Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, 400 rocket attacks from Gaza in the past 3 weeks--Israel has made several attempts to defuse the issue and the situation. This is how Hamas responded: ``We will not agree to quiet in exchange for quiet. If Israel does not agree to our demands, I expect we will continue this battle.'' Can you imagine that? Demands from Hamas that Israel not respond to rocket attacks. That is the only way you will get quiet for quiet between Israel and Hamas. Now, we all know where this recent exchange started. On June 12, the abduction and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers, suspected by Hamas members, inflamed the situation, and then it was pushed over the edge by a murder of a Palestinian boy by Jewish extremists, Mr. Speaker. There is a difference between how both sides act. From the Israeli Prime Minister, ``I unequivocally condemn the murder of a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem. Murder, riots, incitement, vigilantism--they have no place in our democracy.'' Israel quickly tracked down and arrested the teens' suspected murderers--tracked them down and arrested them and is prosecuting them. What is the response from Hamas? What is the like response? In response, they launched nearly 400 rockets at Israel since June 14. For a month, this has been going on--into their population centers, not into military targets, Mr. Speaker, but population centers.…”