[Peace-discuss] How important it was to elect liberal Democrats...

[C. G. Estabrook]

Ugly Senate Gaza Resolution Al Franken, Sherrod Brown & Other Dems Co-Sponsored

{This resolution has no word of compassion for Gaza and does not call for an end to the killing. It passed both Houses unanimously. 
It was written by AIPAC. Americans For Peace Now’s Lara Friedman explains how this resolution represents a new low:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/15/the-senate-on-gaza-then-and-now.html}

RESOLUTION

Expressing 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 recognizing and strongly supporting its
right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against
acts of terrorism.

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 refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist,
renounce violence, and accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians; 2

Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of rockets and missiles since Israel dismantled settlements and withdrew
from Gaza in 2005;

Whereas terrorists in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have
fired approximately 900 rockets and missile shells into
Israel this year, an increase from roughly 675 attacks in
2011 and 350 in 2010;

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, on November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama
condemned the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel and reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense; and

Whereas Israel, as a fellow democracy, has an inherent right
to self defense in the face of terrorist attacks: Now,
therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—
2 (1) expresses unwavering commitment to the
3 security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and demo-
4 cratic state with secure borders, and recognizes and
5 strongly supports its inherent right to act in self-de-
6 fense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism;
7 (2) reiterates that Hamas must end Gaza-
8 linked terrorist rocket and missile attacks against
9 Israel, recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce vio-
10 lence, and agree to accept previous agreements be-
11 tween Israel and the Palestinians; 3

1 (3) urges the United Nations Security Council
2 to condemn the recent spike in Gaza-linked terrorist
3 missile attacks against Israel, which risk causing ci-
4 vilian casualties in both Israel and Gaza; and
5 (4) encourages the President to continue to
6 work diplomatically with the international commu-
7 nity to prevent Hamas and other Gaza-based ter-
8 rorist organizations from retaining or rebuilding the
9 capability to launch rockets and missiles against Israel

~ MJ Rosenberg / Nov 19 2012

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