Blake Moore: “I thank the gentleman from California, and I always appreciate his participation. I thank the rest of my colleagues for…”

“I thank the gentleman from California, and I always appreciate his participation. I thank the rest of my colleagues for being here tonight and taking time to speak on the horrific assault against our ally and the Jewish community. On October 7, 2022, the world was shocked at the atrocities carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel and the Jewish community. Nearly 3,000 Hamas fighters crossed into Israel by land, air, and sea, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 Israeli and foreign hostages. October 7 will forever be a turning point in history. As we reflect on the events of that day and the 500 days that have followed, it is imperative that we also recognize the broader implications of this attack. It was not just an assault on Israel. It was an attack on the American vision for a safe and secure Middle East, which was led, perpetuated, and financed by the Iranian regime. The Hamas perpetrators not only set out to destroy the very existence of the State of Israel, but they sought something larger. They wanted to prevent a seismic shift in the region from taking place. I am, of course, referring to the early success of the Abraham Accords, negotiated by the first Trump administration, and the long-term goal of a Saudi-Israel peace and normalization agreement.…”