Hamas in a disproportionate or indiscriminate way are wrong. Madam Speaker, I ask, what amount of force would have been necessary to stop the brutal attacks, to put an end to the terrorists' rocket launching pad in Gaza?

Hamas has repeatedly targeted school yards and hospitals filled with children and civilians in Israel. And the militants have been deliberate in operating from places where Gazan civilians have sought shelter, jeopardizing innocent lives in Gaza. Only Hamas is responsible for the massacre of the people in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for this conflict.

Today marks the 12th day of this conflict, and I think we all hope for a cease-fire to take place soon. However, even if the parties can reach an agreement to a cease-fire, it remains to be seen whether it will be durable.

Therefore, I strongly urge support for Israel's right to self-defense and its efforts to protect itself militarily. I also urge the United Nations and our European allies to do the same.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

(WASHINGTON, DC)— Congressman Mike Rogers said today Israel has a right to defend itself against the continuing bombing of innocent Israeli civilians by the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza strip near southern Israel.

Rogers, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said since Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas and other terrorist groups have turned the area into a launching pad for more than 6,000 rocket and mortar attacks against Israel instead of seizing the historic opportunity to build a better life for the people of Gaza. News reports have shown many of these rocket and mortar attacks against Israel were targeted at innocent civilians, including schools and hospitals.

“We must all remember that all free and democratic nations across the world are engaged in a war on terrorism. Hamas is no different than Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah or any other ruthless terrorist organization. It seeks to terrorize free people by killing and traumatizing innocents,” Rogers added.

Rogers said Israel is fighting a terrorist group that is relentlessly attacking its people, and for Israel to do anything less than fully defending itself militarily would be completely irresponsible. Inaction, Rogers said, could cause long-term detrimental implications to Israel’s security in the region.

“I wholeheartedly support Israel’s right to self defense and its efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorist and rocket launching sites in the Gaza strip through their military offensive. I urge the United Nations and our European counterparts to do the same,” Rogers concluded. (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

“Madam Speaker, today we are saddened by the loss of innocent lives in Gaza; people being killed and wounded, bodies of children torn apart, all of this is a horror story. If we are serious about ending this tragedy we must be brutally honest, and not give in to ignoring hard truths. In this case the hard truth is that the real blame for this carnage in Gaza is traced to actions taken by Hamas, radical Islamists, and those who supply them with rockets and other weapons.

There was a tremendous opportunity for peace when Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza in 2005. Instead of moving forward and building a Palestinian homeland, irreconcilables have launched nearly 7,000 rockets and mortar rounds into Israel since Israeli troops left.

The hate-filled radicals who launched missiles into Israel --Hamas triggermen, not Israeli pilots--are the ones who are really responsible for the horrible mayhem we are witnessing in Gaza. The radical Islamists ruthlessly and without any remorse did what they knew would bring retaliation and result in the slaughter of their own people. The hatred of Israel in the hearts of these Hamas radicals clearly outweighs their commitment to the safety and well being of their own people. That's a hard fact. And that after shooting rockets into Israel, they hide among and behind non-combatants, women, and children, makes their actions even more despicable.

An honest assessment leads to the conclusion that Hamas doesn't want peace with Israel and has no desire for a two state solution. Hamas wants a war that will destroy Israel . This commitment is the real cause of the current bloodshed in Gaza. Once Israel left Gaza, Hamas should have used its resources, their money, our money, on health care, education, roads and economic development in Gaza. Instead they have chosen death and destruction.

Recently China's representative to the U.N. Security Council voiced concern about, “large-scale Israeli air attacks against Gaza.” Now, that takes chutzpah! Many of the rockets fired into Israel “were manufactured in China. These Chinese rockets were smuggled into Gaza after the Sinai border wall was blown up by Hamas in January.” Making matters worse the State Department and the White House hasn't mentioned a word about the China connection to the turmoil in Gaza, just as they're mum about Chinese complicity in crimes elsewhere.

Yes, the bloodshed is horrible, and yes, Israel is doing what any other sovereign nation would do. It is protecting its people by retaliation when attacked. Those who shoot rockets into Israel know there will be retaliation, thus they are the responsible party for the bloodshed we are now witnessing. It's the hard truth we can't ignore if we are to someday end this terrible heart-wrenching violence.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA)

“Hamas was very clearly not a government intent on helping their people. When sovereignty was give on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, they didn't build roads, they didn't build hospitals, they didn't build schools or businesses. Instead, they bought rockets, millions and millions of dollars worth of rockets. They were intent on destroying Israel. And in a circumstance like that, Israel has no choice but to take military action. They're taking it now. It's terribly unfortunate. But the cause of this is the constant attack over the last several years by Hamas.” (Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, January 4, 2009)

Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-16) released the following statement regarding Israel and its recent military operations in Gaza:

“Thousands of Hamas rockets and mortars have indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel has the unequivocal right and duty to protect her civilians from terrorist attacks.
Israel targets terrorists attacking Israeli civilians, while Hamas hides among civilians and aims to kill as many innocent Israelis and possible. The loss of all civilian life is tragic, but there is simply no moral equivalence between the two sides.

Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East and I fully support Israel’s right to defend herself against those who seek to destroy her.” (Press Release, January 9, 2009)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

Ros-Lehtinen Expresses Support for Israel's Response in Gaza to Escalation of Rocket Attacks by Hamas.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today expressed support for Israel's response in the Gaza Strip to Hamas' continued assault against Israeli civilians. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"The most recent onslaught of rockets against Israel from Hamas represents a serious escalation in their war against Israel. The latest barrage of attacks by these Iranian-sponsored Islamist militants continue a pattern of indiscriminate targeting of innocent men, women and children in Israel that could not go unanswered. Israel had no choice but to defend itself.

"The response of our democratic ally, Israel, has been carefully calibrated to halt the rocket fire, aimed at surgically eliminating Hamas militants and the teams that are operating the rockets, while at the same time making every effort to limit civilian casualties in the face of Hamas' callous use of innocent Palestinians as human shields.

"We stand with the Jewish State of Israel in its ongoing efforts to protect its citizens from those who seek its destruction.” (Press Release, December 28, 2008)

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today commented on a forthcoming United Nations Security Council draft resolution regarding the situation in Gaza. The proposed resolution, to be introduced by the governments of Libya and Indonesia, would reportedly call for a cease-fire while making no distinction between Hamas’s rocket attacks and Israel’s response in self-defense. Israel is pursuing a military campaign aimed at surgically eliminating Hamas’s capability to continue its offensive rocket assault, while seeking to limit civilian casualties in the face of Hamas' cowardly use of human shields. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“As violent Islamist extremists in Gaza have relentlessly launched rockets to attack Israeli civilians, the UN Security Council has taken no meaningful action to stop this onslaught or condemn those Palestinian militants responsible for these assaults on Israel. Now, after the democratic Jewish State of Israel was forced to respond to protect its citizens, the Council is moving to equate Israel’s calibrated self-defense measures with Hamas’s actions that threaten not just Israel but regional peace and security.

If recent history is any indication, the same UN system that has failed to hold dictators accountable and to prevent regimes like Iran from enhancing its nuclear capabilities is poised to single out Israel, yet again, for condemnation.

In the same manner that Hamas has made clear its nefarious intentions with respect to Israel and the Jewish people, so too must responsible nations send a clear message to Hamas and other Islamist extremists that such attacks as those carried out from Gaza will not be tolerated or condoned.

While Israel, the U.S. and other international donors provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, Hamas places Palestinians in the line of fire and uses them as human shields.

This is not the path to peace and security.

The President and the Secretary of State should act now to prevent yet another anti-Israel resolution at the UN. Other responsible nations, including our allies in Latin America and the Arab world, must join us in rejecting further biased measures that do nothing to advance peace and security.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)

Washington, DC- Today, Congressman Steve Rothman issued the following statement expressing support for Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip to Hamas’ continued rocket assault against Israeli civilians:

“I strongly support the Jewish State of Israel’s right to defend itself against the endless onslaught of thousands of rocket and mortar attacks that have been fired on innocent Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists. In fact, since Israel’s voluntary departure from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, Hamas has launched more than 6,000 of these rocket attacks on Israeli towns.

“By breaking the six-month ceasefire with hundreds more of its deadly rocket attacks, Hamas has once again demonstrated it would rather pursue an agenda of bloodshed and terror than one that could result in a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While I deeply regret the loss of civilian life on both sides, the Israeli government is absolutely justified to take action to defend their endangered citizens and bring an end to Hamas’ regime of terror as quickly as possible.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD)

(Washington, DC) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) released the following statement on the situation in Israel:

“As a sovereign nation, Israel has the right to defend herself against the daily rocket attacks and mortar fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza. When Israel is attacked, the United States will stand by her friend and democratic ally. If our families and communities were attacked here in the United States, we would not hesitate to defend our families, our neighborhoods, our state, and our country.

“The United States is committed to working with regional allies to promote peace in the region but constant attacks from Hamas militants who use Gaza as their sanctuary will not help achieve this goal. The growing humanitarian situation must also be addressed.”

Congressman Ruppersberger has visited Israel several times over the last few years. (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)

“I support Israel’s strong response to the incessant rocket attacks from Hamas. Such attacks against innocent citizens are attacks against Israel’s very right to exist. The ongoing Gaza conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of life on both sides. Hamas must cease its campaign of terror and give Israelis and Palestinians of goodwill the opportunity to build a future of peace and security.” (Public Statement, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

“A safe and stable Israel is crucial to the national interests of the United States. Our two nations face common enemies, and we must continue working together to combat these threats. In Congress we need to stand behind our Israeli friends and support their efforts to provide safety and sovereignty for their people. Israel has taken the high ground as Hamas has continued to try to strike fear into the hearts of the innocent civilians. The cowardly attacks have not only endangered the peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but have directly and deliberately put innocent civilians in the line of fire using them as human shields. The Middle East is the major focus of U.S. military operations and it is crucial that we spread democracy and diplomacy throughout the region. As an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, Hamas is a threat not only to Israel but to the U.S. as well. In 2005, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, “Israel must be wiped off the map.” This way of thinking is completely unacceptable and must end. The US must stand behind Israel as an ally and friend. No nation would allow these types of attacks to take place on their soil and Israel has taken extreme measures to not only limit casualties but to ensure the people of Gaza are provided with humanitarian assistance. I applaud the efforts of the Israeli government to promote peace in the Middle East and also support Israel’s ability and right to defend their homeland and safety of their citizens. I strongly urge Hamas and Palestinian leadership to police their area and put a quick end to terrorist actions as they return to the table for renewed negotiations to create stabilization and normalization of life in Gaza.” (Public Statement, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

“Madam Speaker, the State of Israel has a right to defend its territory and its people from attack, whether that attack emanates from another sovereign nation, or, as in this case, from a terrorist organization that seized control of Gaza in a bloody putsch 18 months ago.

Hamas clearly chose to escalate its conflict against Israel by unilaterally declaring an end to the ceasefire that was implemented last June and launching a large-scale rocket attack on Israeli population centers. The Israeli government exercised great forbearance in the weeks prior to the formal breakdown of the ceasefire, which Hamas was already violating repeatedly, and had the international community more strongly condemned these attacks and taken action to stop them, the current Israeli offensive may have been unnecessary. But, Hamas bears ultimate responsibility for provoking this attack and for putting 1.5 million Palestinians in harm's way--a fact that Arab leaders from Egypt to Saudi Arabia have noted.

Along with millions of Americans, I grieve the terrible loss of life of innocent Israelis and Palestinians. Hamas's decision to fire rockets from populated areas and Israeli strikes on those targets have resulted in many civilian casualties, and our hearts go out to all the innocents who have suffered.

It is too early to tell if Israel's military actions will quell the threat of rocket attacks from Gaza and shut down smuggling routes from Egypt. The conflict in Lebanon proved how difficult this can be and a strong international effort will be necessary to avoid a recurrence of missile strikes in both theaters. This will require a level of resolution thus far not demonstrated by the international community.
Israel's long-term security can only be guaranteed by a successful peace process that leads to the creation of a Palestinian state living side-by-side and in peace with Israel.

President-elect Obama has committed himself to reinvigorating the search for peace and it is my hope that a timely conclusion of the present hostilities will allow the new President to begin these efforts from the first days of his administration.” (Congressional Record, January 6, 2009)

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

“Israel, like every other nation, has a right to defend itself; I find it naïve and unrealistic that some say Israel should ‘sit down and talk’ to Hamas, a group sworn to Israel’s annihilation, that broke the recent ceasefire by flinging missiles at Israeli cities. The Palestinian people must realize that Israel is here to stay and that no amount of violence, which Hamas seeks to undertake, will change that fact.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz released the following statement today concerning the situation in Gaza.
“Israel's response to the relentless rocket attacks from Hamas is well within it's right as a sovereign nation to protect the safety and security of it's nation and her citizens. The United States will continue to stand with our friend and ally, Israel, and will work together towards a long term resolution to this ongoing conflict.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement on the violence in Gaza and around the world:

“This past year, we have seen far too much violence throughout the world, from the continued genocide of the people in southern Sudan to the horrible bombings in the city of Mumbai, to this week's violence between Hamas and Israel.

“Every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism and cold-blooded attacks on its people. Israel is no different and is right to defend itself against the unceasing violence of rocket attacks launched by Hamas.

“The goal should be just and lasting peace not only in Gaza but throughout the world, and all sides have the choice and ability to reject violence and work toward that goal.

“My thoughts are with all of those who face senseless violence and with all Californians who are affected by conflicts throughout the world.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions today released the following statement regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza:

"I strongly and unequivocally support the right of the State of Israel to defend itself from the terrorist attacks being launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

"As our strongest ally in the region and our long-term partner against terror, Israel can rely upon my steadfast support of its efforts to combat Hamas' continued launching of rockets into Israel and its smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.

"Until Hamas ends its assault, the State of Israel has my unwavering support in continuing its measured defense of its territory and people." (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

“Israel has the right to ensure its security as it has done in response to the unremitting rocket attacks from Gaza by Hamas. The United States must continue to support the defense of its valued ally Israel; however, we must also work much more effectively than we have in the recent past to achieve a long term diplomatic resolution to the overall Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This requires the U.S. to take a much greater leadership role in the Middle East, beginning with bringing a swift end to this ongoing conflict. Then, leading a regional effort, the United States must use this conflict’s peaceful resolution as an opportunity to build a path to permanent peace in the Middle East.”

“When I served in the White House as Director of Defense Policy in the Clinton Administration, I saw the value of U.S. leadership efforts to engage in diplomacy around the world, including with Israel and the Palestinians. We need to assume the mantle of leadership in that region because a safe and secure Israel is necessary not only for the people of Israel, but also for the region, the United States and its allies and friends.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)

“At this point, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to focus on foreign policy and particularly the Middle East. Again, I would point out that if there are colleagues that would like me to yield them a few minutes and they happen to be on the floor, they need only get my attention.

Now, I want to commend the Bush administration for its support of Israel during this difficult period. Now, the press, as is often the case, is beating up Israel due to its lack of understanding of what is happening and how to interpret it.

First, let us remember that over the last several years Hamas has sent nearly 7,000 rockets into Israel. That's 7,000 times they have attempted murder. But the press would have you believe that those attempts at murder don't count because most of them were unsuccessful. This is absurd. The malice is demonstrated by the attempted murder, and I use the term “murder” explicitly here because every one of those rockets was fired with only one intention: kill Israeli civilians. Not a single one of those rockets was targeted at anything military. The fact that they haven't killed 7,000 Israelis does not reflect well on their morality. It may reflect poorly on their aim.
Second, and this is under-covered by the press, the United Nations has stated that roughly three-quarters of the casualties in Gaza are of terrorists-military, gun-toting, Hamas terrorists. This is a true tribute to the tactics used by Israel because Israel has done everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas has done everything possible to increase civilian casualties. Again and again, they fire rockets from the middle of schools, from the middle of hospitals, from the middle of residential neighborhoods.

I mean, these people live very close to each other. Israel actually has the Gaza phonebook. They will call a house and say, we know military supplies are being stored there, we're going to hit this house, you’ve got 10, 20 minutes to leave. And what happens? Hamas forces civilians up to the rooftops.

