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Shaw Introduces Resolution Condemning Attacks on Israel in House of Representatives


Washington, Jul 18 -  

South Florida Congressman Clay Shaw (R-FL) today introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the unprovoked attacks against Israel. Tomorrow, the House will consider a similar resolution which was based on Shaw’s.

“In the strongest possible terms, I condemn Hezbollah’s unprovoked attack on Israel. Syria and Iran have encouraged this violence by backing this terrorist group. Both Syria and Iran are directly responsible for this act of terrorism and should be held accountable. I join our Israeli friends and President Bush in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the Israeli soldiers who have been captured by these terrorists,” Shaw said.

Excerpts of the resolution are as follows:

“On July 12, 2006, the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah crossed the border and assaulted northern Israel. This attack killed eight soldiers and took two others hostage. The kidnapping and killing of Israeli soldiers symbolizes a clear act of war by Hezbollah, which their government of Lebanon has failed to take apart and has included into its cabinet.

“Hezbollah’s continued violence against Israel, regardless of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, is financed and supported by Syria and Iran.

“Secretary Condoleezza Rice stated, “Hezbollah’s actions undermines regional stability and goes against the interests of both the Israeli and Lebanese people.”

“This latest hit by Hezbollah has forced Israel to launch operations to protect the release of its kidnapped soldiers, damage Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities and prevent further attacks against the State of Israel.

“The kidnapping and killing of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah represents a clear act of war.

Hezbollah’s killing of eight Israeli soldiers and the kidnapping of two others represents an unprovoked act of war against Israel. Four of the eight soldiers killed on July 12, 2006, were patrolling the Lebanese border: Sergeant Nimrod Cohen, Sergeant- Major Eyal Benin, Sergeant- Major Shani Turgeman, and Sergeant Major Wasim Nazel.

“Hezbollah currently has 14,000 Iranian - and Syrian-supplied rockets competent of hitting Israeli cities and towns within the northern third of the country. These munitions are capable of inflicting significant destruction and are a major threat to the people of Israel.

“Like the United States and other sovereign nations, Israel has the right and duty to defend itself from attacks.

“Israel's military response is being carefully adjusted to successfully carry out any rescue attempt to obtain the kidnapped soldiers and to corrupt the rocket capabilities of Hezbollah.

“Hezbollah, is subsidized by Syria and Iran, and provides these terrorists a projected $100 million in funding per year. Hezbollah receives a large amount of weapons such as Katyusha rockets, mortars, anti-tank missiles, mines, explosives and small arms.

“Hezbollah has killed more Americans than any other terrorist group with the exception of al-Qaeda. Hezbollah killed 257 Americans in the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and killed 19 American servicemen in the 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers, a U.S. military housing facility in Saudi Arabia.

“Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, who has also kidnapped an Israeli soldier in June, praised Hezbollah’s attack, calling it a “heroic operation.”

“On January 25, 2006, the Palestinian Authority permitted Hamas to participate in the elections. Hamas won the majority of the parliamentary seats and now dominates Palestinian people. Hamas has the ability to secure the release of Shalit to Israel and to end the continuing rocket fire into Israel.

“The Palestinian Authority had the opportunity for political reform by promoting democracy, civil society, and good governance in the Middle East. However, Hamas will not change its views on Israel.

“On June 25, 2006, members of the Hamas military branch (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades), the Popular Resistance Committees assaulted Israeli forces in Israel, killing two Israeli soldiers, wounding four, and kidnapping one.

“The United States and Israel hold the Palestinian Authority and its Hamas-led government responsible for the attack and the outcome of the one kidnapped soldier.

“On June 28, 2006, Hamas’ Popular Resistance Committees announced that they had kidnapped a young West Bank settler and threatened to kill him if Israel did not stop the Gaza operation; his body was found the next day. Israeli forces arrested three alleged perpetrators of this attack from the Fatah movement on July 4, 2006, in Ramallah.

“A dangerous situation of escalating violence continues to spread out around Gaza and is now taking on a regional dimension. A series of Israeli-Palestinian disagreements over the last several weeks rose with the kidnapping of Israeli solder Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants and the forceful Israeli military response that included destruction of civilian infrastructure.

“It is apparent that neither Israel nor the Palestinians are able to work together and the violence is only getting worse. If a diplomatic solution is to be found and hope for peace is to be reinstated, leadership from the United States is crucial.

“Even in the most difficult of times, the path toward cooperation, dialogue and negotiations must be tirelessly pursued— a two-state solution with a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state still remains the only way forward.”

Print version of this document

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