[Peace-discuss] Vox clamantis in deserto

[C. G. Estabrook]

	January 10, 2009
	Gaza Resolution One-Sided and Unwise
	by Rep. Ron Paul

[Editor's note: The following is Rep. Ron Paul's statement on H. Res. 34, 
"Recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza, 
reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel, and supporting the 
Israeli-Palestinian peace process."]

Madame Speaker, I strongly oppose H. Res. 34, which was rushed to the floor with 
almost no prior notice and without consideration by the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee. The resolution clearly takes one side in a conflict that has nothing 
to do with the United States or U.S. interests. I am concerned that the weapons 
currently being used by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza are made in 
America and paid for by American taxpayers. What will adopting this resolution 
do to the perception of the United States in the Muslim and Arab world? What 
kind of blowback might we see from this? What moral responsibility do we have 
for the violence in Israel and Gaza after having provided so much military 
support to one side?

As an opponent of all violence, I am appalled by the practice of lobbing 
homemade rockets into Israel from Gaza. I am only grateful that, because of the 
primitive nature of these weapons, there have been so few casualties among 
innocent Israelis. But I am also appalled by the long-standing Israeli blockade 
of Gaza – a cruel act of war – and the tremendous loss of life that has resulted 
from the latest Israeli attack that started last month.

There are now an estimated 700 dead Palestinians, most of whom are civilians. 
Many innocent children are among the dead. While the shooting of rockets into 
Israel is inexcusable, the violent actions of some people in Gaza does not 
justify killing Palestinians on this scale. Such collective punishment is 
immoral. At the very least, the U.S. Congress should not be loudly proclaiming 
its support for the Israeli government's actions in Gaza.

Madame Speaker, this resolution will do nothing to reduce the fighting and 
bloodshed in the Middle East. The resolution in fact will lead the U.S. to 
become further involved in this conflict, promising "vigorous support and 
unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of Israel as a 
Jewish and democratic state." Is it really in the interest of the United States 
to guarantee the survival of any foreign country? I believe it would be better 
to focus on the security and survival of the United States, the Constitution of 
which my colleagues and I swore to defend just this week at the beginning of the 
111th Congress. I urge my colleagues to reject this resolution.

http://www.antiwar.com/paul/?articleid=14027