Perhaps one of the best-known examples is the highest level Hamas individual to be killed by Israel. At his home he stored rockets and Israel knew it. He announced publicly that he wanted to be a martyr and that he, himself, would be at his home. And Israel called that home and said we want to avoid civilian casualties. We have to hit that home because we know that rockets are being stored there, you have time to leave. What did this Hamas leader do? He forced and brought together his four wives and their many children and insisted that he be allowed to die as a martyr and that as many of his family members would die as possible in order to increase civilian casualties.

Now, it is well-known that Israel is allowing trucks of supplies to get into Gaza. This is usually known by press critics who say Israel didn't allow a resupply truck in at this particular hour; they made the truck wait a couple of hours. Let us compare this to the wars we are most familiar with: World War I and World War II.

During each of those wars, Britain used its entire navy to cut off every German civilian from food imports and any other kind of import. And Germany deployed its submarines with the sole effort of depriving the British of the food imports they needed from chiefly the New World.

So, in the wars we're most familiar with, both the good and the bad side did everything possible to stop civilian supplies from getting into Germany or Britain. Compare that to an Israel that protects the trucks as they go in.
With that, I'd like to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun)….”

“I look forward to working with the gentleman from Georgia and thank him for his remarks.

Any discussion of the morality of war sometimes gets off on what I think is a sidelight. People always want to criticize this or that sergeant, this or that gunner; oh, you shouldn't have responded this way to rocks being thrown; oh, your attempt to return fire to a Hamas rocket site was off by 10 yards or 20 yards in the direction of a civilian location.

We have to remember, the moral responsibility for war and for the deaths of war cannot be placed at the feet of this or that sergeant making this or that decision under life-threatening conditions. The moral responsibility for war and for its casualties must be placed on politicians who seek extreme and unjust objectives through violent means. Here's a case where Hamas has earned its designation as a terrorist organization. Not only does it use terrorist means, but what are its objectives? They are stated very clearly. They are for the death or expulsion of every Jew from the Middle East. They refuse any change in that policy. So whether it is genocide or ethnic cleansing or more likely a combination of the two, these are the objectives of Hamas, being pursued by violent means. It is obviously the fault of the politicians of Hamas who seek these objectives that must be held responsible for the resulting carnage.

We need a sustainable, permanent cease-fire, not a 2-day resupply truce to allow Hamas to bring in more rockets.

Now, I think it's clear that this is not just a conflict between Israel and Hamas. It is a conflict between the Government of Iran and the people of the United States. The fighting in Gaza has demonstrated again that the ultimate adversary of the United States and its allies in the Middle East is the Government of Iran. Hamas is a terrorist organization seeking the destruction of Israel in favor of an Islamic Palestinian State, but it is also an Iranian proxy. As such, it is part of a regional war waged by the Iranian regime against the United States and its allies.

Many Hamas weapons are made in Iran, and many top Hamas military leaders and the experts who launch the missiles into Israel were trained in Iran. Iran also provides the group with significant funding. It is unlikely that Hamas would have been able to achieve its status as the premier Palestinian terrorist organization and thus provoke this crisis without Iranian backing.

Iran-backed Hamas, like Iran-backed Hezbollah, shoots rockets at Israeli civilians from deep inside their own densely populated civilian population, knowing that when Israel acts to defend itself innocent Palestinians will be among the victims.

Through Hamas, Hezbollah and its operatives in Iraq, Iran and its government are able to stir up crises in the Middle East, thus injuring American prestige while helping to achieve that government's own aims.

We know that Iran is working hard toward the possession of a nuclear bomb. This would allow Iran to act with impunity in the future. A nuclear Iran would go from provoking this crisis to that crisis, and we would have to go face-to-face with a nuclear power, each time hoping, hoping for the same results we saw in the Cuban missile crisis--that is to say, going eyeball-to-eyeball with a hostile nuclear power hoping we always have the same result, namely, some peaceful resolution.

It only takes one crisis with a nuclear power that goes in the wrong direction to destroy an entire city or an entire country.
Furthermore, we should recognize that if the regime in Tehran ever finds itself on the verge of collapse--and many of us pray for that day--its leaders may decide to go out with a bang.
Preventing Iranian nuclear possession is critical to world peace, and we can still succeed in accomplishing that goal, but we have to act quickly. The good news is we have used only 1 percent of the tools that are available to us, and therefore we can do a lot more. The bad news is we've used only about 1 percent of the tools available to us. We have demonstrated a lack of political will to use the methods that we have to use to put pressure on the Iranian regime.

Now, President-elect Obama has a strong record of working to put pressure on the Iranian regime. He voted for the Lautenberg amendment, which would have prevented U.S. oil companies from doing business with Iran through their foreign subsidiaries. And he authored a bill that would have encouraged divestment from firms--chiefly oil companies--doing business with Iran.

He will have the ability, when he takes office, to go a long way toward increasing the price the Iranian Government pays for its stance on the nuclear issue and its support for terrorism. First, he can stop U.S. oil companies from using their overseas subsidiaries from doing business with Iran. We should also do that by legislation.

The administration can start enforcing the Iran Sanctions Act. We can demand that the World Bank stop dispersing funds to Iran in the form of concessionary loans which have not been effectively opposed by the current administration. We can deny nuclear cooperation agreements to countries that provide technologies to Iran. We can deny insurance to ships that carry cargo to Iran. And we can put economic pressure on American foreign companies seeking to build liquefied natural gas plants in Iran and those that sell refined petroleum, chiefly gasoline, to Iran.

Now, while Iran is oil rich, it needs to import nearly half its gasoline because it lacks refinery capacity. I'm here to bring to the House's attention one recent success. The Indian press is reporting that as a result of pressure that was initiated in the Congress, a major Indian petroleum refinery is halting its business dealings with Iran. I want to thank the several of my colleagues who joined with me in sending a letter to the U.S. Import-Export Bank to demand that EX-IM not provide loans to this particular Indian refinery as long as the Indian refinery was supporting Iran and providing it with the gasoline it needs.

I look forward to being able to convince Iranian elites that they face other economic and diplomatic isolation if they continue their nuclear program and continue their support for terror, and there are many other ways that we can achieve that objective.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, reinforced his support for the Israeli government’s need to protect its civilians in response to continual, Hamas-sponsored rocket attacks on multiple Israeli cities.

“Hamas essentially renounced its own cease-fire effective December 19th. Hamas-backed militants have fired hundreds of rockets directly into civilian neighborhoods across south-western Israel since December 19th and over 3,500 rockets since 2005. The indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians has emptied streets, forcing thousands into bomb shelters.

“The Israeli response has been a series of targeted strikes against Hamas militants, aimed directly at those who are launching the attacks on Israeli civilian population centers Humanitarian relief, including nearly 100 truckloads of aid today, continues to enter Gaza, and the Israeli military is taking extreme caution to limit civilian casualties.

“Gaza cannot be a safe haven for launching continuous bombardment of urban centers. We must support the right of Israel to defend itself.
“The fighting must be put in context. The goal of Israel is to live peaceably alongside a Palestinian State. The goal of Hamas is to kill or expel every Jew from the Middle East.
“Hamas does not deserve sympathy, or even a moderation in our level of condemnation, merely because its thousands of efforts to kill Israeli civilians are usually unsuccessful.

“Blame for the current carnage must be placed at the feet of Hamas and its supporters and apologists.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)

“Israel has been faced with a barrage of rocket and mortar attacks from within Gaza for months, but those attacks escalated in December. Israel has every right to defend itself against these attacks. Even after Israel used air strikes against specific targets within Gaza, the rocket and mortar attacks on Israel continue. A ground force seems within the rights of Israel to stop these attacks on Israel coming from within Gaza.” (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA)

Washington, DC - Congressman Bill Shuster, a member of the Armed Services Committee, released the following statement supporting Israel’s right to self defense against Hamas’ continued aggression in Gaza:

“Israel is beset on all sides by enemies that will settle for nothing less than the eradication of the Israeli state and her people from the earth. Article thirteen of Hamas’ own charter unequivocally states that ‘There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.’ The rocket attacks that continue to be carried out by Hamas against innocent Israeli civilians demonstrate that the terrorists are determined to hold true to their charter regardless of what it may cost in human life or destruction of property.

Over 3,000 Hamas rockets have been launched into Israeli territory since the beginning of the year. It was Hamas, not Israel that broke the ceasefire on December 19th. I ardently support a lasting two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hope that a mediated and durable ceasefire can be implemented to stop the current violence. However, there is no question in my mind that as a sovereign nation, Israel has the absolute right to self defense to protect its territory and its people from harm.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ)

“As a free and democratic nation, I believe Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens against Hamas-led rocket attacks from Gaza. Hamas did not abide by the ceasefire agreement by continuing to allow rocket attacks from Gaza, and these attacks seriously impede prospects for peace in the region. Last year I traveled to Israel and the city of Sderot where I saw fear in the eyes of children and families; the damage caused to their homes and their lives. Israel has the right to ensure their safety and security so they no longer have to live in fear. It is my hope that the international community can work to ensure a permanent cease fire respecting the territorial integrity of Israel and bring lasting peace to the region.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO)

“Madam Speaker, let me take this means to express my support for H. Res. 34. Israel, which has been our ally since President Truman recognized this country in 1948, could no longer tolerate relentless attacks on its citizens by Hamas and took military action to prevent future attacks. Israel must defend itself, as would any nation in the face of such provocation.

The United States and the international community must work to support an enduring cease fire that ends missile attacks by Hamas, prevents illegal arms and explosives from entering Gaza, and sets in motion a diplomatic solution that will allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace. Only when the cycle of violence in this troubled region is broken will Israelis and Palestinians be able to enjoy the peace and prosperity that people everywhere deserve.” (Congressional Record, January 9, 2009)

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)

(WASHINGTON) − Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today issued the following statement in support of Israel:

“The sovereign nation of Israel – a democracy and our steadfast ally – is entirely justified in taking military action in the Gaza strip to defend itself from the terrorist organization Hamas, which indiscriminately targets Israeli civilians and uses innocent Palestinians as human shields.

“Hamas consistently demonstrates with actions and words that it has no desire for peace. In 2008, thousands of rockets and mortars were fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip into communities in southern Israel. However, Israelis are not the only ones to be targeted by Hamas’ terror.

“Recently, Khaled Abu Toameh a journalist for The Jerusalem Post, who is Arab, reported that 35 members of the Palestinian Fatah Party were executed in Gaza by Hamas, while more than twice that number were shot in the legs or had their hands broken.

“In the face of such wanton terror and hatred, the United States and all civilized nations must stand with the people of Israel, as well as the innocent Palestinians, who are being exploited by Hamas and its sponsor Iran. Israel has demonstrated that it wants peace, but that can not be achieved until the terrorist attacks on its citizens cease.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Zack Space (D-OH)

“Israel has the right to defend herself against the ongoing terrorist attacks launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza. The past use of restraint by Israel in the face of these repeated attacks has been met with heightened aggression emanating from Hamas. We all hope for a timely end to the violence and hostilities, but there will be no lasting peace in the region until the tactics of terror are met with decisive repudiation, and Israeli citizens are assured of their safety within their own communities.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL)

WASHINGTON, JAN. 2, 2009 – “For weeks, Palestinian extremists have launched rocket and mortar attacks against Israel from Gaza,” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). “The government of Israel has an obligation to defend its citizens from Hamas attacks. It is unfortunate that Hamas continues to use civilians as a shield in launching its attacks; any loss of innocent life is a result of this cowardly tactic.” (Press Release, January 2, 2009)

Governor Ted Strickland (D-OH) and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher (D-OH)

“Israel is a valued ally and a great friend to Ohio and the nation. The people of Israel have every right to live in peace and security. After withdrawing from the Gaza strip, it is tragic that they are being subjected to continuing rocket attacks directed indiscriminately at civilian communities. “While we deeply regret the suffering endured by innocent people everywhere, it’s important to remember that what’s happening is the result of Hamas’ acts of terror. We encourage the Israeli and Palestinian people to not be deterred by Hamas and its actions. We call on all our nation’s leaders to remain steadfast in their support for Israel and its people.” (Joint Public Statement, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) released the following statement on the conflict between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza:

“Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza. Hamas’ practice of burrowing in among the Palestinian people, using them as a shield and making their homes a battleground, is heinous and has resulted in tragic death and destruction,” said Congresswoman Sutton. “The United States must do all that it can to help advance peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, and a solution to address the humanitarian needs of innocent civilians. However, when Israel is attacked, the U. S. must stand strongly with Israel, its friend and ally.” (Press Release, January 8, 2009)

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)

“Madam Speaker, I am observing the violence unfolding in the Middle East with great concern. My constituents, like many across the nation, are horrified by the loss of life that is occurring on top of several decades of strife, and yearn for a solution that would bring stability to the region. I continue to believe that the United States has a central part to play and must return to an active and engaged role as mediator between Israel and the Palestinian people.

The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also a regional one, and it is high time that all countries in the neighborhood play an active role in supporting a two state solution. The aspirations of the Palestinian people and of their Israeli neighbors will continue to be undermined if Iran and Syria continue to funnel support for terrorist groups who kill innocent civilians and challenge the aspirations of moderates.

Just like we in our country would and have responded to a terrorist attack on our soil, I fully support the right of Israel to defend its people against rockets launched by Hamas. Hamas has fired more than 6,300 rockets and mortars at Israeli population centers since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. No country can endure such actions. Hamas had an opportunity to govern the Gaza strip and work with Israel to meet the needs of the Palestinian people when Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. Instead of renouncing its goal to eliminate the Israeli state and provide true leadership for the Palestinian people, Hamas chose violence and most recently broke the cease-fire which Egypt had brokered.

Fatah in the West Bank and Palestinian moderates have shown the way by growing the economy there. Moderates on both sides will find lasting solutions which must then be actively supported by our new administration, the region and our European allies. Until that time when all parties can return to the negotiating table, I urge Israel to keep its operation focused on its core goal of eliminating the military threat posed by Hamas while protecting the lives of civilians who must be Israel's partners in the future.” (Congressional Record, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)

“Time and again, Israel has shown tremendous restraint in the face of Hamas' continued rocket attacks on Israeli citizens. Israel has every right and duty to protect its citizens from such provocations, restore order at the Gaza border, close underground tunnels used to smuggle weaponry into Gaza, and demand for the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)

WASHINGTON, DC – January 7, 2009 – Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement regarding the situation in Gaza.

“Ever since Israel withdrew its forces and removed its settlements from Gaza in 2005, its citizens have been subjected to a steady bombardment of rockets launched by Hamas. As is the case with any sovereign nation, Israel has the indisputable right to defend herself and her citizens. Absent assurances that Hamas end these terrorist acts, the United States will continue to support efforts by Israel to dismantle the Hamas terrorist infrastructure.

“I am grateful that Israeli and Palestinian officials have agreed to a brief cessation of hostilities so that humanitarian aid can reach civilians affected by the fighting in Gaza. It is my hope that this agreement will hold, will lead to a more lasting cease fire, and that innocent civilians on both sides will be spared further violence. But in order for any cease fire agreement to become permanent, Hamas must permanently end the rocket attacks which have threatened Israeli civilians for years.
“The incoming Administration must play an active and constructive role to establish a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. I support a two state solution that enables the Palestinian people to realize their aspirations of self governance while assuring Israel’s security. But such a solution will be impossible to achieve until Hamas renounces violence, accepts Israel’s right to exist, and agrees to abide by past Israeli-Palestinian accords.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today released the following statement concerning the security situation in Israel:

“Hamas' decision to end the cease-fire and launch rocket attacks at Israeli population centers is wrong and unacceptable. Israel has a right to defend herself and issued ample warnings to Hamas about the consequences of ending the cease-fire. Hamas bears responsibility for the renewal of violence and must immediately end its campaign of terror.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D-CA)

“A few moments ago, I received a briefing on the latest developments in the Middle East. And after hearing some of the details and complex issues facing both sides right now, it is safe to say that none of us here in Los Angeles can truly comprehend what life must be like in Southern Israel or the Gaza Strip. The fear and devastation on both sides is unimaginable. And standing thousands of miles away - in a nation where we have the luxury and the privilege to demonstrate, advocate our positions, and go home at night free from terror and violence - it is vital for us to remember that no one condones the loss of innocent life. No one doubts that each life lost to terrorism is a loss to our world. Everyone is praying for a viable and sustainable ceasefire, for the arrival of more humanitarian aid, for a lasting peace agreement. And everyone hopes that the shooting will soon cease and the air raids will end. I have come here today because I’ve been to Sderot and seen the wreckage caused by a constant barrage of rocket attacks. I’ve met parents afraid to let their kids play in the streets and students unable to go to school each day. I’ve walked along empty roads, visited vacant buildings, and witnessed the sheer destruction of a town decimated by 8 years of missile strikes. And after all of the attacks - after all of the failed attempts to ignite the fires of peace rather than fan the flames of terrorism - any nation would take action to protect its citizens and ensure the safety and security of its residents. And no country would sit silently while innocent families are threatened and civilian lives are at-risk. Israel is no different. It must act against the Hamas leaders targeting the innocent. And it must be allowed to exercise its right and responsibility to defend itself. Make no mistake: Israel has acted in self-defense. And while some of the images on television may be disturbing, it was equally disturbing to see the fear in the eyes of the children I met in Sderot. This is a trying time for people across Gaza and Israel. As we speak, the tragic consequences of Hamas’ actions and ideology are playing out on television screens and newspapers worldwide. But as residents of a City as diverse and dynamic as Los Angeles, this must not be a moment to simply exercise our rights to protest and shout slogans and condemn the other side. This is a moment to learn all of the facts and encourage dialogue, to continue reach out to those who disagree with us and join together - as Jews, Muslims, and Christians…as Arabs, Israelis, and Americans - in a prayer for an end to hostilities; for security; for a halt to violence; for a return to the negotiating table; and for the beginning of a new era of peace and security for all of the children and families of the Middle East.” (Prepared remarks, January 6, 2009)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

“Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005, Hamas has fired approximately more than 6,000 rockets at Israeli civilians from Gaza - reportedly killing 10 and wounding more than 700.

