III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 498 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States support for 

the State of Israel as it defends itself against unprovoked rocket attacks 

from the Hamas terrorist organization. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 10, 2014 

Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. AYOTTE, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. 

MCCAIN, Mr. CORKER, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. KIRK, Mr. TOOMEY, 

Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. MORAN, Mr. JOHANNS, Mr. HELLER, Mr. INHOFE, 

Mrs. FISCHER, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. VITTER, Mr. PAUL, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. NELSON, Mr. FRANKEN, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. THUNE, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. HATCH, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. 

SCOTT, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. WICKER, Mr. COATS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. TESTER, Mr. 

KAINE, Mr. LEE, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. COONS, Mrs. HAGAN, 

Mr. BURR, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. MIKULSKI, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. PRYOR, 

Mr. WARNER, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. FLAKE, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. 

HEITKAMP, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. BENNET, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. JOHNSON of 

Wisconsin, Mr. MANCHIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. 

ISAKSON, Mr. REED, and Mr. MERKLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JULY 16, 2014 

Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, without amendment 

JULY 17, 2014 

Considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States 


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SRES 498 ATS 

support for the State of Israel as it defends itself against 

unprovoked rocket attacks from the Hamas terrorist organization. 

Whereas Hamas is a United States-designated terrorist organization whose charter calls for the destruction of the 

State of Israel; 

Whereas Hamas continues to reject the core principles of the 

Middle East Quartet (the United Nations, the United 

States, the European Union, and Russia)—recognize 

Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements; 

Whereas Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis and dozens 

of Americans in rocket attacks and suicide bombings; 

Whereas, since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, 

Hamas and other terrorist groups have fired thousands 

of rockets at Israel; 

Whereas Hamas has entered into a unity governing arrangement with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority; 

Whereas the unity governing agreement implies Fatah’s and 

the Palestinian Authority’s support for Hamas’ belligerent actions against Israel, potentially contributing to a 

false perception of legitimacy for Hamas’ belligerent actions; 

Whereas, since June 2014, Hamas has fired nearly 300 rockets at Israel; 

Whereas Hamas’ weapons arsenal includes approximately 

12,000 rockets that vary in range; 

Whereas innocent Israeli civilians are indiscriminately targeted by Hamas rocket attacks; and 


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SRES 498 ATS 

Whereas 5,000,000 Israelis are currently living under the 

threat of rocket attacks from Gaza: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms its support for Israel’s right to de3 fend its citizens and ensure the survival of the State 

4 of Israel; 

5 (2) condemns the unprovoked rocket fire at 

6 Israel; 

7 (3) calls on Hamas to immediately cease all 

8 rocket and other attacks against Israel; and 

9 (4) calls on Palestinian Authority President 

10 Mahmoud Abbas to dissolve the unity governing ar11 rangement with Hamas and condemn the attacks on 

12 Israel. 

Æ 


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