Posted on 06/26/2003 11:41:02 AM PDT by yonif
The House on Wednesday said Israel was justified in its forceful response to Palestinian attacks and concluded that Middle East violence will stop only when Palestinian strikes cease.
A House resolution, passed 399-5, condemned attacks on Israel since President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met in Jordan three weeks ago to pledge for the US-developed peace plan.
But a few lawmakers warned that the measure, coming on the same day that Islamic militants agreed to halt attacks on Israel for three months, was one-sided. They said it says nothing about Israel's attempts to assassinate Islamic militants and undermines the US role as a fair mediator in the peacemaking effort.
The resolution "expresses solidarity with the Israeli people as they respond to ongoing terrorist attacks" and "acknowledges Israel's fight against terrorism as part of the global war against terrorism."
It expresses sympathy to the families of innocent Israelis and Palestinians killed in the latest violence, and urged worldwide support for the Palestinian Authority in its attempt to confront the attacks.
"Israel has as much right to fight against suicide bombers and ruthless terrorists as any other free and democratic nation," said Rep. Tom Lantos, a Democrat and sponsor of the resolution with House Majority Leader Tom Delay and International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, both Republicans, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.
DeLay said the only question was whether Palestinian leaders "will stand with the civilized world in defiance of evil or whether they will fail like their predecessors." He brushed off Wednesday's cease-fire announcement. "Murderers who take three-month vacations are still murderers," he said.
But Rep. Nick Rahall, a Democrat and one of only four House members of Arab-American descent, said the resolution was the wrong message to send at "this precarious time in the Middle East when we are so close to reaching an agreement."
It "unfortunately points only to the obligations of the Palestinians and insinuates they are not fulfilling those obligations. There are obligations by the Israelis as well," he said.
"This resolution takes sides," said Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat, whose Detroit-area district has one of the largest Arab-American communities in America. It does not help the United States gain standing as an honest, impartial broker, he said.
Joining Rahall and Dingell in voting against the resolution were Democrat Reps. Jerry Kleczka and Lynn Woolsey, and Republican Ron Paul. Seven others voted present.
The House on Wednesday also passed, by 412-0, a resolution expressing concern about the rise of anti-Semitism around the world. It urges the 55 nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including the United States, to aggressively prosecute anti-Semitic actions and increase education to eradicate anti-Semitic attitudes.
On the Net: Information on the Israel resolution, H.Res. 294, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov
They still do not understand the PA is not attempting to confront the attacks. They are one of the terrorist organizations carrying them out.
DeLay said the only question was whether Palestinian leaders "will stand with the civilized world in defiance of evil or whether they will fail like their predecessors." He brushed off Wednesday's cease-fire announcement. "Murderers who take three-month vacations are still murderers," he said.
Excuse me, didn't we try to take out Hussein? Of course these folks probably criticized that also.
Ron Paul is such a hero of freedom. /sarcasm
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“"This resolution takes sides," John Dingell, with thanks to Nick Rahall, Jerry Kleczka, Lynn Woolsey, and Republican Ron Paul, it sure does. Kind of a with us or with the terrorist thing. The entire resolution, so everyone can see who’s side is being taken. Unless Abu Mazen is a liar, we’re taking the Palestinian’s side as well, against the terrorists, at least 399 of our representatives. 5 opt for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
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Whereas Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced at the June 4, 2003, Aqaba Summit, `Our goal is clear, and we will implement it firmly and without compromise:... (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)
HRES 294 EH
H. Res. 294
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
June 25, 2003.
Whereas Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced at the June 4, 2003, Aqaba Summit, `Our goal is clear, and we will implement it firmly and without compromise: a complete end to violence and terrorism';
Whereas Prime Minister Abbas also pledged at the Aqaba Summit to establish a system based on `rule of law, [a] single political authority, [and] weapons only in the hands of those who are in charge of upholding the law and order . . .';
Whereas the Middle East roadmap begins with the assertion that `A two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be achieved through an end to violence and terrorism (when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror and willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty)';
Whereas 22 innocent Israelis nevertheless were murdered and scores wounded in three separate suicide bombings within less than a week after the Aqaba Summit, and the death toll from these terrorist actions is the equivalent of 1,100 on the basis of the United States population, nearly ten times the number of battle deaths the United States suffered in the recent Iraq War;
Whereas Palestinians are also victims of these terrorists, who undermine prospects for a just and lasting peace;
Whereas Islamic fundamentalist Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad consistently make clear their opposition to Israel's existence in any form and within any borders and their determination to use violence and terrorism to achieve their anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic goals, and Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi vowed `not to leave one Jew in Palestine';
Whereas experience with terrorism demonstrates that there can be no productive negotiations or dialogue with terrorists and that a policy based on compromise with terrorists can only be doomed to failure;
Whereas the concept of `cycle of violence', which implies moral equivalence between terrorists and their victims, should be rejected as a description of Israeli-Palestinian dynamics, since Palestinian terrorism justifies Israeli counterterrorist operations as the response of a legitimate government defending its citizens;
Whereas Israeli counterterrorist operations would cease entirely were Palestinian terrorism to cease; and
Whereas Israel has no choice but to use its own measures to fight terrorism if the Palestinians are unwilling to do so: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns in the harshest terms the recent terrorist actions that victimized innocent Israelis;
(2) expresses solidarity with the Israeli people as they respond to ongoing terrorist attacks;
(3) expresses sympathy to the families of innocent Israelis and Palestinians who have lost their lives;
(4) commends the President of the United States for his vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security;
(5) affirms that this vision can be fully realized only once terrorism is defeated, so that a new state may be created based on rule of law and respect for human rights;
(6) recognizes and respects Israel's right to fight terrorism and acknowledges Israel's fight against terrorism as part of the global war against terrorism;
(7) calls on all states to cease recognition of and political and material support for any Palestinian and other terrorist groups;
(8) calls on all states immediately to establish effective mechanisms to ensure that funding from private citizens cannot be directed to terrorist groups for any purpose whatsoever, including ostensible humanitarian purposes;
(9) calls on all states to provide support to the Palestinian Authority in its effort to confront and fight terror; and
(10) calls on all states to assist the Palestinian people in creating the institutions of a democratic state that will respect the rule of law and live in peace with its neighbors.
Ron Paul is a disgrace to both God and country.
John Dingell represents Dearborn, MI where the street signs are in Arabic.
Sometimes, even the sheeple (baaa!) in hardcore left-wing districts get it right and toss out the virulent bigots, as in the cases of McKinney and Hilliar. :)
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