Making Continuing Appropriations for the National Nuclear Security Administration for Fiscal Year 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Let me say to my friend, the majority leader, this is a good example of our being able to put aside partisan considerations and work together to help our good friend Israel.

I particularly want to salute Senator Graham and Senator McCain, who have been absolutely relentless in their efforts to make sure we send this important signal to Israel at a very tough time for them. They are being, in my view, criticized by everyone for pursuing a policy that I am absolutely certain we would pursue if somebody across our border were launching missiles at our civilian population.

I think it is important for us to send a signal that the United States stands behind one of its best friends--if not its best friend--in the world.

I think the Prime Minister of Israel pretty well summed it up when he said: There is no moral equivalency here. Hamas launches missiles on civilians, and Israel warns civilians when it attempts to attack. And Hamas uses its own civilians to protect its missiles. There is no moral equivalency whatsoever.

So as much of the world levels its criticism at Israel, I think it is important for the United States to say: What nonsense to suggest that the Israelis are doing anything that almost any country in the world would have done had its citizens been threatened by a neighbor as Israel has experienced.

So, obviously, I do not object.

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