“Earlier this year, Israel agreed to a six-month cease-fire with Hamas. All during this time, Palestinians could have been working toward setting up a stable economy and society for the region, but instead have used the area as a base for missile launching and terror.

“What would Americans do if Mexico was firing rockets into southern California? President-elect Obama commented at one point during his campaign that he could not sit idle if somebody was sending rockets into his house where his family slept at night. He said he would do everything to stop that, and would expect Israel to do the same thing. I couldn't agree more,” said Vitter.

Vitter is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Press Release, January 5, 2009)

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and staunch supporter of Israel, today issued the following statement:

“I am deeply troubled by the continued terrorist attacks on Israel. I had an opportunity to see firsthand the devastating impact of such attacks during my visit to Sderot last year. I go to places like Sderot to see things with my own eyes because I believe many of us become desensitized to what is going on after seeing it day after day in the media. I strongly believe that Israel has a right to defend herself against such attacks. The Palestinian people must understand that improved humanitarian conditions in Gaza depend on an Israel free from Hamas terrorist attacks. Hamas is the problem – not the Palestinian people. And I believe the reaction from Arab governments in the region show that Israel is right in defending herself from these attacks.” (Press Release, January 6, 2009)

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) released the following statement on the developing situation in Gaza:

“Over the past few days, it has pained me to hear the unfair and unjust criticism of Israel as she strives to protect her citizens from Hamas's attacks. Israel, like all sovereign nations, has not only a right, but moreover, an obligation to ensure the safety and security of her citizens. We would not allow our government to stand idly by as hundreds of rockets and mortars came crashing down on the heads of our citizens, and we cannot expect Israel to stand idly by either. There is no one to blame for the escalation of violence but Hamas. Hamas's unprovoked attacks on Israel must stop. All parties must work swiftly toward a renewal of the truce, and ultimately, peace.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)

“Israel’s operation in Gaza is an act of self defense. It is a blatant double standard for those who criticize Israel to expect any nation to stand idle as its cities and citizens are indiscriminately shelled with thousands of mortars and rockets.

Hamas has abused its perch in Gaza to serve only its own terrorist ambitions. Instead of building roads, Hamas constructed tunnels to smuggle missiles and weapons. Instead of building hospitals, Hamas embedded its rocket launchers, ammunition depots and supply routes to maximize risk for civilian populations.

Those of us who embrace the hope for a two state solution recognize that Israel must succeed in stopping Hamas and delegitimizing its tactics. If Israel cannot prevail, it would be a huge setback for the prospect of peace and reconciliation. It would be hard to imagine Israel agreeing to a Palestinian state on the West Bank if it could become a staging ground for missile attacks on major population centers.” (Press Release, January 7, 2009)

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

“Israel has a right to defend itself. No nation can be expected to abide a barrage of rockets falling on its citizens. In recent days Hamas had used Gaza as a staging ground for an air attack on its neighbor. It had to stop. Israel's actions today were justified.” (Press Release, December 30, 2008)

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL)

(Washington, DC) Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States Congress, released the following statement regarding the government of Israel’s ongoing military efforts in the Gaza strip. Wexler supports the government of Israel’s efforts to prevent Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian terrorist organizations from launching rockets and mortars into Israel. Over 4,000 Qassam rockets and mortars have been launched by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations into Southern Israel since the government of Israel’s disengagement from Gaza in 2005. “I strongly support Israel’s right to self-defense in response to the continuous deadly rocket and mortar attacks launched by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations into Israel. Americans stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people during this difficult time and strongly condemn Hamas’ perpetrated terrorism,” said Wexler. “Instead of using violence and extremism to achieve its destructive goals, Hamas must adhere to the international principles established by the Quartet, including ending terrorism, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations.” “I am deeply disappointed by the statements of some international leaders who are quick to chastise Israel and unwilling to condemn lethal Hamas rocket and mortar attacks. It is unconscionable for anyone to expect that the Israeli government or any other government for that matter, to sit idly as thousands of deadly rockets rain down on their cities and threaten the well-being and security of their citizens. I urge the international community to join the United States in denouncing the daily terrorist acts carried out by Hamas and support Israel’s right to self-defense and security.” (Press Release, December 29, 2008)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Newport, R.I. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement on the conflict in Gaza: “Hamas has cast aside a cease-fire agreement brokered by the Egyptians and indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians with a barrage of rockets and mortars, dragging the Israeli and Palestinian peoples back into the crossfire of war and leaving Israel with little choice but to respond with force. Israel must defend its people against these attacks. “Now, like all Americans, I hope for strong diplomatic intervention that will bring these hostilities to an end and facilitate humanitarian assistance to those suffering in and around Gaza. I regret that the Bush Administration's years of neglect allowed the peace process to deteriorate so gravely, and I'm confident that President-Elect Obama's Administration will bring a new commitment and new leadership to address the wider conflict in the Middle East.” (Press Release, January 4, 2009)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

“Mr. Speaker, America's ally Israel remains under constant and frequent attack by Hamas. Noted columnist Charles Krauthammer recently revealed in a column in The Greenville News that Hamas has cruelly launched 6,464 rockets into Israel in the last 3 years. No other country has endured such attacks.

Now Israel has chosen to defend itself by going after the Hamas terrorists. The loss of life is terrible, but it is Hamas that bears the responsibility. I saw firsthand, while visiting Israel this summer, that Hamas has fired rockets against civilians in Israel.

A peaceful relationship between Israel and Palestine is in the best interest of both nations. It will only be accomplished if Hamas agrees to stop firing rockets targeting civilians.” (Congressional Record, January 8, 2009)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement in response to the ongoing situation in Gaza:

“This troubling situation in Gaza is yet another reminder of the dangerous circumstances the people of Israel face while Hamas continues to kill innocent civilians through indiscriminate rocket attacks. Israel has not only the right but the obligation to protect its citizenry, and I hope the international community will recognize and support their acts of self-defense.” (Press Release, December 31, 2008)

Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL)

“As an ardent supporter of Israel and its fight against terrorism, I am well aware of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and am monitoring developments closely.

As any nation, Israel has every right to protect itself from terrorist attacks within its borders and across its borders to ensure the safety of its citizens from the threat of terrorism. As a sovereign nation, Israel has the right to defend itself just as our nation and any of our allies would.

Throughout the past year, Hamas has launched an estimated 3,000 rockets into Israel and during that time the range of these rockets has increased striking further and further into Israel. The ultimate goal is peace, security and prosperity for the people of this troubled region, but there can be no peace when terrorists attack the Israeli people.

Israel is carefully targeting the Hamas leadership and its rocket launching capability, but as long as Hamas hides and operates within civilian locations there will be civilian casualties. That is regrettable, but as long as Hamas launches rockets into Israel, there will also be civilian casualties there.

Our nation will continue to respond to terrorist attacks and threats on our nation and our people and I would not expect the Israeli government to react any differently to these ongoing threats.

Israel remains our staunchest friend and ally in Middle East and we stand together with them as they endure this most recent assault against their freedom and liberty.” (Public Statement, January 7, 2009)

SAT JANUARY 10, 2009

- ISRAEL IS LIKE AN ABUSED CHILD THAT GOES ON BECOMING AN ABUSER
- UN STATEMENT ABOUT THE SITUATION IN GAZA
- APOLOGY DOES NOT CURE ROYAL FAMILY. THEY ARE PRONE TO RACISM
- THE WAR ISN'T OVER AND ISRAEL HAS ALREADY LOST
- PANEL DISCUSSION AT CHICAGO REGARDING GAZA
-DOVE'S EYE VIEW: REPEAT
- SAN FRANCISCO CITY OFFICIAL: IM WITH PALESTINIANS

I DIDNT MAKE THIS TIME COVER IN PHOTOSHOP

From the upcoming issue's cover story:

"Israel’s leaders need to recognize that if Hamas cannot be beaten militarily, then it must be engaged politically. That means accepting the idea of dealing with some kind of Palestinian unity government that includes Hamas. A coalition between Hamas and Abbas is essential for the future of a Palestinian state and for moderating Hamas’ extremism. Hamas…says it will pair up with Abbas if he, along with the international community, recognizes that the Islamic militants legitimately came to power in the January 2006 elections…Israel eventually will have to pull back to the 1967 borders and dismantle many of the settlements on the Palestinian side, no matter how loudly its ultra-religious parties protest. Only then will the Palestinians and the other Arab states agree to a durable peace. It’s as simple as that."

JEWISH WOMEN OCCUPY ISRAELI CONSULATE IN TORONTO

Today (Wednesday January 8, 2008), a small group of Jewish women from canada and Israel managed to enter and occupy the israel Consulkate in Toronto for two hours. They were eventually arrested, handcuffed and put ion patty wagon, but not charged. The group was lead by a prominent feminist activist Judy Rubick. In a phone conversation with her, she confirmed the detail of the action. Around the same time, a coordinated protest broke outside of the cinsulate by arab palkestinian muslim jewish and non jewish muslim people mostly women.

WHAT IF EGYPT, JORDAN AND SYRIA HAD WON THE 6 DAY WAR?

BY Stephen Walt


Here's a thought experiment:

Imagine that Egypt, Jordan, and Syria had won the Six Day War, leading to a massive exodus of Jews from the territory of Israel. Imagine that the victorious Arab states had eventually decided to permit the Palestinians to establish a state of their own on the territory of the former Jewish state. (That's unlikely, of course, but this is a thought experiment). Imagine that a million or so Jews had ended up as stateless refugees confined to that narrow enclave known as the Gaza Strip. Then imagine that a group of hardline Orthodox Jews took over control of that territory and organized a resistance movement. They also steadfastly refused to recognize the new Palestinian state, arguing that its creation was illegal and that their expulsion from Israel was unjust. Imagine that they obtained backing from sympathizers around the world and that they began to smuggle weapons into the territory. Then imagine that they started firing at Palestinian towns and villages and refused to stop despite continued reprisals and civilian casualties.

Here's the question: would the United States be denouncing those Jews in Gaza as "terrorists" and encouraging the Palestinian state to use overwhelming force against them?

Here's another: would the United States have even allowed such a situation to arise and persist in the first place?

- US TROOPS IN CHARGE OF RAFAH BORDER BETWEEN GAZA AND EGYPT
- CRACKS APPEAR IN THE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT IN SENATE FOR OBAMA'S CIA PICK

GAZA AT WAR

by Israel Shamir

Cold wintry evening in Tel Aviv, the evening of the ground invasion, a new step in the escalation of what may become a new big war. There were hundreds of demonstrators – many young people, a lot of families with children, all sorts of Israelis and Palestinians, under red banners calling to end the warfare in Gaza. In Jerusalem, deep fog all but covered the walls of the Old City.

But even deeper is the fog of war. It is too early to predict the future developments. We still do not know what the goals of the Israeli invasion are, and we do not know the strength of Palestinian resistance. Fighters decide the future now, not the pundits. The war may go on to confrontation with Iran; it may bring too long rule of Hosni Mubarak to an abrupt end, it may cause a new intifada, it may re-shape the Middle East.

First week of war did not bring much success to Israel. The attack began as a firestorm of fury, but its only "success" was a surprising bombing of a graduation ceremony at the Gaza police school with some three hundred casualties, mainly young graduates. Next time, they may bomb schools on September 1st with even "better" results. Besides, the Light-unto-Nations-people bombed the university and a few mosques, and killed a few babies as a late tribute to King Herod on the Innocent Martyrs Day. Certainly war crime, undoubtedly mass murder, but hardly the holocaust they promised.

US Branch of Amnesty Calls on Rice to Drop 'Lopsided' Stance
by Jim Lobe, Inter Press Service

WASHINGTON - The U.S. section of Amnesty International sent an "urgent" letter Friday to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling on her to end what it called Washington's "lopsided response" to the ongoing Israeli air strikes on Gaza that have reportedly killed more than 400 Palestinians, including scores of unarmed civilians.

While the letter also expressed concern about the rocket fire by Palestinian groups that has taken four Israeli lives in urban areas more than 30 kilometres from Gaza during the past week, it called Israel's campaign air campaign "disproportionate" and accused the Jewish state of violating international law.
The Israeli drag-queen of the Defence Minister Ehud Barak improved his ratings: 53 percent of Jews are satisfied with his performance (Gawd, they are easy to satisfy!) compared to just 34 percent about six months ago. "Polls now predict five additional Knesset seats for his Labor Party in the coming February general election. That's 40 Palestinian corpses per seat. No wonder Barak promises it's just the beginning: at this pace, it will take Labor just about two thousand additional corpses to go from rags to riches, from a dead political party to an absolute majority in parliament like in the good old days", noted Ran ha-Cohen.

Barak's roundish Pickwickesque figure has been marketed by his PR campaigners as Der Fuhrer (Ha-manhig) of his folk, "he is not nice, but he is a leader". "He is not nice; he is murderer" – replied the demonstrators in Tel Aviv. Barak is quite unlikely fuhrer, with his feminine face, a perfect mate to the masculine butch Tsipi Livni who is being marketed as "another Fuhrer". Our friend and Livni's cousin Gilad Atzmon wrote of these gender-confused characters in charge of the Jewish state: "Both Livni and Barak have to provide the Israeli voter with some real exhibition of devastating carnage, so the Israelis can trust their leadership."

Meanwhile they do not make much progress. Despite daily bombardments, the Gazans keep shooting back, improving their hits and their weapons, reaching as far as Beer Sheba. Moreover, they are not begging for unconditional ceasefire, and the Israeli wish-list of ceasefire conditions appear as hopeless as that they had vis-à-vis Hezbollah two years ago. The initiative remained firmly in the Hamas hands – until today.

The Gaza leadership made a daring if calculated risk when they refused to extend the lapsed ceasefire agreement unless the Jews lift the siege off the Strip and agree to observe it on the West Bank as well. These demands infuriated the petty fuhrers who were used to decide the questions of war and peace alone, and propelled them into action.

The Israeli government miscalculated: their action received justifiably hostile response all over the world. Some of the best pieces against Israeli aggression appeared in the Western mainstream: by Mark Steel and other writers of the Independent. With expected exception of President Bush' administration, the West speaks and demonstrates against the invasion. For sure graffiti on a synagogue wall brings out more demonstrators than bombing of a mosque and killing of all worshippers, but still it is possible that the Jewish yoke over the Western public opinion may be broken in the result of this intervention. What is unexpected, is that Russian media, usually strongly pro-Jewish, speaks in one voice against Israeli aggression.

Now it is the time to demonstrate, to call for ostracism of Israel, for resignation of Mubarak, and it is the time to support the legitimate government of Gaza. Stay tuned.

