Bob Menendez: “the eyes of the world are watching to see how we react to the terrorist attack Israel has suffered. Days after Hamas…”

“the eyes of the world are watching to see how we react to the terrorist attack Israel has suffered. Days after Hamas launched a horrific assault, kidnapping nearly 200, killing over 1,000, and injuring thousands more, the world is watching with bated breath. Scenes of Hamas's evil are seared into our collective conscience. The images are indelible: Israelis slaughtered by marauding thugs, concertgoers shot in the back in broad daylight, people butchered, women raped, even infants murdered in cold blood. The barbaric atrocities are an affront to humankind itself. In the face of unspeakable evil, we must not mince words. We must not waiver in our resolve. Every single one of us in this Chamber has a moral responsibility to speak out unequivocally and unapologetically as we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and her people. Now, I have been staunchly devoted to this cause for 31 years in Congress. Why? Because the bond between our nations is sacrosanct. In 1948, the United States was the first Nation to recognize Israel, a mere 11 minutes after it declared independence. Our two nations-- intrinsically linked--were founded on similar principles, among them, justice, equal rights, freedom of religion, and the respect for the rule of law. Over the years, both nations have been shaped by individuals seeking refuge from tyranny and oppression.…”