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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 517 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 517

 Expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself and calling on 
Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 2014

   Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
 Rubio, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself and calling on 
Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel.

Whereas, on July 17, 2014, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting 
        Israel's absolute right to defend its citizens and ensure the survival 
        of the State of Israel, condemning the actions of Hamas, and calling for 
        the President of the Palestinian Authority to dissolve the unity 
        government with Hamas;
Whereas, since June 2014, Hamas has fired over 1,800 rockets at Israel;
Whereas Hamas has used a system of tunnels to smuggle weapons and launch attacks 
        on Israel;
Whereas, since ground operations in Gaza began, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) 
        have discovered 28 of these tunnels whose only purpose is to kill and 
        kidnap Israelis;
Whereas Hamas' weapons arsenal includes approximately 12,000 rockets that vary 
        in range;
Whereas innocent Israeli civilians are indiscriminately targeted by Hamas rocket 
        attacks;
Whereas 5,000,000 Israelis are currently living under the threat of rocket 
        attacks from Gaza;
Whereas the Iron Dome system has saved countless lives inside Israel;
Whereas, consistent with Article 51 of the United Nations charter, which 
        recognizes a nation's right to self-defense, Israel must be allowed to 
        take any actions necessary to remove those threats;
Whereas the IDF has used text messages, leaflet drops, phone calls, and other 
        methods to clear out areas and avoid unnecessary civilian casualties;
Whereas Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields by placing missile 
        launchers next to schools, hospitals, mosques, and private homes;
Whereas Hamas' interior ministry has called on residents of Gaza to ignore IDF 
        warning to get out of harm's way; and
Whereas any effort to broker a ceasefire agreement that does not eliminate those 
        threats cannot be sustained in the long run and will leave Israel 
        vulnerable to future attacks: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms its support for Israel's right to defend its 
        citizens and ensure the survival of the State of Israel;
            (2) calls on the United Nations Secretary General to 
        immediately condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel;
            (3) urges the international community to condemn the 
        unprovoked rocket fire at Israel;
            (4) recognizes that the Government of Israel must be 
        allowed to take actions necessary to remove the present and 
        future threats posed by Hamas' rockets and tunnels;
            (5) calls on Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and 
        other attacks against Israel;
            (6) opposes any efforts to impose a cease fire that does 
        not allow for the Government of Israel to protect its citizens 
        from threats posed by Hamas rockets and tunnels; and
            (7) calls on Hamas to stop using residents of Gaza as human 
        shields.
                                 <all>
```