Nita Lowey: “Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Israel has the right to defend herself and the responsibility to protect her…”

“Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Israel has the right to defend herself and the responsibility to protect her citizens from Hamas, which denies Israel's right to exist and rains rockets down on its citizens. While Israel reviews the Gaza flotilla incident and considers the best way to implement the Gaza blockade, we must not forget that failure to prevent weapons and other illicit materials from reaching Hamas would be a dereliction of Israel's most basic responsibility to its people. I stand firmly in support of Israel's right to self-defense and am committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge so she can continue to defend her citizens. As the 'Blame Israel First' crowd continues to attack our democratic ally Israel over a host of challenges in the Middle East, I am reminded of a simple--yet powerful--concept: words matter. The inflammatory rhetoric surrounding events in the Middle East in recent weeks and months only begets more hostility; discourages efforts toward a lasting peace agreement, which the people of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza deserve; and can incite those encouraging violence against Israel.”