- MEDIA COMMENTARY MUTED AS ISRAEL INVADES
- UK LABOUR MP FRIEND OF ISRAEL DEMANDS A STOP

UN COMPLICIT IN ISRAELI CRIMES

by Omar Barghouti

Over the last two days, various UN officials stated that the percentage of civilians among those Palestinians killed in the current Israeli war of aggression on Gaza is about "25%" and is "likely to increase". Assuming the best of intentions, stating such a painfully low figure reflects shabby research or scandalous incompetence. At worst, it reveals intentional deception and misinformation that can only benefit the already massive and well-oiled Israeli PR machine.

The United Nations' complicity in Israel's propaganda war is the latest, albeit hardly ever mentioned, dimension of the international organization's utter failure in defending its principles, foremost among which are the prevention of war and the promotion of peace, when performing such a duty is expected to stir the wrath of the US master and the uniquely influential Israel lobby. Not only has the UN General Secretary betrayed the very Charter of the UN and all relevant international law principles by failing to even condemn Israel's massacre of civilians and targeting of civilian institutions and residential neighborhoods; the entire UN system has so far dealt with it as a "war" between two relatively symmetric forces, where the mightier side has sufficient justification to "defend itself," but should do so more proportionately, while the weaker side is chiefly responsible for triggering the "armed conflict."

Now, senior UN officials, excluding the particularly courageous and principled UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Richard Falk, and a few others, are only focusing on "women and children" victims of the massacre, implying, even if unintentionally, that all Palestinian men in Gaza are fair game for the Israeli killing machine. The tens of Palestinian civilian policemen that were butchered in the opening hours of the massive Israeli attack by dozens of fighter jets were, thus, conveniently dismissed by such irresponsible UN figures of casualties as Hamas "fighters," more or less, that may be targeted with impunity. This is not to mention the scores of male teachers, doctors, workers, farmers and unemployed who were killed by Israel's indiscriminate bombing in their workplaces, public offices, homes or streets and were not accounted for as civilian victims of Israel's belligerent murder spree.

Above everything else, this UN discourse not only reduces close to half a million Palestinian men in that wretched, tormented and occupied coastal strip to "militants," radical "fighters," or whatever other nouns in currency nowadays in the astoundingly, but characteristically, biased western media coverage of the Israel "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in Gaza, as some international law experts have described them; it also treats them as already condemned criminals that deserve the capital punishment Israel has meted out on them. I am not an expert on the history of the UN, but I suspect this sets a new low, a precedent in dehumanizing an entire adult male population in a region of "conflict," thereby justifying their fatal targeting or, at least, silently condoning it. But this should surprise no one as the same UN leaders have for 18 months watched in eerie silence or even indirectly justified, one way or another, Israel's siege of Gaza which was described by Falk as a "prelude to genocide" and compared by him to Nazi crimes.

If one wants to be truly magnanimous and give those UN officials the benefit of the doubt -- not something I would recommend at all, given the scale of the massacre and their verifiable complicity -- one has to assume that they are quite confused as to how best to categorize the thousands of Palestinian victims of Israel's war on Gaza, whether those injured or killed. A casual overview of Israeli army press statements and human rights organizations' reports, however, will immediately dismiss the possibility that the UN figure of 25% was the product of clinical incompetence or technical ineptness, widely recognized trademarks of the organization.

A recent article published in the Washington Post, for instance, quoted a senior Israeli military official saying: "There are many aspects to Hamas, and we are trying to hit the whole spectrum, because everything is connected and everything supports terrorism against Israel." An Israeli army spokeswoman went further stating. "Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target." Given that, in the ghetto of Gaza, Hamas is effectively the "ruling" party -- it was democratically elected, after all -- and its network of social and charitable organizations are the largest provider of social services to the impoverished and besieged population, all of Gaza's civilian infrastructure, public schools, hospitals, universities, law and order organs, traffic police, sewage treatment and water purification stations, ministries providing vital services to the public, mosques, public theatres and many non-governmental institutions can technically be considered "affiliated" with Hamas.

Lest the reader feels that this is an exaggeration, today, in the first hours of the first day of the new year, the Israeli air force already bombed the following "targets" in Gaza: the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice. Earlier, several mosques were pulverised to the ground. So were main buildings in the Islamic University of Gaza, which serves 20,000 students. Ambulances and private homes were not spared either.

Even B'Tselem, Israel's leading human rights organization that often issues sanitized, "balanced" or selective reports focusing on Israel's less criminal behaviour in the OPT, was compelled to conclude that the Israeli army was intentionally targeting "what appear to be clear civilian objects" that are not "engaged in military action against Israel," without making the distinction between male and female civilians. A statement from the organization on December 31st said:

For example, the military bombed the main police building in Gaza and killed, according to reports, forty-two Palestinians who were in a training course and were standing in formation at the time of the bombing. Participants in the course study first-aid, handling of public disturbances, human rights, public-safety exercises, and so forth. Following the course, the police officers are assigned to various arms of the police force in Gaza responsible for maintaining public order.

Another example is yesterday's bombing of the government offices. These offices included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, Construction and Housing. An announcement made by the IDF Spokesperson's Office regarding this attack stated that, 'the attack was carried out in response to the ongoing rocket and mortar-shell fire carried out by Hamas over Israeli territory, and in the framework of IDF operations to strike at Hamas governmental infrastructure and members active in the organization.'

Just to drive the point closer to home for an average western reader who may have internalized over the years a perception of Israelis -- inaccurately and quite deliberately depicted by Israeli and western propaganda as part of the "west" -- as full humans and Palestinians, along with almost all global southerners, as relative humans, perhaps the following mirroring exercise is necessary.

Imagine if the Palestinian resistance, in exercising its otherwise perfectly legitimate, UN-sanctioned right to fight Israel's occupation and apartheid, were to regard all institutions "affiliated" with the Israeli government as legitimate targets, justifying the bombing of universities, hospitals, civilian ministries, publicly-run synagogues, neighborhoods where government or army officials live or work, and other civilian "targets", killing in 5 days only 1,600 Israelis and wounding 8,000 (four times the current toll in Gaza, given that Israel's population is four times as large). What would the UN do? Would UN officials only count Israeli women and children victims? Would they call on both parties to "exercise restraint" or to end "the violence"? Morally, and even legally, this is not even a fair reversal of roles, for Israel, no matter what, remains the occupier and settler-colonial oppressor, while the indigenous Palestinians remain the colonized and oppressed.

The truth is the UN leadership, in the unipolar world that we are still living in and is perhaps on its way to be transformed to more multipolar space, has effectively turned into a rubber stamp bureau for US dictates. Ban Ki-Moon will go down in history as the most subservient and morally unqualified general secretary to ever lead the international organization. The only question remaining is whether one day he and his senior staff will stand trial for being accomplices in Israel's war crimes, together with leaders of the US, the EU and many Arab regimes. In a more just world, governed by the rule of law, not the US-dominated rule of the jungle, they should.

Omar Barghouti is a founding member of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign www.BDSmovement.net

ISRAEL IN GAZA: IRRATIONALITY

by WALLACE SHAWN

Jews, historically, have been irrationally feared, hated and killed. Given that background, it's not surprising that the irrationality which surrounded them for so long, the fire of irrationality in which they were almost extinguished, has jumped across and taken hold of the soul of many Jews and indeed dominates the thinking of today's Israeli leaders and their American supporters.

Recent history shows that the Jews, as a people, have found few friends who are honest and true. During World War II, when Hitler's anti-Semitism was responsible for the murdering of the millions of Jews, the world and the United States expressed their own anti-Semitism by refusing to house and welcome the tortured race, preferring instead to let it be exterminated if need be. After the war, the world felt it owed the Jews something--but then showed its lack of true regard for the tormented group by "giving" them a piece of land populated and surrounded by another people--an act of European imperialism carried out exactly at the moment when non-European peoples all over the world were finally concluding that European imperialism was completely unacceptable and had to be resisted. And now we have the spectacle of American politicians encouraging and financing Israeli policies which will ultimately lead to more disaster and destruction for Jews.

It is not rational to believe that the Palestinians in the occupied territories will be terrorized by force and violence, by cruelty, by starvation or by slaughter into a docile acceptance of the Israeli occupation. There is no evidence that that could possibly happen and mountains of evidence to the contrary.

Many right-wing Israelis and American Jews clearly believe that Jews have always had enemies and always will have enemies--and who can be shocked that certain Jews might think that? To these individuals, a Palestinian throwing stones at an Israeli soldier, even if his life has perhaps been destroyed by the Israeli occupation, is simply part of an eternal mob of anti-Semites, a mob made up principally of people to whom the Jews have done no harm at all, as they did no harm to Hitler. The logical consequence of this view of the world is that in the face of such massive and eternal opposition, Jews are morally justified in taking any measures they can think of to protect themselves. They are involved in one long eternal war, and a few hundred Palestinians killed today must be measured against many millions of Jews who were killed in the past. The agony the Israelis might inflict on a Palestinian family today must be seen in the perspective of Jewish families in agony all over the world in the past.

It is irrational for the Israeli leaders to imagine that the Palestinians will understand this particular point of view--will understand why Jews might find it appropriate, let us say, to retaliate for the death of one Jew by killing a hundred Palestinians. If a Palestinian killed a hundred Jews to retaliate for the killing of one Palestinian--for that matter, if a Thai killed a hundred Cambodians to retaliate for the killing of one Thai--which, from the point of view of the Israeli leaders, would of course be unjust, that would be racist, as if one Palestinian or one Thai were worth a hundred Israelis or a hundred Cambodians. But if a Jew does it, it's not unjust and it's not racist, because it's part of an eternal struggle in which the Jews have lost and lost and lost--they've already lost more people than there are Palestinians. Well, it's not surprising that certain Jews would feel this way, but no Palestinian will ever share that feeling or be willing to accept it. What the Palestinians see is an implacable and heartless enemy, one that considers itself un-bound by any rules or principles, an enemy that can't be reasoned with but can only be feared, hated and, if possible, killed.

As poor and oppressed people around the world are very well aware of the events in the occupied territories, and as they strongly identify with the Palestinian struggle and point of view, the future of the Jews looks increasingly dim.
Consequently it is disgraceful and vile and no favor to the Jews for American politicians--for narrow, short-term political advantage, for narrow, short-term global-strategic reasons and, yes, also in expiation of the residual guilt they feel over what happened to the Jews in the past--to pander to the irrationality of the most irrational Jews.

Actions based on irrational premises inevitably fail in their purposes--they fail, and if the premises don't change, then the actions are inevitably repeated, in forms which are more and more grotesque. It is unbearable to think that the new American administration would begin with more American dollars being poured into what is unjustifiable. It is also unbearable to think that among the first words we would hear from our new, clearly rational president would be preposterous sentences trying to persuade us that Israeli policies which seem to be appalling are actually quite normal and acceptable. Certainly nothing our new president could do would be of greater value to the world--and greater value to the Jews--than to abruptly end the sickeningly patronizing habit of supporting an irrationality which was born in tragedy and will end in more tragedy.

PALESTINE'S GUERNICA AND THE MYTH OF ISRAELI VICTIMHOOD

by Mustafa Barghouti, From Occupied Palestine. . .

The Israeli campaign of 'death from above' began around 11 am, on Saturday morning, the 27th of December, and stretched straight through the night into this morning. The massacre continues Sunday as I write these words.

The bloodiest single day in Palestine since the War of 1967 is far from over following on Israel's promised that this is 'only the beginning' of their campaign of state terror. At least 290 people have been murdered thus far, but the body count continues to rise at a dramatic pace as more mutilated bodies are pulled from the rubble, previous victims succumb to their wounds and new casualties are created by the minute.

What has and is occurring is nothing short of a war crime, yet the Israeli public relations machine is in full-swing, churning out lies by the minute.

Once and for all it is time to expose the myths that they have created.

1. Israelis have claimed to have ended the occupation of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

While Israel has indeed removed the settlements from the tiny coastal Strip, they have in no way ended the occupation. They remained in control of the borders, the airspace and the waterways of Gaza, and have carried out frequent raids and targeted assassinations since the disengagement.

Furthermore, since 2006 Israel has imposed a comprehensive siege on the Strip. For over two years, Gazans have lived on the edge of starvation and without the most basic necessities of human life, such as cooking or heating oil and basic medications. This siege has already caused a humanitarian catastrophe which has only been exacerbated by the dramatic increase in Israeli military aggression.

2. Israel claims that Hamas violated the cease-fire and pulled out of it unilaterally.

Hamas indeed respected their side of the ceasefire, except on those occasions early on when Israel carried out major offensives in the West Bank. In the last two months, the ceasefire broke down with Israelis killing several Palestinians and resulting in the response of Hamas. In other words, Hamas has not carried out an unprovoked attack throughout the period of the cease-fire.

Israel, however, did not live up to any of its obligations of ending the siege and allowing vital humanitarian aid to resume in Gaza. Rather than the average of 450 trucks per day being allowed across the border, on the best days, only eighty have been allowed in - with the border remaining hermetically sealed 70% of the time. Throughout the supposed 'cease-fire' Gazans have been forced to live like animals, with a total of 262 dying due to the inaccessibility of proper medical care.

Now after hundreds dead and counting, it is Israel who refuses to re-enter talks over a cease-fire. They are not intent on securing peace as they claim; it is more and more clear that they are seeking regime change - whatever the cost.

3. Israel claims to be pursuing peace with 'peaceful Palestinians'.

Before the on-going massacre in the Gaza Strip, and throughout the entirety of the Annapolis Peace Process, Israel has continued and even intensified its occupation of the West Bank. In 2008, settlement expansion increased by a factor of 38, a further 4,950 Palestinians were arrested - mostly from the West Bank, and checkpoints rose from 521 to 699.

Furthermore, since the onset of the peace talks, Israel has killed 546 Palestinians, among them 76 children. These gruesome statistics are set to rise dramatically now, but previous Israeli transgressions should not be forgotten amidst this most recent horror.

Only this morning, Israel shot and killed a young peaceful protester in the West Bank village of Nihlin, and has injured dozens more over the last few hours. It is certain that they will continue to employ deadly force at non-violent demonstrations and we expect a sizable body count in the West Bank as a result. If Israel is in fact pursuing peace with 'good Palestinians', who are they talking about?

4. Israel is acting in self-defense.

It is difficult to claim self defense in a confrontation which they themselves have sparked, but they are doing it anyway. Self-defense is reactionary, while the actions of Israel over the last two days have been clearly premeditated. Not only did the Israeli press widely report the ongoing public relations campaign being undertaken by Israel to prepare Israeli and international public opinion for the attack, but Israel has also reportedly tried to convince the Palestinians that an attack was not coming by briefly opening crossings and reporting future meetings on the topic. They did so to insure that casualties would be maximized and that the citizens of Gaza would be unprepared for their impending slaughter.

It is also misleading to claim self-defense in a conflict with such an overwhelming asymmetry of power. Israel is the largest military force in the region, and the fifth largest in the world. Furthermore, they are the fourth largest exporter of arms and have a military industrial complex rivaling that of the United States. In other words, Israel has always had a comprehensive monopoly over the use of force, and much like its super power ally, Israel uses war as an advertising showcase of its many instruments of death.

5. Israel claims to have struck military targets only.

Even while image after image of dead and mutilated women and children flash across our televisions, Israel brazenly claims that their munitions expertly struck only military installations. We know this to be false as many other civilian sites have been hit by airstrikes including a hospital and mosque.

In the most densely populated area on the planet, tons upon tons of explosives have been dropped. The first estimates of injured are in the thousands. Israel will claim that these are merely 'collateral damage' or accidental deaths. The sheer ridiculousness and inhumanity of such a claim should sicken the world community.

6. Israel claims that it is attacking Hamas and not the Palestinian people.

First and foremost, missiles do not differentiate people by their political affiliation; they simply kill everyone in their path. Israel knows this, and so do Palestinians. What Israel also knows, but is not saying publicly, is how much their recent actions will actually strengthen Hamas - whose message of resistance and revenge is being echoed by the angry and grieving.

The targets of the strike, police and not Hamas militants, give us some clue as to Israel's mistaken intention. They are hoping to create anarchy in the Strip by removing the pillar of law and order.

7. Israel claims that Palestinians are the source of violence.

Let us be clear and unequivocal. The occupation of Palestine since the War of 1967 has been and remains the root of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Violence can be ended with the occupation and the granting of Palestine's national and human rights. Hamas does not control the West Bank and yet we remain occupied, our rights violated and our children killed.

