Doris Matsui: “I have to say that, first, I think all of us acknowledge, particularly with what has been going on today in the Middle…”

“I have to say that, first, I think all of us acknowledge, particularly with what has been going on today in the Middle East, and Iraq in particular, that the whole issue of Israel's importance to the United States could not be more clear. Israel is important for the strategic defense of the United States in the free world. Given, as I said, the fact that it is the only democracy in that region, it is absolutely critical that Americans understand and this country understands the importance of Israel from our strategic perspective. Secondly, there is no question that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from terrorist activities, and this resolution will go a long way in fulfilling those two principles.”