Washington, DC - Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) gave the following speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives  in response to the escalations in the rearming of Hizbullah.

 

 

Today in Lebanon, protestors are rioting, burning tires and cars, and crippling Beirut to oppose the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

 

A majority of the opposition comes from Hizbullah and its supporters seeking more influence in Lebanon’s government.

 

At the same time, one of our close allies is being forced to watch these riots as a recurring threat is building on its borders. 

 

Last summer we watched as the terrorist group Hizbullah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, killed eight others, and then began firing missiles into Israeli cities intentionally targeting civilian populations and infrastructure.

 

This group was supplied by Syria and Iran for years and built up stockpiles of weapons after Israel completely withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425. 

 

Israel responded in self-defense and launched an offensive in southern Lebanon to destroy weapons caches and Hizbullah bunkers. 

 

Fortunately, the Israel Air Force was able to destroy many of the longer range rockets Hizbullah possessed, but thousands of shorter range rockets were indiscriminately fired at Israeli towns and villages.

 

After two months of fighting, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 was passed. 

Among other things, 1701 called for a UN peacekeeping force of up to 15,000 troops to assist the Lebanese military prevent Hizbullah’s resurgence and rearmament in southern Lebanon.

 

Unfortunately, these troops have not stopped Syria and Iran from rearming Hizbullah, and Israel must watch as this threat is reemerging just miles from its border.

 

I would like to submit for the record this recent article that appeared in Jane’s Defense Weekly.

 

It details some of the problems Lebanese and UN forces are having stopping the movement of weapons across the Syrian-Lebanese border.

 

What is clear from this article, and numerous other reports, is that Hizbullah is rearming and it is gaining autonomy again in southern Lebanon.

 

Just last week in an interview, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised that Hizbullah would intensify its campaign to bring down the Lebanese government in the coming days and weeks.

 

Israel and the United States cannot let this happen and we must support Israel’s right to defend itself before its civilians are indiscriminately attacked once again.

 

Over the years, we have watched as Israel has made unilateral concessions – withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000, withdrawing from Gaza in 2005 – and each concession has resulted in growing threats on its borders and attacks on its soldiers and civilians.

 

After entering southern Lebanon to battle Hizbullah militants last summer, Israel again withdrew after UN Resolution 1701 passed sending international troops to southern Lebanon with the promise that the international troops would assist Lebanon’s military to prevent Hizbullah from rearming.

 

Again, the promises of security made to Israel by the international community have not been fulfilled and Hizbullah is getting stronger.

 

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues and the international community to join me in looking for a solution to this situation.

 

As a close ally we should ensure Israel’s hands are not tied while this threat builds on its border, and we should address this growing problem before Hizbullah again decides to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians.

 

 

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