With these myths understood, let us ponder the real reasons behind these airstrikes; what we find may be even more disgusting than the act itself.

The leaders Israel are holding press conferences, dressed in black, with sleeves rolled up.

'It's time to fight', they say, 'but it won't be easy.'

To prove just how hard it is, Livni, Olmert and Barack did not even wear make-up to the press conference, and Barak has ended his presidential campaign to focus on the Gaza campaign. What heroes...what leaders...

We all know the truth: the suspension of the electioneering is exactly that - electioneering.

Like John McCain's suspension of his presidential campaign to return to Washington to 'deal with' the financial crisis, this act is little more than a publicity stunt.

The candidates have to appear 'tough enough to lead', and there is seemingly no better way of doing that than bathing in Palestinian blood.

'Look at me,' Livni says in her black suit and unkempt hair, 'I am a warrior. I am strong enough to pull the trigger. Don't you feel more confident about voting for me, now that you know I am as ruthless as Bibi Netanyahu?'

I do not know which is more disturbing, her and Barack, or the constituency they are trying to please.

In the end, this will in no way improve the security of the average Israeli; in fact it can be expected to get much worse in the coming days as the massacre could presumably provoke a new generation of suicide bombers.

It will not undermine Hamas either, and it will not result in the three fools, Barack, Livni and Olmert, looking 'tough'. Their misguided political venture will likely blow up in their faces as did the brutally similar 2006 invasion of Lebanon.

In closing, there is another reason - beyond the internal politics of Israel - why this attack has been allowed to occur: the complicity and silence of the international community.

Israel cannot and would not act against the will of its economic allies in Europe or its military allies in the US. Israel may be pulling the trigger ending hundreds, perhaps even thousands of lives this week, but it is the apathy of the world and the inhumane tolerance of Palestinian suffering which allows this to occur.

'The evil only exists because the good remain silent'.

GAZA STRIKE IS NOT AGAINST HAMAS, IT'S AGAINST ALL PALESTINIANS

By Amira Hass, Haaretz reporter in Gaza

At 3:19 P.M. Sunday, the sound of an incoming missile could be heard over the telephone. And then another, along with the children's cries of fear. In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, high-rise apartment buildings are crowded close together, with dozens of children in every building, hundreds in every block.

Their father, B., informs me that smoke is rising from his neighbor's house and ends the call. An hour later, he tells me that two apartments were hit. One was empty; he does not know who lives there. The other, which suffered casualties, belongs to a member of a rocket-launching cell, but no one senior or important.

At noon Sunday, the Israel Air Force bombed a compound belonging to Gaza's National Security Service. It houses Gaza City's main prison. Three prisoners were killed. Two were apparently Fatah members; the third was convicted of collaborating with Israel. Hamas had evacuated most of the Gaza Strip's other prisons, but thought this jail would be safe.
At 12 A.M. on Sunday, a phone call roused S. "I wasn't sleeping anyway," he said. "I picked up the receiver and heard a recorded announcement in Arabic: 'This is to warn you that we will bomb the house of anyone who has arms or ammunition at home.'"

Three members of one neighboring family were killed, all young men in their twenties. None of them owned arms or ammunition; they were simply walking down the street when the IAF bombed a passing car. Another neighbor lost a 16-year-old daughter, and her sister was seriously wounded. The IAF had bombed a building that formerly housed the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service, and their school was located next door.

S. saw the results of some of Saturday's bombings when he visited a friend whose office is located near Gaza City's police headquarters. One person killed in that attack was Hassan Abu Shnab, the eldest son of former senior Hamas official Ismail Abu Shnab.

The elder Abu Shnab, whom Israel assassinated five years ago, was one of the first Hamas politicians to speak in favor of a two-state solution. Hassan worked as a clerk at the local university and played in the police band for fun. He was performing at a police graduation ceremony on Saturday when the bomb struck.

"Seventy policemen were killed there, not all Hamas members," said S., who opposes Hamas. "And even those who supported Hamas were young men looking for a job, a salary. They wanted to live. And therefore, they died. Seventy in one blow. This assault is not against Hamas. It's against all of us, the entire nation. And no Palestinian will consent to having his people and his homeland destroyed in this way."

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON IS DEAD

-SAMUEL HUNTINGTON (1928-2008)

ISRAEL'S TERRORIST ATTACK ON GAZA

- BBC: MASSIVE ISRAELI AIR RAIDS ON GAZA
- GUARDIAN: ISRAEL LAUNCHES DEADLY GAZA ATTACK
- PRESS TV: SHADOW OF DEATH SPREADS OVER GAZA
- NYTIMES: ISRAELI ATTACKS KILL SCORE ACROSS GAZA

UNDERSTANDING THE BIG PONZI SCHEME CALLED FINANCE CAPITALISM

Europe has been having its own run-throughs, headed by Spain – which by no coincidence is now experiencing the biggest real estate bust outside of the post-Soviet economies.

The best case study occurred two years ago. On May 9, 2006, Spanish police raided 21 homes and offices of Afinsa Fienes Tangibles SA, the world’s largest postage-stamp dealer, and rival firm, Forum Filatélico. They charged eleven men with running a $6.4 billion pyramid scheme that (and Afinsa)took in some 343,000 investors – 1 per cent of Spain’s entire population, making the fraud one of the largest in Spanish history.

It was almost as if the Spanish operators had read one of the biographies of Ponzi that began to appear as observers noticed the common denominators between the global financial bubble of the 1990s and earlier bubbles. These bubbles provide a classic contrast between the real wealth of nations and what the business press these days calls “wealth creation” that simply takes the form of rising asset prices – “capital gains,” most of which are land-price gains....MORE

ARCHITECTURE: IT WAS FUN UNTIL THE MONEY RAN OUT

Herzog & de Meuron’s 40 Bond Street, NYC

WHO knew a year ago that we were nearing the end of one of the most delirious eras in modern architectural history? What’s more, who would have predicted that this turnaround, brought about by the biggest economic crisis in a half-century, would be met in some corners with a guilty sense of relief?

Before the financial cataclysm, the profession seemed to be in the midst of a major renaissance. Architects like Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, once deemed too radical for the mainstream, were celebrated as major cultural figures. And not just by high-minded cultural institutions; they were courted by developers who once scorned those talents as pretentious airheads.

But somewhere along the way that fantasy took a wrong turn. As commissions multiplied for luxury residential high-rises, high-end boutiques and corporate offices in cities like London, Tokyo and Dubai, more socially conscious projects rarely materialized. Public housing, a staple of 20th-century Modernism, was nowhere on the agenda. Nor were schools, hospitals or public infrastructure. Serious architecture was beginning to look like a service for the rich, like private jets and spa treatments...MORE

ART WORLD AFTER THE CRASH: LEANER, MEANER CLEANER

WHAT will the art world be like a year from now? In five years? These unspoken questions seem to hang in the air these days over art fairs and galleries of every size and persuasion.

One answer is that it will be smaller, leaner and, many assume, cleaner. All that supposedly nasty money and degrading hoopla will have faded. And to think it all began to unravel so quickly after two memorable milestones of sorts: the adrenaline-pumping Damien Hirst auction in London in September and the spectacle of a Louis Vuitton shop within the exhibition space of a Takashi Murakami survey that traveled in spring from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles to the Brooklyn Museum...MORE

THE INADVERTENT HAND OF JUSTICE

by JAMES PETRAS

While it is understandable that the super-rich and wealthy, who have lost a large portion of their retirement and investment funds are unanimous in their condemnation and cries of betrayal of trust, and the editorials of all the prestigious newspapers and weeklies have joined the chorus of moral critics, there is much to praise in Madoff’s deeds, even if such praise was not at the heart of his fraudulent endeavor.

It is worthwhile to list the inadvertent positive outcomes of Madoff’s mega-swindle. First of all the swindle of $50 plus billion dollars may make a big dent on US Zionist funding of illegal Israeli colonial settlements in the Occupied Territories, lessen funding for AIPAC’s purchase of Congressional influence and financing of propaganda campaigns in favor of a pre-emptive US military attack against Iran. Most investors will have to lower or eliminate their purchase of Israel bonds, which subsidize the Jewish State’s military budget.

Secondly, the swindle has further discredited the highly speculative hedge funds already reeling from massive withdrawals because of deep losses. Madoff’s funds were one of the last ‘respected’ operations still drawing new investors, but with the latest revelations it may accelerate their demise. The dismissed promoters may finally have to perform an honest, productive day’s work.

Thirdly, Madoff’s long-term, large-scale fraud was not detected by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) despite its claims of at least two investigations. As a result, there is a total loss of credibility. More generally, the SEC’s failure demonstrates the incapacity of capitalist government regulatory agencies to detect mega frauds. This failure raises the question of whether alternatives to investing in Wall Street are better suited to protect savings and pension funds.

Fourthly, Madoff’s long-term association with NASDAQ, including his chairmanship, while he was defrauding his clients of billions, strongly suggests that the members and leaders of this stock exchange are incapable of recognizing a crook, and are prone to overlook felonious behavior of ‘one of their own’. In other words, the investing public can no longer look to holders of high posts in NASDAQ as a sign of probity. After Madoff it may signal time to look for a king-size mattress for safe keeping of what remains of a family’s wealth.

The fifth point is that the investment advisors from top banks in Europe, Asia and the US managing billions of funds did not carry out the most elementary due diligence of Madoff’s operation. Apart from severe bank losses, tens of thousands of influential, affluent and super-rich lost their entire accumulated wealth. The result is total loss of confidence in the leading banks and financial instruments as well as the general discrediting of ‘expert knowledge’. The result is a weakening of the financial stranglehold over investor behavior and the demise of an important sector of the parasitic ‘rentier’ class, which gains without producing any useful commodities or providing needed services.

The sixth point is that since most of the money stolen by Madoff came from the upper classes around the world, his behavior has reduced inequalities – he is the ‘greatest leveler’ since the introduction of the progressive income tax. By ruining billionaires and bankrupting millionaires, Madoff has lessened their capacity to use their wealth to influence politicians in their favor – thus increasing the potential political influence of the less affluent sectors of class society…and inadvertently strengthening democracy against the financial oligarchs.

A seventh point can be made that by swindling life-long friends, self-same ethno-religious investors, narrow ethnically defined country club members and close family members, Madoff demonstrates that finance capital shows no respect for any of the pieties of everyday life: Great and small, holy and profane, all are subordinated to the rule of capital.

Eighth, among the many ruined investors in New York and New England, there are a number of mega slumlords (real estate moguls), sweatshop owners (fancy name-brand clothes and toy manufacturers) and others who barely paid the minimum wage to their women and immigrant laborers, evicted poor tenants and swindled employees out of their pensions before moving their operations to China. In other words, Madoff’s swindle was a kind of secular ‘divine’ retribution for past and present crimes against labor and the poor. Needless to say, this ‘unconscious Robin Hood’ did not redistribute the money fleeced from the employers to their workers, he reinvested part of it in charities which enhanced his philanthropic image and to payout to some of his early investors so sustain the overall Ponzi scam.

Point number nine is that Madoff struck a severe blow against anti-Semites who claim that there is a ‘close-knit Jewish conspiracy to defraud the Gentiles’, laying that canard to rest once and for all. Among Bernard Madoff’s principle victims were his closest Jewish friends and colleagues, people who shared Seder meals and frequented the same upscale temples in Long Island and Palm Beach.

Bernie was discriminating in accepting clients, but it was on the basis of their wealth and not their national origin, race, religion or sexual preference. He was very ecumenical and a strong backer of globalization. There was nothing ethnocentric about Madoff: He defrauded the Anglo-Chinese bank HSBC of $1 billion dollars and several billions from the Dutch arm of the Belgian bank Fortes. $1.4 billion was from the Royal Bank of Scotland, the French bank BNP Paribas, the Spanish bank, Banco Santander, the Japanese Nomura; not to mention hedge funds in London and the US, which have admitted holdings in Bernard Madoff Investment Securities. Indeed Bernie was emblematic of the modern up-to-date, politically correct, multicultural, international…swindler. The ease with which the super rich of Europe forked their fortunes over caused one Madrid-based business consultant to observe that, “picking off Spain’s wealthiest was like clubbing seals…” (Financial Times, December 18, 2008 p.16)

The tenth point is that Madoff’s swindle will likely promote greater self-criticism and a more distrustful attitude toward other potential confidence people posing as reliable financial know-it-alls. Among self-critical Jews, they are less likely to confide in brokers simply because they are zealous backers of Israel and generous contributors to Zionist fund drives. That is no longer an adequate guarantee of ethical behavior and a certificate of good conduct. In fact it may raise suspicion of brokers who are excessively ardent boosters of Israel and promise consistent high returns to local Zionist affiliates – asking themselves whether this business about ‘what is good for the …’ is really a cover for another scam.

The final and 11th point is the demise of Madoff’s enterprise and his wealthy liberal Jewish victims will adversely affect contributions to the 52 Major Jewish American Organizations, numerous foundations in Boston, Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere, as well as the Clinton/Schumer militarist wing of the Democratic Party (Madoff bankrolled both of them as well as other unconditional Congressional supporters of Israel). This may open Congress to greater debate on Middle East policy without the usual high volume attacks.

STRIPPING ISRAEL OF ITS BLANKET IMMUNITY

On December 14, UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur to the Palestinian Territories, Richard Falk, was deported from Israel after arriving at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport from Geneva. Falk, an elderly Jewish American professor, was forced to spend the night in one of Ben Gurion's infamous holding cells before being transported back to Switzerland.

What really ruffled Israel's feathers and put a permanent black spot next to Falk's name was a June 2007 article by Falk entitled "Slouching toward a Palestinian Holocaust". In it he wrote:

"It is especially painful for me, as an American Jew, to feel compelled to portray the ongoing and intensifying abuse of the Palestinian people by Israel through a reliance on such an inflammatory metaphor as ‘holocaust'... Is it an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? I think not."

Who will tell Israel that it is completely unacceptable to deny a UN official entry into its country or that blocking shipments of humanitarian aid is the act of an oppressive military occupation and not of a western democracy? Until there are more brave voices backed by even braver political powers driving this point home at every possible turn, it is unlikely that even the most watered down resolution or agreement will ever come to fruition....MORE

- OBAMA PICKS A SUPER LIBERAL FOR DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR
- BRAIN CANCER CLUSTER IN ILLINOIS: CHEMICAL COMPANY IMPLICATED
- 911 LAWSUIT: NO EVACUATIONS ORDERD AT PENTAGON

-"THE JEWS" AND THE FORMER HEAD OF CIA
(I'ts true. Alcohol and sleeping pills make the person generalize a lot)
- MUSLIM WOMAN ARRESTED FOR WEARING HEADSCARF

- GAZA FAMILIES EAT GRASS
- LIST OF LOSERS IN MADOFF CASE
- CONSTANTINE, MOMA'S DESIGN CURATOR IS DEAD
- CARTER MEETS HAMMAS LEADER
- END OF WASHINGTON CONSENSUS
- MOST AMERICAN BANKS ARE BANKRUPT

WHAT DOES AMERICAN ZIONISM HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE CURRENT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN?

Simple: top level personnel. Take our exhibit A: Bernard Madoff.

The latest massive financial scandal is the giant $50 billion pyramid or "Ponzi" scheme run by a New York Zionist, Bernard Lawrence Madoff.

Madoff told two "senior employees," i.e. his sons, Mark and Andrew, at his apartment the night before his arrest that the Madoff hedge fund and his investment advisory business was "basically, a giant Ponzi scheme," according to court documents. His investment fund business was insolvent, and had been for years.

According to the Jewish magazine FORWARD, The investor was close to a number of prominent Jewish donors, both on Wall Street and elsewhere. The Wall Street Journal reported that members of the Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton and the Palm Beach Country Club in Palm Beach were heavily invested with Madoff’s firm. Both clubs are heavily Jewish.

Many of Madoff's victims were investors in the Jewish community looking for consistent returns on their investment, which his "Ponzi" scheme had been able to provide until a large number of investors tried to withdraw some $7 billion worth of funds in November. As the Wall Street Journal reported:

"News of money manager Bernard Madoff's alleged fraud sent shock waves through upscale communities in the New York area and Florida where wealthy individuals had entrusted billions of dollars to Mr. Madoff for decades. Ira Roth, a New Jersey resident, who says his family has about $1 million invested through Mr. Madoff's firm, is "in a state of panic."
"This is going to kill so many people," said a current investor in Mr. Madoff's fund. "It's absolutely awful."

