Christopher Shays: “I rise in support of H. Res. 951, sponsored by Congressmen Garrett and Engel, condemning the rocket attacks on innocent…”

“I rise in support of H. Res. 951, sponsored by Congressmen Garrett and Engel, condemning the rocket attacks on innocent Israelis in Sderot and Ashkelon. Israel is our greatest ally and our best friend. Our nations share a strong commitment to freedom and democracy. We have worked together in confronting the serious and very real threat posed by Islamist terrorists. The tensions and violence between Israelis and Palestinians have gone on far too long. Hamas, a violent terrorist organization, has squandered every opportunity to demonstrate it can coexist peacefully with Israel by promoting suicide bombings on innocent civilians and by firing thousands of rockets into neighboring Israeli cities. The terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens are no different than the cowardly attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Clearly, Israel has the right and the obligation to defend its citizens and status as a nation. Unless Hamas recognizes the State of Israel, ceases incitement, and permanently disarms and dismantles its terrorist infrastructure, the United States cannot work with this terrorist government, nor can Israel. Israel has the right to exist free from terror. Its people, who can never and will never forget Hitler's Germany, have every right to expect the world will uniformly condemn Hamas. I urge the resolution's adoption and thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) for bringing this to the floor.”