[Peace-discuss] US Senate Supports Israel's Gaza Incursion

[Robert Naiman]

The word "enemy" is not in my personal lexicon. It implies a permanent
state of affairs.

You are encouraging folks to call Tim Johnson's office, so in this
matter we are allies.

-- 
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

Call Congress: Immediate Cease-fire, Lift the Blockade on Gaza
http://justforeignpolicy.org/involved/callgazaceasefire.html

Write Bush, Obama, Congress to Support an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
and Lift the Blockade
http://justforeignpolicy.org/involved/gazaceasefireobama.html
http://justforeignpolicy.org/involved/gazaceasefirebushcongress.html

On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 3:48 PM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at uiuc.edu> wrote:
> [The text of the resolution introduced jointly by Sens. Reid and McConnell
> and approved by unanimous consent of our US senators.  Alexander Cockburn (a
> naysayer?) comments, "Blago's a prince compared with this lot."  --CGE]
>
>
> Recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza
> and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel in its battle
> with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
>
>    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 ceasefire 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.
>
>
> [Yes, our congressman certainly deserves a phone call on this (Tim Johnson
> 202.225.2371, or his chief flack, Phil Bloomer 217.403.4690).  His
> intellectual bodyguards will tell you that Tim favors an even-handed
> approach in the Middle East, and that's what the USG is doing... --CGE]
>
>
> Robert Naiman wrote:
>>
>> US Senate Supports Israel's Gaza Incursion
>> http://uk.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUKN08534236
>>
>> Next: consideration by the House, where there is likely to be more
>> friction.
>>
>