Tom Lantos: “today the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on International…”

“today the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, and I will introduce a resolution that categorically condemns this week's outrageous terrorist strikes against the State of Israel and Israeli people. In the attacks of September 11, our Nation suffered the loss of over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children. Since that fateful day, our ally Israel has suffered a comparable loss. With 6 million citizens compared to our 280 million, Israel's 60 victims since September equates to over 2,700 American victims. Nearly half this number perished in a span of just 14 hours this past weekend. Mr. Speaker, the United States is currently targeting regimes that harbor terrorists, as well as terrorists themselves. Israel must also target the terrorists' protectors. The Palestinian Authority bears full responsibility for the attacks of December 1 and 2, just as the Taliban bears full responsibility for the attacks of September 11. I urge all of our colleagues to join the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and me in this resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Israel.”