...Many of his clients knew Mr. Madoff personally but had little understanding of his investment strategy, which reported remarkably consistent returns of some 1% per month. They often referred to it as a "black box."

According to the Jewish Journal: "The victims of Bernard L. Madoff’s massive Wall Street swindle – perhaps as much as $50 billion, will include many Jewish non-profits that have been large beneficiaries of Madoff’s contribution."

Apart from running his company and being a former chairman and director of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASDAQ), Madoff is a very committed Zionist who has served as the treasurer of two leading Zionist organizations. Like Richard Fuld of Lehman Brothers, Sanford Weill of Citibank, and Maurice Greenberg of A.I.G., the major culprits behind the $2 trillion bail-out, Madoff is another New York Zionist who has committed a massive financial fraud and cheated Americans and others out of untold billions of dollars.

Madoff is a former national treasurer of the American Jewish Congress (AJC) of New York City, one of the major fund-raising organizations for the state of Israel. Founded by the Hungarian Zionist rabbi Stephen S. Wise, the AJC claims to be "the first Jewish Defense Agency to support the establishment of a Jewish state".

Madoff is also the treasurer of Yeshiva University, a private Jewish university in New York City, where he is chairman of the board of the university's business school, the Sy Syms School of Business, which he has endowed with large donations.

SEIGE OF GAZA IS STILL A WAR CRIME

SARKOZY: "it is impossible for me to shake hands with someone who dared to say that Israel should be wiped off the map."

Sarkozy knows what is going on in the West Bank and Gaza. He knows what Israel and its righteous settlers are doing is not only wrong, but appalling, yet he does not dare to say a word. Instead he turns around and criticizes the iranian president for a statement many have disputed if it was ever uttered by Ahmadinejad.

So, besides Israeli politicians and the Israeli public who elect politicians as such, who is responsible for the continuation of the ethnic cleansing in Palestine, particularly in Gaza?

I'd say those Western politicians like Sarkozy who refuse to shake hands with the Iranian President over some words he may, or may not have said, yet are happy to supprt an Apartheid regime that its not saying things, but is quietly implementing the elimination of a people.

Europe is still anti Semitic , but this time Jews are not targeted. Having been given a state carved out of other people's land, Israelis are celebrated, protected and supported by the same racist european political systems that less than a century ago was quietly tolerating or supporting the Holocaust of European Jews.

And Canada is not much different, us who do not consider the suffering of Palestinians worth our time and energy. We will pay for this insensitivity and, in the case of Israel's friends, cruelty with our conscience.

REAL CHANGE COMING TO ....CHICAGO

FBI agents arrested Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday on federal corruption charges in part related to the selection of President-elect Barack Obama's successor, the U.S. attorney's office said.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."

In a 76-page affidavit, federal authorities say wiretaps caught Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

At times, he discussed obtaining a substantial salary for himself at a non-profit organization or an organization affiliated with labor unions, as well as placing his wife on paid corporate boards where she might make as much as $150,000 a year, the government said.

During one recorded conversation, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and said he was "financially" hurting, the affidavit said.

"I want to make money," Blagojevich said, according to the affidavit.

DADABASE ONLINE EXHIBITION- A.S.DHILLON: MODIFY ME

Curated by Mo Salemy
December 6, 2008 - January 15, 2009

CLICK TO VIEW THE EXHIBITION

An expansion of a project created for SHRINK-WRAPPED, curated by Alison Rajah

THE 1 IN 5 MAJORITY (IN ORGANIZED OPINION)

THE WORLD HAS TO EXPEL ISRAEL FROM UN

Snorre Lindquist is a Swedish Architect of, among other things, the House of Culture in front of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem on the West Bank. Contact him at snorre_lindquist@hotmail.com.

Lasse Wilhelmson is a commentator on the situation in the Middle East, and is a member of a local government in Sweden for 23 years, four of which in an executive position. Contact him at: lasse.wilhelmson@bostream.nu.

The Gaza Strip is now the largest concentration camp in the world. The situation grows steadily more insufferable for the 1.5 million Palestinians who live there. Deliveries of food, medicine and fuel are made difficult or stopped altogether. Child malnutrition is increasing. Water supplies and drainage have ceased to function. Children die for lack of healthcare. Tunnels to Egypt, dug by hand, are the only breathing space. Journalists and diplomats are denied entry. Israel is planning more military efforts. The Palestinians in Gaza are now to be starved into surrender and become an Egyptian problem.

The UN should use the word apartheid in connection with Israel and consider sanctions with the former South Africa serving as a model. Miguel dÉscoto Brockman, president of the UN General Assembly, conveyed this message at a meeting on November 24th 2008 with the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon present.

The 1976 Nobel peace prize laureate, Mairead McGuire from Ireland, recently suggested a popular movement demanding that the UN revoke Israel’s membership. The international community now needs to put tangible pressure on Israel in order to stop its war crimes.

Not once, during the past 60 years, has Israel shown any intention of living up to the requirements stipulated by the UN, in connection with the country’s membership in 1948, namely that the Palestinians who had been evicted from their homes should be allowed to return at the earliest possible opportunity. Moreover, Israel holds the hardly flattering world record of ignoring UN resolutions.

It can be questioned from the aspect of human rights legislation whether Israel is a legitimate state. Established practice between states usually requires borders that are legally maintained and a constitution, neither of which Israel has. These requirements are also named in the UN resolution (181) Partition Plan for Palestine, approved by the General Assembly in November 1947. The plan was accepted by the Zionists Jews in Palestine but rejected for excellent reasons as unjust by the Arab states. Only decisions made by the UN Security Council are mandatory. Later on, Israel unilaterally laid claim to a considerably larger portion of land than that suggested by the UN.

The eviction of eighty per cent of the Palestinians who lived west of the 1947 armistice line, and Israel’s refusal to allow them to return is the human rights argument for expelling Israel from the UN. Not only has Israel played the Partition Plan false but has, by its actions, thwarted the grounds – fragile from the start – for its UN membership.

Israel makes use of various strategies to achieve its goals, the same goals as for over a hundred years ago: As few and as well controlled and weakened Palestinians as possible in areas as small as possible between the Mediterranean and the River Jordan. And to try and get acceptance worldwide for the theft of land that is vital to the “state” that calls itself “Jewish and democratic”. This obviously bears no similarity to a peace process.

Why does nobody ever comment on the fact that Israel’s prime minister never misses an opportunity to harp on about how important it is that the rest of the world and the Palestinians recognise Israel, not as a democratic country for all its citizens, but as a “Jewish state”?

What would we have said if South Africa’s Prime Minister, in a similar way, had demanded recognition of South Africa as a “white and democratic state”, thus de facto accepting the racist apartheid system that allowed non-whites to be classified as lesser human beings?

In the article The end of Zionism, published in the Guardian on September the 15th 2003 the Jewish dissident and former speaker of Knesset, Avraham Burg wrote:

“Diaspora Jews for whom Israel is a central pillar of their identity must pay heed and speak out … We cannot keep a Palestinian majority under an Israeli boot and at the same time think ourselves the only democracy in the Middle East. There cannot be democracy without equal rights for all who live here, Arab as well as Jew ... The prime minister should present the choices forthrightly: Jewish racism or democracy.”

No support can be found in The UN recommendation concerning a Jewish and a Palestinian state for unequal rights for the citizens of each country. Neither is there any indication as to how a “Jewish” state could become Jewish. There is support, however, for the intention that demographic conditions should be held intact at partition. Interpreting into the text an intention concerning characteristics of a “Jewish state” tailored to the ideology of Zionism is wholly in contradiction with the text of the resolution.

Even the Balfour Declaration, which entirely lacks human rights status, notes that the Jewish national home in Palestine should in no way encroach upon the rights of the Palestinians. Neither did US President Truman recognise Israel as a Jewish state. On the contrary, he ruled out precisely that formulation before making his decision to recognise Israel.

Thus, the legitimacy of a “Jewish state” so urgently sought by Israel lacks support in international documents that concern the building of the state. Israel’s government is, of course, fully aware of this. Why else would it keep on searching for this recognition?

The UN should now embark on a boycott of the apartheid state of Israel and, with the threat of expulsion from the UN, demand that Israel allows the evicted Palestinian refugees to return in accordance with the UN resolutions 194 and 3236.

With this done, meaningful peace talks can proceed and various solutions be reached for co-habitation with equal rights for all people between the Mediterranean and the River Jordan. No such solution can be compatible with the preservation of a Jewish apartheid state.

IS PAKISTAN RESPONSIBLE FOR MUMBAI ATTACKS?

The Samjhota Express incident is more disconcerting, and one that Pakistanis remember bitterly. On 18 February 2007, two bombs went off near the Indian city of Panipat on the Samjhota Express twice-weekly train between Lahore and Delhi, initiated as its name suggests (Samjhota means Agreement in both Hindi and Urdu) to enhance cordial relations between the two countries. The terrorist attack, which killed 68 (mostly Pakistanis) and injured many others was blamed once again on Lashkare Taiba. Indian authorities claimed that the alleged perpetrator was named Rana Shaukat Ali and a photograph of the terrorist was provided. Four months later, investigations revealed that neither Rana nor Lashkare Taiba but a serving lieutenant colonel of the Indian army, Lt. Col. Purohit was responsible for the attack. Purohit, it was found, had links with Hindu militant groups and provided training to extremists ...READ MORE

- UK ART COLLECTORS BUY MA GRADUATE WORK AT BARGAIN PRICES
- TODAY'S BIGGEST DROPS IN BANKING STOCKS
- NYTIMES: ISRAEL NEEDS TOUGH LOVE, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON TOUGH
- IF LIVNI IS DE KLERK, CAN BARGHOUTI BE MANDELA?

IN JAIL FOR REFUSING TO SERVE IN THE ISRAELI ARMY

"With Ease Our Parents Close Their Eyes to Atrocities Committed in Our Name"

Here's a new American-led campaign to support the shministim, the Israeli kids who are refusing to serve the criminal and neverending Israeli occupation. Jewish Voice for Peace is leading the petition drive. Here's a link to a Palestine site, reporting that Omer Goldman, the daughter of a powerful conservative, whose willingness, along with two other young women, to go to jail earlier this year was so electrifying, has been declared exempt from military service on medical grounds. On the JVP site you can see a group shot of the shministim.

DECEMBER 18 ORGANIZATION

- LIKUD MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WANTS TO USE PALESTINIANS AS HUMAN SHIELD AGAINST HAMAS ROCKET ATTACKS

THOSE POOR WESTERNERS IN INDIA

Two days ago, the headlines were screaming that "westerners" under attack in India. As we know this is the nice way of saying white people. Does an Indian descent Canadian or American born citizen count as a Westerner?

Three days later and a lot of ambiguous news empty of real detail and numbers about who the victims were, now we know that from over 150 people killed, about 15 of them were westerners. So, how does Vancouver Sun, The globe and Mail and National Post defend their claim of Westerners being targeted?

Were the so called terrorists dumb, or blind, to to distinguish between whte people and Indians? How come despite their racist anti white intentions only 15 westerers were killed? Media is so lucky most people don't have a long memory nor do they give a shit to question these kinds of allegations.

As to why the media here emphasizes the western angel, they know that people in the west only consider their own loss a real tragedy. So to get people's attention and scare them, you gotta make them feel that it's them who are at danger. Telling people that 150 Indians dies in terrorist attacks doesn't even but it to a coffee table conversation among "Westerners". The last attack on the same Indian city killed about 120 Indians. Do we even remember this happening a few months ago?

An average of 50 Iraqis (non white) die in any given terrorist attack in Iraq. When was the last time you heard a Westerner worry about that?

BAD ECONOMY: JAGUAR PEOPLE IN THE LINE UP TO BUY MCDONALD BURGERS
- COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE THE NEW VICTIM OF MORTGAGE CRISIS
- WORLD SIGNS ANTI CLUSTER BOMB PACT, ISRAEL USA CHINA AND RUSSIA REFUSE TO JOIN
- (THANKS TO IRAN) IRAQI PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE SECURITY PACT WITH USA

ARE INDIAN TERRORIST ATTACKS THE REALIZATION of BIDEN'S PROPHECY?

We all remember less than a month ago, Joe Biden predicted that Omaba will face an international crisis within 6 months of his presidency. What he didn't make clear was if the two months between election and inauguration counts in the 6 or not.

Now "Westerners were targetd" and that close to 100 people are dead (nobody says a word about who these 80 plus people are. According to IBN, the CNN sister station in India, we know one of the dead is an anti terrorism high level guy names HEMANT KARKARE.

This also happen to be an indian version of 911 where the unfolding events are mass televised.

Is this going to become the reason why Obama will attack Pakistan?

We still don't know if this is what Biden was talking about, or not.

DANIEL RICH: DOWNBURST

DANIEL RICH
DOWNBURST

Daniel Rich was born in 1977 Ulm, Germany and raised in Atlanta, GA. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Rich received a MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2004); a BFA from the Atlanta College of Art (2001); and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2004). His work has been exhibited in New York at Elizabeth Dee Gallery (2005), at Sunday Gallery (2007), and at Mario Diacono Gallery, Boston (2007) among others.

Opening Reception
December 11, 2008
6-8 PM

Perry Rubenstein Gallery
527 West 23rd Street
534 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011
Tel (212) 627-8000
Fax (212) 627-6336
www.perryrubenstein.com

WHICH ONE'S WORSE?

George W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Alan Greenspan,the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve and the architect of the current financial metdown, on November 9, 2005 in the East Room of the White House.

CAN YOU FEEL IT: MR FINGERS VS OBAMA

JAMES ZOGBY GRILLED ON ELECTRONIC INTIFADA

James Zogby isn't just an Arab American with an opinion. He is the president of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a well-known writer, and an esteemed leader within the Arab American community. Many non-Arab Americans highly regard his analysis and look to his articles as a resource to understand the Middle East.

This is precisely why his latest article, "Rahm Emanuel and Arab Perceptions," published by The Huffington Post, is so disturbing. In the piece, Zogby tries to calm the fears of Arab Americans about United States President-elect Barack Obama's first appointment, Rahm Emanuel, to White House Chief of Staff. Zogby expressed shock and dismay that his constituency, once euphoric over the election of Obama, was now sending him angry and cynical letters

The mission statement of the AAI reads in part: "The Arab American Institute (AAI) represents the policy and community interests of Arab Americans throughout the United States and strives to promote Arab American participation in the US electoral system." Perhaps Zogby should reread his own organization's mission statement.

FULL TEXT

GAZA CONTINUES TO SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THE APARTHEID REGIME

GAZA CITY, Gaza -- Half of Gaza's bakeries have closed down and the other half have resorted to animal feed to produce bread as Israel's complete blockade of the coastal territory enters its 19th day. CONTINUE READING

- DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK
conference at New York's Central Synagogue on Jews uniting against the war.

ISRAELI KILLING MACHINE AFTER THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT

The face you see above does not belong to a criminal behind bars, or a lunatic from a mental asylum, even though from his clothing and his looks one may think that he belongs to one or both. A lot of people think that hee should be behind the bars, not because of stuff he talks about all the time, but particularly for the inhuman and nazi like with which him, as the head of israeliy military violated Lebanese soverighnty in the summer of 2006 and the war crimes he committed.

His name is Moshe Ya'lon. Even in Israel he carries the nickname of boogie for being out of touch and blowing it. Here is his new story: WE MUST CONSIDER KILLING AHMADINEJAD

- NEW YORK TIMES: TIME FOR BUSH TO LEAVE OFFICE NOW

BORN IN SIN

Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist for the Haaretz newspaper, where he is also an editorial board member. He is a prominent left-wing commentator. He formerly served as spokesman for Shimon Peres from 1978 and 1982. evy himself has spoken of his 'modest mission to prevent a situation in which many Israelis will be able to say, "We didn't know".' A recurrent theme in his articles is what he describes as Israeli society's 'moral blindness' to the effects of its acts of war and occupation in Gaza and the West Bank. He has criticized Israel's government for refusing to stop the construction of settlements on private Palestinian land, describing the policy as 'the most criminal enterprise in [Israel's] history'.[4] He decries an attitude which reflects, he believes, Israel's systematic dehumanization of its neighbors.

