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Floor Speech
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Mr. RICKETTS. Madam President, Israel is our strongest and closest ally in the Middle East. It is in our mutual interest to provide Israel the support they need to be able to destroy the terrorist group Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages. I am committed to doing that. My colleagues joining me today are committed to doing that.
Yet the Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly appeased the radical pro-Hamas elements of their base. In fact, President Biden had to be pressured to put a meeting on the calendar with the Prime Minister. That should have been a no-brainer.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whose only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate, didn't even attend today's speech. She has one job--and I understand that being the presumptive nominee is new, but she does have a day job. Instead, she chose a petty snub of our closest ally in the Middle East and a democratically elected leader. This is not how America should treat its allies.
Sadly, this is one part of a larger pattern. The Biden-Harris administration has consistently undermined Israel's democratically elected government. After taking office, this administration gave $730 million to UNRWA, an organization that has been described as essentially being a branch of Hamas. President Trump had ended their U.S. taxpayer funding. President Biden and Vice President Harris brought it back. Their actions caused American taxpayer dollars to directly support Hamas terrorists in their attacks on our ally and our citizens.
At least 12 UNRWA employees, funded in part by Biden-Harris, directly participated in the barbaric terror attack on October 7. Over 100 UNRWA employees have ties to Hamas or other Islamic jihad entities. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed, including nearly two dozen American citizens. Many were taken as hostages. Eight Americans are still being held hostage today somewhere in Gaza 291 days after October 7.
We need to stand with Israel until Israel completes its mission to free the hostages, bring justice to the terrorists, and restore peace. That is the best solution for the Israelis. That is the best solution for the Gazans. That is the best solution, period.
The Biden-Harris administration has also pressured Israel toward a cease-fire with the same barbaric Hamas terrorists who want to kill Jews and have pledged to continue to perpetrate atrocities like October 7. Meanwhile, Biden and Harris have repeatedly withheld or delayed critical shipments of weapons needed to destroy Hamas. They have attacked the legitimacy of Israel's democratically elected leader. So much for ``ironclad.''
Americans stand with Israel. My colleagues and I stand with Israel. We are proud to stand with Israel. The Biden-Harris administration should do the same.
Thank you to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for his comments earlier today. They reminded us why it is so important that Israel is successful in destroying Hamas. They will be doing the world and civilization a favor in doing so.
Thank you to my colleagues for joining me today on the floor.
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