Congress To Give "Staunch And Unwavering Support" To Israel

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Congres..._01082009.html

1/8/2009

The US Congress is set to offer staunch and unwavering support for Israel as the Gaza conflict rages, recognizing its "inalienable right" to defend itself from attacks by Hamas.

Democratic and Republican leaders united to introduce a resolution backing Israel in the US Senate and a similar measure will soon be pending in the House of Representatives with both expected to pass by large majorities.

"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," said Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.

"Hamas must stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel -- that is the stated objective of the Israelis.

"I acknowledge and appreciate the calls by some for a ceasefire.

"Certainly we must encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict, but we must be certain that any cease-fire is sustainable, durable, and enforceable."

Republican leader Mitch McConnell also placed blame for the start of Israel's war on Hamas on the Islamist group, after the death toll rose to 760 as dozens more bodies were discovered in Gaza.

"This resolution in support of the state of Israel has strong bipartisan support," McConnell said.

"Hamas is a terrorist organization, it clearly started this current conflict by launching rockets on the civilian sites in Israel," he said.

"The Israelis are responding exactly the same way we would if rockets were being launched into the United States from Canada or Mexico," he said.

The resolution calls on Hamas to end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, and says any ceasefire reached in the conflict must be "durable, enforceable and sustainable."

It calls for the lives of innocent civilians to be protected and says senators support a strong and secure Israel living in peace with an independent Palestinian state.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would take up a corresponding resolution on Friday.