This is from Gideon's recent article for Haaretz:

"The Israeli occupation enterprise has never been so prosperous, sweeping up in its whirlpool all of Israeli society and a vast army of settlers, secret agents, soldiers, prosecutors, journalists, politicians, judges, doctors, engineers, builders, architects, industrialists, artists, archaeologists and average apathetic citizens. Everyone, absolutely everyone, is implicated. They speak peace, but make war; oppose the settlements, but take part in their construction; say `two states,` but vote Likud; close their eyes, hide their faces and wrap themselves in the most dangerous of blankets: blankets of apathy." FULL TEXT

QUEEN KNIGHTS THE PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II awarded President Shimon Peres honorary knighthood on Thursday in an official ceremony in Buckingham Palace in London.

here, the Sovereign of an ethnic colony gets acknowledged as a subject of the Queen of England. Peres's knighthood not only sanctions apartheid, but by symbolically crushing the sovereignty of Israel, brings the Jewish state back to its "rightful" place, the British empire. The Apartheid of Israel now is the Apartheid of England.

STOCK'S BACK TO FUTURE

By the time the NYC Stock Exchange closed today, Dow Jones average was down to 7552 points. The financial media say that this is as low as where the index was in 2002. That's telling us less than half of the truth.

The 7500 index was experienced only briefly in July 2002, and then again for another short period in September 2002. For a realistic comparison with what happened today one needs to go back to week of june 6-13, 1997. Thats right, more than 11 years ago the stocks slowly and expectedly went up from 7200 to 7600.

So, in reality, what we are seeing today is a return not to 6 years ago, but sadly to almost 12 years ago. Except, this time, the fortunes are slowly and expectedly going down. If you believe Suzi Orman and Ali Velshi (CNN), the button of the stock market was supposed to be somewhere between 8500 and 9000. These guys were sending people to buy stocks for all of last month, saying if you don't need your money for a couple of years, it's really a good time to buy Ford, Google and Citigroup.

Sure.

The year 1994 in very important in the recent developments. That's when the Clinton administration removed the first set of checks and balances that had restricted shady business since FDR's measures in the 30's. A quick look at the stock charts shows us that in 1994, before the restrictions were removed, the market had a modest gain from 3700 to 3900.

Compare this with the gains for 1995: 3900 to 5200. then in 1996: 5200 to 6700 and in 1997: 6700 to 7800. This is the same 1997 that I was just talking about a few paragraph earlier. But I don't think that the 1997 level is low enough. To shed all the fake advances of the last 13 years, the stocks will have to go to where they were in before then. That is before the Clinton financial team screw things up, plus a couple of years for safety. Now we can arrive at a more conservative estimate of a real bottom, around 3000. It's like the retro 90's we are currently starting.

Right now we are in the preparation mode for what is going to later happen. We may spend the next two years going slowly down to get there. Don't forget, these two years will happen on Obama's watch, and people would more or less come to hate him for his inability to fully address the problems.

I love the retro 90's, but I hope I am wrong about the rest.

GLOBAL BANKERS VS US AUTOMAKERS

For those of you who don't remember, within a few days of stocks going down last September, the entire White House, media and US congressional apparatus started telling people how important it is to "save the banks" and how crucial it is to spend hundreds of billions of Dollars doing so. Everyone bought into this theory that US taxpayers should give 700 billion Dollars to bankers. all sort of black scenarios were painted vividly for the public, so they knew why they had to fork over the taxes to the people who, just one year ago, were generating billions of dollars of profits.

No one, not even a single commentator asked, if the government is worried about money being lent out, why should they not open a new banking system and lend out cash directly to those who are "creating jobs" or operating their "businesses"? Why should the government give blank cheques to banks without a guarantee, then run around and worry about whether the cash is getting out to those who legitimately needs to borrow?

And how many people to the banks employ in total in USA? around 1,000,000 people.



Last week the giant automakers began asking for some cash, not 700 billion, not even 100 billion. They wanted 25 billion from the 700 allocated for the economic package. Rightaway the media and the government started shaming them for this. All of a sudden there was no dark scenario about millions of people losing their job, something that is a possibility if the automakers fail. Mind you, the automakers directly hire about 6 million Americans for their operations and millions of others under contrators. That doesn't include all those who work for the major automakers in Canada and other markets.

As you can see there is a turf war between bankers, international ones who have been in charge of the US economy more or less since 1913, with the last remaining giant industrialists. And the bankers are about to win. They want the last bastion of high paid jobs in USA to die. They want capital from cheap labour places to come and buy these companies and transfer the machinery and skills to China or India or even cheaper places. That's what I suspect is happening behind the GM, Ford and Chrysler bash fests in CNN and other media outlets.

Nobody is chasing rich bank executives to see if they take corporate jets or not. According to Bloomberg, nobody even know who is really getting the 700 billion, because the federal Reserve doesn't want to disclose the list of recipients.

We all hate cars, but we have to make sure that our disdain for gas guzzlers don't encourage us to help destroy the last remaining large unionized employers of USA.

Think about it, banking and investment industry hires about 100,000 people. Giant automakers hire about 6 million people. Who deserves to be supported right now in the hard times between the two?

- BLOOMBERG REPORTS ON THE DISMAL SITUATION OF VANCOUVER'S REAL ESTATE

HAMID DABASHI ON BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA

Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University

FULL TEXT
The New York day on that fateful Tuesday morning was long and electrified -- everything was abuzz with the thing called "history." Above all, children were visible on that fateful day -- parents taking them along to take their pictures on voting lines, against campaign posters -- for posterity. Rushing, meanwhile, to polling stations, rescheduling their day based on the length of the line they had to wait in, all the while arranging to have a few friends over for takeaway Chinese that evening, while glued to the television screen as the electoral votes were counted, waiting for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida -- the swing states that could go one way or another -- their parents waited until exactly 11pm Eastern Standard Time when Wolf Blitzer at CNN and Keith Olberman at MSNBC went cosmic and declared Barack Obama the elected president.

From our apartment windows on the Columbia University campus on the Upper West Side of Manhattan we could hear the gradual but steady outburst of joyous screams, spontaneous songs, initially murmuring, but, like Ravel's Boléro, ever so slowly beginning to crescendo. The melodious joy began in Harlem to our east and north and slowly spread citywide. Ella Fitzgerald was in the air, as was Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

All the way from Harlem to Times Square, young people were pouring into the streets, cars and trucks blowing their horns, the privacy of homes and the solitude of living rooms nowhere near enough to contain this explosion of joy. In more than 30 years of living in this country I had never seen anything like this -- an instantaneous outburst of inarticulate happiness, a gushing forth of ecstatic delight simply to be alive at this dawn of a renewed covenant with history.

It was the end of a long day for ordinary folks, after a far longer number of years and decades and a catastrophe called "George W. Bush," but what a blessed sight for the world finally to heave a sigh of relief, to awake from the nightmare, and to see the light, that good can happen! It was a cathartic moment, a sudden change of vista and a vision of hope -- for all of us to have been around, to be here at this moment, to see this come to pass, and to imagine (in our fondest dreams, if not our damnedest delusions) America other than it has been.

OBAMA MAY NEVER do a thing he has promised -- but that will detract nothing from tonight. For tonight he belonged to eternity, to the succession of African slave ships brought to this shore, to the millions of African-Americans upholding their dignity against racism, sustaining their struggle, facing bigotry fiercely and awaiting victory. Along with millions of others, Jesse Jackson, an aging warrior of the Civil Rights Movement, was crying on television for the whole world to watch: the tears of African- Americans, young and old, remembering their parents' sufferings, their bondage, their history, and now this cathartic moment. What an unsurpassed honour to have been alive, to have been part of it, to have witnessed it, to have cast a silent and humble vote for it!

This night belonged to Malcolm X, to W E B Du Bois, to Martin Luther King, Jr, to Booker T Washington, to Frederick Douglass, to Harriet Tubman, Miles Davis, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and it belonged to every defiant soul who has stood up to the tyranny of white racism, has said no to injustice, and has upheld the dignity of an entire people on behalf of humanity at large, just in order to stay alive and see the dawn of this day.

On this momentous occasion, though "in equal scale weighing delight and dole," this liberating election must first and foremost be celebrated and not marred by any premature and undue hesitation. This moment belongs to African-Americans and to the generations and centuries of suffering they have endured. The celebration comes with a clear understanding that the colour line is no longer the problem of the twenty-first century.

Any concerns at this moment will have to remain theoretical conjectures in anticipation of the months and years that will follow that fateful day of Tuesday, 20 January 2009, when one singularly charismatic African-American will stand on the historic steps of the United States Capitol, with his hand on the Bible, and swear his oath of office in the voice he has learned from Malcolm X: "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear..."

Along with the millions of ordinary, decent, courageous, and hopeful Americans who have voted for him and made this moment possible, the world has every reason to join the occasion and listen to the assured nobility of that voice. Even more than to that solemn oath, the world will hold Obama accountable to that voice.
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- RUNWAY WARS BETWEEN WEINSTEIN AND ZUCKER (OF NBC)
- GANG TERRORISM ON THE RISE IN ISRAEL
- HOW OBAMA LEARNED TO LOVE ISRAEL
OLD ARTICLE FROM ELECTONIC INTIFADA
- ZIZEK ON THE ECONOMIC MELTDOWN (FROM LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS)
- IT'S THE END OF THE SPECULATIVE ART MARKET AS WE KNOW IT, AND I FEEL FINE
- ZIONIST WAR CRIMINAL HENREY KISSINGER PUSHES FOR CLINTON TO BECOME THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN OBAMA AND THE NEOCONS OVER THE JOB OF SECRETARY OF STATE

Israel and israel lovers have made their choice clear and it's Hilary Clinton. But obama resists, because he does not want to put someone who voted for the Iraq war and follows the AIPAC directives blindly in charge of US diplomacy. Obama wants Richardson, but CNN and Arnold Schwarzenegger (who endorsed MacCain just a few months ago) think Clinton is a "great choice".

I personally prefer the former Secretary of State C. Rice to Clinton. Hilary is very dangerous. Watch out Obama, don't fall for that evil woman.

LAST DAYS OF BUSH

The latest picture from the White House. Bush and his gang give the sign of horns.

OBAMA'S SECOND ZIONIST APPOINTEE

The Joy of change lasted what? Like a day? By yesterday evening America woke up to a relatively new name in the new power configuration: Rahm Emanuel, the son of an Israeli military officer, an ardent hawkish Zionist who now holds the second most senior position in an Obama presidency as his chief of staff. Like Joe Biden, he is a self declared and proud Zionist. Would that automatically make him a neoconservative? No, but it would be interesting to see if there has been a change in the attitude among left leaning Zionists. Do they really wanna deal with the mideast crisis? Or they see Obama as another 4 or 8 years of buying time for the Apartheid regime in Palestine.

I personally think that it is the economy, locally and globally that would give meaning to the Obama presidency and dictate the direction for the new regime in the White House. For a real change of direction, the stock market has to plunge further down. 8500 points is not low enough to trigger "change". We need a stock market below 6000. then maybe we will see real change. Until then, we can hold our collective breath and watch the transition team. meanwhile at Gagosian Gallery, a beautiful exhibition of work by HIROSHI SUGIMOTO opened last night.

THE NIGHT OF THE REGIME CHANGE IN AMERICA

It felt like the night of a regime change, like the ones we see on TV in Ukraine or Georgia. Last time I experienced this type of outpouring of public emotions was the day after the Islamic revolution in Iran back in 1978.

There were no slogans. No banners, only one word and one picture: OBAMA. Everyone screamed Obama. The cab driver, the people on the street, neighbours hanging from their windows.

The night started for us in midtown in front of the Rockefeller centre and CNN and it continued on to Gavin Brown's Gallery at the southwest corner of Soho where an election exhibition was about to open. The artist had replicated the portraits of all 43 US presidents and had hung them around the room, with Obama's framed picture waiting to be hung on an empty spot in the row of portraits. There was also a big bag of balloons hanging from the ceiling waiting to come down in case of an Obama Victory. (PICTURES)

There were free food, free drinks, wine, beer and champagne for everyone and the city's art community more or less had gathered to experience the night. We were sitting next to Dan Colen, Tomma Abts and Gavin Brown himself. At one point someone ordered 1000 dollars of Mexican Takeout for our side of the room. It was an amazing experience of collective joy. Socialism seemed very close.

The sharing didn't stop among the artists. Outside, on the way to the Lower East Side hang out Nowhere Bar, people were giving away drinks, food and even drugs. I received so many hugs and kisses it felt like a very special new year's eve.

Next morning, I had to fork up 10 dollars for a copy of New York Times that right now trades for up to 500 dollar on EBAY.

Check out the pictures. I will post more pics, videos and commentary very soon.

Welcome to change!

SOCIALISM, OR CAPITALISM WITH A HUMAN FACE?

Walking down SoHo one cannot ignore two things, the number of closed or closing stores and the number of empty stores with the shopkeepers in the front smoking or looking sad. We saw the manager of a large furniture store bending over behind a ledge and spying on another furniture store across the street because they seem to have a customer who was buying a few pieces.

Certain stores are still busy. Mac stores seem to not have been affected by the economic downturn. How long is it going to take for them to see a slowdown? Would they ever experience such a thing? We shall see.

Markets are up, well hovering around 9000, still 5000 points down from the peak of October 2007. the volitality of one day up and next day down, rather than showing a progress in the market, points to massive selling and the change of hands in the American capitalism. Banks have received bail out money, but they are unwilling to lend. Rather, they buy governmnent bonds and securities to flipm for short term profit. That was not the aim of the bail out. Watch out for a complete banking nationalization under Obama. he certainly can't talk about it right now, but every time he says that he is going to make sure that the middle and working class get something too I think of nationalization. Poor McCain and Plain are actually telling the truth about socialism.

The other day on the view the question of socialism came up and surptisingly, three out of four women agreed that America needs some kind of socilism. Woddy even said for Capilatism to work properly we need a level of socialistic programs. I could not believe what i was hearing. The following night in a bar, a group of healthcare workers cheered their jagger shots for communism. Is America really warming up to collectivism? Or they like to see capitalism with a human face? We shall see soon. Very soon. Tomorrow.

BACK IN NYC... A BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH A CITY IN CRISIS

Shops are empty, so as restaurants and the streets. Unlike every other year, tourists are missing from the streets. Shopkeepers are aggressive, but they can't magically put money in the pockets and enthusiasm in the hearts of the few who dare to go in. Obama's hope posters and change buttons are on the walls and on people's jackets, but nobody really talks about politics, instead, everyone keeps checking the stocks on their smart phones.

Last Friday, on the first day of our visit, We ran into a bunch of Vancouver art people in the Art Book Fair. The artist Noam Gonick took us to their booth and treated us with Canadian hospitality. Jeff Khonsari of Fillip mentioned my passionate performance at Jaque Rancier talk in UBC last winter. He had the courage to admit to me how pinpoint accurate I was to calling the French theorist on his bullshit about the impossibility of the end of Capitalism.

melanie O'brien at Artspeak table seemed worried about the state of the economy and the silence of the Canadian media regarding the state of our ever weakening dollar.

Thanks to Illingworth Kerr Gallery, I was able to score a copy of Tim Lee's new catalogue. I may hate the artist for his lack of social skills and his indiscreet display of self importance, but I have to admit, the more I read on his work, the more I like it. Can we like the art and dislike the artist? I think so. But we also can dislike the art and the artist, which is my case with the crap, oh sorry the craft of Brian Jungen. He had donated envelopes of 'art ideas' on sale at the Artspeak for 50 dollars. Excuse my bluntness, but do i need Brian to tell me how I can take some sport thing and remake it into an art object like his now very boring Nike Masks?

Here is a very good article on the state of contemporary art from New York Magazine. I quite enjoyed reading it and happen to agree with the writer.

To be continued...

THE BURNING GORVE IN NABLUS

This is not a natural forest fire. The picture is from a burning 3000 olive grove near Nablus destroyed by Israeli settlers.

