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US Senate supports Israel's Gaza incursion
By Reuters
WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voiced strong support on Thursday for Israel's battle against Hamas militants in Gaza, while urging a ceasefire that would prevent Hamas from launching any more rockets into Israel.
The chamber agreed on a voice vote to the non-binding resolution co-sponsored by Democratic and Republican party leaders in the chamber.
"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," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said before the vote.
Noting that Israel was bent on halting Hamas rocket fire into its southern towns, Reid said: "I ask any of my colleagues to imagine that happening here in the United States. Rockets and mortars coming from Toronto in Canada, into Buffalo New York. How would we as a country react?"
Co-sponsor and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican said before the vote: "The Israelis ... are responding exactly the same way we would."
The House was expected to pass a similar resolution.
The Senate resolution encourages President George W. Bush "to work actively to support a durable, enforceable and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible that prevents Hamas from retaining or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets or mortars against Israel," Reid said.
It also expresses an "unwavering" commitment to Israel's welfare and recognizes its right to act in self defense to protect citizens against acts of terrorism, he said. "It allows for the long-term improvement of daily living conditions of the ordinary people of Gaza," he said.
Palestinians faced even grimmer conditions in Gaza on Thursday after a U.N. aid agency halted work, saying its staff was at risk from Israeli forces after two drivers were killed.
The reported Palestinian death toll in the 13-day-old conflict topped 700. At least 11 Israelis have been killed, eight of them soldiers, including four hit by "friendly fire."
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell, editing by Philip Barbara)
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It's bad enough that the US didn't participate in the UN Security Council's peacemaking efforts. Now the US is practically pouring fuel on the fire by announcing to the whole world, "This is OUR war!"
Apparently Congress doesn't know that we're already involved in enough concurrent wars. Please write to Congress to tell them so!
Darwin26
There's no limit to the temerity of these swine:
Co-sponsor and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican said before the vote: "The Israelis ... are responding exactly the same way we would."
These very words - monkey see monkey do -we are they ... the incrimination is at once incredulous and insane.
Co-State Coordinator PDA Montana
National Impeachment Network, organizer
Peace and Justice Forums - Billings, MT co- producer
Montana Partners for Impeachment,coordinator
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Veterans for Peace
From the Congressional Register:
S. Res. 10
Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State
of Israel;
Whereas Hamas has been designated by the Secretary of State as a
Foreign Terrorist Organization;
Whereas Hamas has refused to comply with the requirements of the
Quartet (the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United
Nations) that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence,
and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the
Palestinians;
Whereas, in June 2006, Hamas crossed into Israel, attacked Israeli
forces and kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, whom they continue to hold
today;
Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and mortars since
Israel dismantled settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005;
Whereas Hamas has increased the range of its rockets, reportedly with
support from Iran and others, putting additional large numbers of Israelis
in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza;
Whereas Hamas locates elements of its terrorist infrastructure in
civilian
population centers, thus using innocent civilians as human shields;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement on
December 27, 2008, that ``[w]e strongly condemn the repeated rocket and
mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the
ceasefire and for the renewal of violence there'';
Whereas, on December 27, 2008, Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert
said, ``For approximately seven years, hundreds of thousands of Israeli
citizens in the south have been suffering from missiles being fired at
them. ..... In such a situation we had no alternative but to respond. We
do not rejoice in battle but neither will we be deterred from it. .....
The operation in the Gaza Strip is designed, first and foremost, to bring
about an improvement in the security reality for the residents of the
south of the country.'';
Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated that
``Hamas has held the people of Gaza hostage ever since their illegal coup
against the forces of President Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate President of
the Palestinian people. Hamas has used Gaza as a launching pad for rockets
against Israeli cities and has contributed deeply to a very bad daily life
for the Palestinian people in Gaza, and to a humanitarian situation that
we have all been trying to address'';
Whereas the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including shortages of
food,
water, electricity, and adequate medical care, is becoming more acute;
Whereas Israel has facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza with over 500
trucks and numerous ambulances entering the Gaza Strip since December 26,
2008;
Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of State Rice stated that it was
``Hamas that rejected the Egyptian and Arab calls for an extension of the
tahadiya that Egypt had negotiated'' and that the United States was
``working toward a cease-fire that would not allow a reestablishment of
the status quo ante where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of
Gaza. It is obvious that that cease-fire should take place as soon as
possible, but we need a cease-fire that is durable and sustainable''; and
Whereas 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, which will not be possible as long as Israeli
civilians are under threat from within Gaza: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(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 President 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 all appropriate measures should be taken to diminish civilian
casualties 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 to strengthen moderate
Palestinians who are committed to a secure and lasting peace with Israel;
and
(6) reiterates its strong support for United States 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.