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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Geoff Embler |
| May 23, 2006 | (202) 225-2815 |
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WASHINGTON, DC - Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) released the following excerpts today from the statement made on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22 in support of H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act. This legislation, which passed the House today on a vote of 361 to 37, restricts U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority until Hamas rejects terrorism and accepts the right of Israel to exist. “Hamas believes that terrorism is a legitimate tool of political negotiation. Hamas does not hide from its endorsement of homicide bombings or its desire to use this tactic to achieve its goal of destroying Israel.” “Hamas kills. It murders. It maims. It orphans, and it robs. It blunts the future of innocents. It takes away the happiness of children, and it tears apart families. Hamas believes that this behavior is somehow acceptable. “Today, we must send a message to Hamas and President Abbas that the free nations of the world reject their desire to be recognized as legitimate leaders of their people.” “Mr. Speaker, today the United States House of Representatives sends a strong message that our government does not and will not deal with terrorists, nor in this Congress should we or will we allow American taxpayer dollars to fund terrorist activities.” “Make no mistake about it, the very freedoms that we hold dear are at stake, and we must never stop fighting this war until the last terrorist on Earth is in a cell or a cemetery.” |