- HEDGE FUND MANAGER QUITTS AND THANKS STUPID TRADER FOR HIS WEALTH

MCCAIN'S RETURNING MELANOMA

by Lori Klaidman

I am a medical researcher and have a great deal of experience with melanoma having recently just lost a brother to it. What people don't seem to get about this cancer that at stage IIa, his chances of surviving to 10 years at stage IIa WERE 64 per cent. But nearly 10 years have past since the year 2000 since that diagnosis. It is MUCH lower now. Might it be more like 50 per cent survival to the end of his first potential term? This is an optimistic view, and a strong possibility because no one believes those cells have gone away or that he is in permanent remission. Further, the minute those melanoma cells migrate to a lymph node, his chances for survival are anywhere from 15-63 per cent. Note that his doctors were surprised that they had not already metastisized to the nearest lymph node in 2000, when it was investigated.

Despite the rosy picture that McCain's doctor's paint, they fully admit that melanoma cells are freely migrating throughout his blood stream and body. Because cancer cells lose their ability to slow down in a G1 phase during cell division, they are unable to rest and repair faithfully DNA strands during replication without error. Therefore it is only a matter of time before you get one cell that that has lost all control and becomes extremely aggressive with tumors doubling in size about every 45 days. In fact, the purpose of melanocytes, from which melanomas were derived from, means that they are already super hardy, whose main purpose is to protect oneself from the sun, and only a few minor mutations will create a deadly aggressive unstoppable cancer.

Furthermore, what little treatment there is for melanoma, such as interferon, relies on pumping up the immune system, which might give an extra 5 per cent to the statistics at best (melanoma is known for being chemo and radio insensitive). However, it is well known that anger and stress can dampen the immune system response. Can there be any doubt even among his supporters that McCain has a few "anger management" issues? Therefore what all of this could do is put his survival statistics at, perhaps 45 per cent to survive his first term as president? Fortunately, unlike most of us, he does have the best health care that money can buy. However, this time, even that is not likely to save him when it comes to melanoma, the deadliest, most untreatable cancer that exists.

- END OF FREIDMANITE ECONOMICS
- MICHAEL HUDSON DISCUSSES THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS
- NEW YORKER ENDORSES OBAMA
- WASHINGTON POST ENDORSES OBAMA
- LA TIMES ENDORSES OBAMA

A DIFFERENT KIND OF JEWISH POGROM

"Death to Arabs!" Young Jewish Mob attacks Palestinian homes and businesses.

By JONATHAN COOK FROM NAZARETH

Israel has been suffering its worst bout of inter-communal violence since the start of the second intifada, with a week of what has been widely presented as “rioting” by Jewish and Arab residents of the northern port city of Acre.

The trigger for the outbursts occurred on the night of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The country effectively shuts down for 24 hours as religious Jews fast and abstain from most activity, leaving secular Jews little choice but to do likewise.

According to reports, an Arab resident, Tawfik Jamal, outraged a group of Jews by disturbing the day’s sanctity and driving to relatives in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood. He and his teenage son were pelted with stones.

The pair sought sanctuary in the relatives’ home as a mob gathered outside chanting “Death to the Arabs”. Israeli police who tried to rescue the family fled when they were attacked, too.

With news of Mr Jamal’s death mistakenly broadcast over mosque loudspeakers, Arab youths marched to the city centre and smashed shop windows in a display of anger.

In subsequent days, Jewish gangs have roamed Acre’s streets and torched several Arab homes, forcing dozens of Arab families living in Jewish-dominated areas to flee.

An Arab member of the Israeli parliament, Ahmed Tibi, observed that what is occurring in Acre is not a riot but a “pogrom”, conducted by Jewish residents against their Arab neighbours.

Communal tensions are always high in the half a dozen “mixed cities” like Acre, the only places in Israel where Jews and Arabs live in close proximity, even if in largely separate neighbourhoods.

But the situation has grown especially strained in Acre, where some Arab residents have escaped the deprivation and overcrowding of their main neighbourhood, the walled Old City, by moving to Jewish areas. Acre’s Arabs are also numerically strong, comprising a third of the local population.

Despite pronouncements from Israeli leaders that the violence is damaging Acre’s image as a model of coexistence, the reality is of a deeply divided city, where the wounds of the 1948 war have yet to heal.

During the war, most local Palestinians were either killed or forced to leave, with the remainder penned up in the old city. Jewish immigrants, brought to settle the empty houses, were encouraged to see themselves as reclaiming the city for Jews.

In recent years the movement of Arab families into these “Judaised” neighbourhoods has revived talk of the need for Acre to be cleansed again of its Arabs.

The problem has been exacerbated by the relocation to Acre of some of the fanatical settlers withdrawn from Gaza three years ago and by the founding in 2001 of a hesder yeshiva, a school for religious men that combines army service.

The police have stated that the violence in Acre caught them by surprise, but there was little justification for their complacency.

Abbas Zakour, an Arab member of parliament and an Acre resident, had written to the public security minister days before Yom Kippur warning that it would offer a pretext for Jewish extremists to attack Arab residents.

He was concerned that, as in previous years, Jews would throw stones at Arab cars breaking the unofficial 24-hour curfew in the Galilee region, where Arabs are a majority. The failure of the police to intervene, he added, “leads the Arab public to believe that police are deliberately allowing the young Jews to attack innocent Arab residents who drive by”.

In a society where the grip of Jewish religious fundamentalism is tightening – stoked by the high birth rate of ultra-Orthodox Jews and the state’s generous support of a separate religious education system – such incidents regularly occur on Yom Kippur and less frequently on Saturdays, the official day of rest.

The local media reported that over Yom Kippur ambulances and paramedics were stoned. At one point Acre’s ambulance station was surrounded by Jewish youths who smashed its windows. As a result, the service’s local director, Eli Been, ordered staff to wear helmets and bulletproof vests.

Given the failure to punish, or even rebuke, Jewish extremists for such acts of vandalism, it is hardly surprising that in places like Acre they are emboldened to vent their indignation at Arab neighbours.

What has particularly disturbed the Arab minority, however, has been the response from politicians and the police to events in Acre.

Israeli leaders have tried to calm tensions by paying lip service to the idea of coexistence. But at the same time, rather than denouncing the Jewish mob, they have intimated that Acre’s Arab residents provoked the attacks.

During Sunday’s cabinet meeting, Ehud Olmert, the outgoing prime minister, stressed, in reference to the Yom Kippur violence, that the wider Arab population must act “according to the norms of a democratic state”.

His probable successor, Tzipi Livni, added of Yom Kippur that “every citizen has to respect this day” – a reprimand to Arab citizens for driving rather than to extremist Jews for turning into a lynch mob.

Such indirect condemnations roused others to greater provocation. Yuval Steinitz of the Likud Party called the violence a “pogrom” against, rather than by, Acre’s Jews. The local chief rabbi, Yosef Yashar, compared the city’s Arabs to Nazis. And on Monday Jewish far-right activists arrived in Acre from Hebron to stir things further.

Mr Jamal, the hapless driver who provoked the violence, has been widely blamed – apparently without evidence – for playing his music loudly and smoking while driving, as though this justified the attack.

He was finally brought before the parliament on Sunday to demonstrate his contrition. To much abuse from right-wing legislators, he asked for forgiveness and told the parliament he was ready to “sacrifice his neck” to restore good relations between the two communities.

The next day the country’s president, Shimon Peres, reminded community leaders: “There is one law and one police.”

As if to disprove him, the police arrested Mr Jamal the same day, accusing him of offending religious sensitivities, speeding and reckless endangerment – though it was unclear whom he had endangered apart from himself. He was released to house arrest two days later.

Mr Tibi, the parliamentarian, sounded a rare note of sanity when he observed: “I wonder if they will start to arrest Jews who eat and drink during the month of Ramadan.”

Meanwhile, Acre’s Jewish residents are organising a boycott of Arab businesses. They have apparently been joined by the mayor, Shimon Lankri, who cancelled the annual drama festival due to be held in the Old City in a few days. His move was widely interpreted as a way to “punish” Arab residents, who are major beneficiaries of the event.

Articulating popular sentiments, a senior police official told a local website: “The Arab public will pay dearly for the events of Yom Kippur eve. They have succeeded in greatly antagonising the Jewish population and I don’t see them being forgiven for the next few years.”

In what looked like a desperate move to avert further damage to the Old City’s already weak economy, Arab community leaders issued a condemnation of Mr Jamal and a plea for tolerance – though the gesture was not reciprocated by their Jewish counterparts.

Few in the Arab minority share their president’s confidence about the legal system. They see that there are two sets of laws, one for Jews and another Arabs, and that the police have two faces, depending on who is doing the stone-throwing.

They know that when Jewish settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank, or even Israeli soldiers, they do so with impunity. Equally, they remember that in 2005 when a settler opened fire on a bus with his army-issue gun in the Galilean town of Shefa’amr, killing four Arab citizens, the police’s priority was chasing the Arab men they suspected had overpowered and killed him.

Even more painful are memories of the events at the beginning of the intifada, in October 2000, when Arab citizens protested against the military whirlwind unleashed against their Palestinian kin in the occupied territories. The worst violence inside Israel occurred at the town of Umm al-Fahm, where Arab demonstrators threw stones at cars driving along the nearby highway.

Politicians did not talk about Arab sensitivities, or the need for calm, at that time. Instead they sent in a sniper unit. In the ensuing crackdown 13 Arab demonstrators were shot dead, and hundreds injured with live ammunition and rubber bullets.

Jonathan Cook is a writer and journalist based in Nazareth, Israel. His latest books are “Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East” (Pluto Press) and “Disappearing Palestine: Israel's Experiments in Human Despair” (Zed Books). His website is www.jkcook.net.

ANGLO CANADIANS AND ARTS

We all know what Harper said: "when ordinary Canadians come home after work and turn the TV on and see an art gala with rich people" His bottom line was that ordinary Canadians don't care so much for arts.

Harper was right and wrong about culture.
The election results show us that he was right about the english Canada and wrong about the French Canadians. This means, if it wasn't for quebec, we could have had a majority Conservative government. The percentage drop in the Conservative support correlates exactly to the way Quebec people revolted against harper after the art comment. English Canada, however, came out and supported harper even more so. Maybe English Canada doesn't really care about arts?

Thank you Quebec for caring for art and culture.

THESE ARE THE GREENS WE KNOW

in Vancouver's last mayoral race, an unknown James Green stole the election for Sam Sullivan by confusing voters about the name of the left wing candidate Jim Green on the ballot. Even I almost voted for James Green in that election, thinking that this could be Jim's complete first name, before I found the real Jim Green somewhere down on the ballot.

There were a few stories in the media discussing the possibility of NPA/Sam Sullivan campaign helping James Green in stealing more than 6000 votes. Here and here.

But today, I'd like to begin talking about another fraudulent Green: the Green Party of Canada. For now, I would like to show you the name of the ridings in which NDP and Liberals would have easily won the contest had it not been for Green's sudden rise in public profile. Let's not forget the pro Harper media outlets (David Asper's CanWest and Ivan Fecan's CTV Globe Media that also owns the Globe & Mail) who provided the Green party with the space, also CBC for including the Green leader in the debate.

We really need to look into Green's fundraising and go over the media coverage to see how green managed to spoil the election for the Liberals and NDP.

For now, here are the 16 ridings that the Green party delivered to the Conservatives:

Nunavut -Northwest Territories
North Vancouver -British Columbia
vancouver Island North -British Columbia
Surrey North -British Columbia
Ottawa Orleans -Ontario
Mississauga Erindale -Ontario
Kitchener Centre -Ontario
Kitchener Waterloo -Ontario
London West _Ontario
Oakridges Markham -Ontario
Thornhill -Ontario
West Nova -Nova Scotia
South Shore St. Margarets -Nova Scotia
Central Nova -Nova Scotia
Egmont -Prince Edward Island
St. john -Newfoundland

- CHOMSKY DEFENDS THE US HEGEMONY AND MILITARY POWER IN A PRESS TV (IRAN) INTERVIEW

TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK HENREY PAULSON

Henry Paulson concerning taxpayers money - flashback: Sept 23 , Senate Banking Committee:

“Some said we should just stick capital in the banks, take preferred stock in the banks. That’s what you do when you have failure.”

Henry Oct 10, Henrey Paulson's Press Conference:

"We can use the taxpayer’s money more effectively and efficiently, get more for the taxpayer’s dollar, if we develop a standardized program to buy equity in financial institutions,”

- IF THEY SAY IT'S NOT THE END OF CAPITALISM, IT'S BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IS!
- DOW WILL DROP BELOW 7000 POINTS
- IS MCCAIN A LOT SICKER THAN WE KONW?

IS THIS CESSPOOL REAL?

IS USA AT THE BRINK OF A MILITARY COUP?

NAOMI WOLF'S INTERVIEW WITH A RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL

U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman of California said to Congress, captured on C-Span and viewable on YouTube, that individual members of the House were threatened with martial law within a week if they did not pass the bailout bill: "The only way they can pass this bill is by creating and sustaining a panic atmosphere. … Many of us were told in private conversations that if we voted against this bill on Monday that the sky would fall, the market would drop two or three thousand points the first day and a couple of thousand on the second day, and a few members were even told that there would be martial law in America if we voted no."

To verify this information Naomi wolf, an American writer and activist contacted and interviewed Vietnam veteran, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and patriot David Antoon for clarification.

If the President directed the First Brigade to arrest Congress, what could stop him?
"Nothing. Their only recourse is to cut off funding. The Congress would be at the mercy of military leaders to go to them and ask them not to obey illegal orders."

But these orders are now legal?
"Correct."

If the President directs the First Brigade to arrest a bunch of voters, what would stop him?
"Nothing. It would end up in courts but the action would have been taken."

If the President directs the First Brigade to kill civilians, what would stop him?
"Nothing.

What would prevent him from sending the First Brigade to arrest the editor of the Washington Post?
"Nothing. He could do what he did in Iraq -- send a tank down a street in Washington and fire a shell into the Washington Post as they did into Al Jazeera, and claim they were firing at something else."

What happens to members of the First Brigade who refuse to take up arms against U.S. citizens?
"They'd probably be treated as deserters as in Iraq: arrested, detained and facing five years in prison. In Iraq a study by Ann Wright shows that deserters -- reservists who refused to go back to Iraq -- got longer sentences than war criminals."

Does Congress have any military of their own?
"No. Congress has no direct control of any military units. The Governors have the National Guard but they report to the President in an emergency that he declares."

Who can arrest the President?
"The Attorney General can arrest the President after he leaves or after impeachment." [Note: Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi has asserted it is possible for District Attorneys around the country to charge President Bush with murder if they represent districts where one or more military members who have been killed in Iraq formerly resided.]

Given the danger do you advocate impeachment?
"Yes. President Bush struck down Posse Comitatus -- which has prevented, with a penalty of two years in prison, U.S. leaders since after the Civil War from sending military forces into our streets -- with a 'signing statement.' He should be impeached immediately in a bipartisan process to prevent the use of military forces and mercenary forces against U.S. citizens"

Should Americans call on senior leaders in the Military to break publicly with this action and call on their own men and women to disobey these orders?
"Every senior military officer's loyalty should ultimately be to the Constitution. Every officer should publicly break with any illegal order, even from the President."

But if these are now legal. If they say, 'Don't obey the Commander in Chief,' what happens to the military?
"Perhaps they would be arrested and prosecuted as those who refuse to participate in the current illegal war. That's what would be considered a coup."

But it's a coup already.
"Yes."

MCCAIN CALLING OBAMA "THAT ONE"

- ANOTHER DADABASE POST ON GOOGLE FINANCE
- YEMEN ARRESTS ISLAMIC MILITANTS LINKED TO ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE

- DADABASE ENTERS THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION ON GOOGLE FINANCE

ZIZEK'S INTERVIEW ON THE CURRENT SITUATION

- DEADLY PNEUMONIA HITS INFECTING SOLDIERS (CODE WORD FOR DEPLETED URANIUM?)
- US NATIONAL DEBT TOPPED 10 TRILLION
- WHAT DOES MCCAIN'S ABANDONING OF MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN MEAN?

DEAD CAN DANCE, EVEN HARPER

SARAH SILVERMAN VOTES FOR OBAMA

WE BOTH LOVE ISRAEL

- VANCOUVER ARTIST TIM LEE WINS THE PRESTIGIOUS SOBEY'S AWARD


- BYE BYE HOLLYWOOD NORTH!
- WHY THE SENATE BAILOUT STINKS
- WORST CASE SENARIO: DOW JONES PLUNGES TO UNDER 8400 POINTS
- SARAH PALLIN SUPPORTERS ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR