Israel's Right to Protect Itself

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Thank you as well for yours, and thanks for doing this tonight.

Mr. Speaker, this is an easy one for me. I stand with the State of Israel as well as her right to defend herself. It is amazing to me at times that that is even called into question, because Israel has proven time and time again that it is very capable of defending herself, and it is amazing to me that the world doesn't want to acknowledge that.

This commitment that I have to Israel is here now and will continue to be unwavering even in the midst of this conflict between Israel and Hamas that is taking place mainly in Gaza. I am in firm support of Israel's decision to launch a ground operation, and I hope this conflict will be resolved quickly and negotiations for a permanent cease-fire will occur soon for this area.

Currently, Israel's strategic objective is to eradicate Hamas' ability to terrorize Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu gave the go-ahead to send ground troops into Gaza after a 10-day air operation failed to diminish Hamas' rocket barrage.

Think if the U.S. were being targeted. Do you think we would wait a day to execute a ground incursion, let alone 10 days? Absolutely not.

In fact, Israel and Egypt tried to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas, but Hamas was unwilling to accept it. We see the true stripes of Hamas when they will not come to the table and when they, instead, want to basically put their own citizens up as human shields.

I have received a lot of feedback from folks in the Ninth District who feel very strongly about the United States' support for Israel from the beginning, when the three young Israeli teens were kidnapped. Georgians empathized with the pain of the nation and with the hope that the three teenagers would be returned to Israel, unharmed. Unfortunately, their bodies were discovered in a Palestinian-controlled area. They had been brutally murdered at the hands of Hamas.

I think my constituents would agree when I say a peaceful solution to end this conflict between Israel and the residents of the Gaza Strip is preferred. Hamas, on more than one occasion, however, has rejected the cease-fires that Israel was more than willing to agree to. We as Americans understand fighting terrorism is a constant fight, and this is yet another reason we must continue to work towards combating terrorism, not just on American soil, but by supporting our allies in their fights against terrorism.

Our support is shown in many ways, but the biggest is in the Iron Dome defense system. Hundreds of Hamas' rockets have been intercepted by the Iron Dome, and it has protected those in Israel who are being terrorized by Hamas. Hamas is hiding behind Palestinians--their own people--to protect their rockets while Israel is protecting their people with the Iron Dome. These are the things that must be reported, and these are the things that must be looked after. A peaceful solution needs to be found soon.

The administration needs to get its priorities correct. Israelis understand this, and that is why they need to continue to protect themselves. The resources going to Gaza should be used to build schools and hospitals and infrastructure instead of the things that the Palestinians are not getting. This is why the United States must continue to support Israel. We must continue to support their fight against terrorism, and we must continue to maximize our efforts towards a peace that will last in Israel in this area.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source