January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S183 

continue. Preconditions are an obstacle 

to that process in the Middle East as 

much as they were for another seemingly intractable conflict, in Northern 

Ireland. 

Others have asked these questions, 

which are worth repeating: Does the 

Gaza war improve Israel’s long-term, 

or even short-term, security? Was it realistic and in Israel’s long-term interests to expect Hamas to accept Israel 

in advance of negotiations, rather than 

push for a total cessation of the use of 

violence and blockade, followed by negotiations? Was it realistic to expect 

the ceasefire to hold while Gaza remained under siege, rife with hunger, 

illness, joblessness, and hopelessness, 

and while construction of settlements 

continued, and even accelerated, in the 

West Bank? 

On January 6, Secretary of State 

Rice spoke to the U.N. Security Council. I do not doubt the sincerity of her 

concern with the humanitarian situation in Gaza, or for the need for a 

ceasefire ‘‘that can endure and bring 

real security.’’ We all want that. But 

her words were noteworthy for what 

they said about the dismal failure of 

the Bush administration’s approach to 

the Middle East conflict. Eight years 

were squandered and mishandled, and 

President-elect Obama faces a far more 

difficult situation than his predecessor 

inherited. 

Our credibility in the entire world 

has suffered immeasurably since 9/11. 

In particular our image in predominantly Muslim countries has been affected by the failure to advance a credible strategy to help resolve the IsraelPalestinian conflict. This has pronounced and obvious implications for 

our security, for Israel’s security, and 

for the entire Middle East region. 

At this time of great opportunity in 

America to change our policies and 

make a true contribution to peace in 

the Middle East, we should be careful 

when we adopt resolutions on subjects 

as sensitive as this to be cognizant of 

the history of the region and the complexities of the situation. Above all, 

our goal should be to enhance our role 

as a force for peace and our ability to 

advance our Nation’s interests. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, that 

there be no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related 

to this matter be printed in the 

RECORD. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 10) was agreed 

to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 10 

Whereas Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel; 

Whereas Hamas has been designated by the 

Secretary of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; 

Whereas Hamas has refused to comply with 

the requirements of the Quartet (the United 

States, the European Union, Russia, and the 

United Nations) that Hamas recognize 

Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and 

agree to accept previous agreements between 

Israel and the Palestinians; 

Whereas, in June 2006, Hamas crossed into 

Israel, attacked Israeli forces and kidnapped 

Corporal Gilad Shalit, whom they continue 

to hold today; 

Whereas Hamas has launched thousands of 

rockets and mortars since Israel dismantled 

settlements and withdrew from Gaza in 2005; 

Whereas Hamas has increased the range of 

its rockets, reportedly with support from 

Iran and others, putting additional large 

numbers of Israelis in danger of rocket attacks from Gaza; 

Whereas Hamas locates elements of its terrorist infrastructure in civilian population 

centers, thus using innocent civilians as 

human shields; 

Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza 

Rice said in a statement on December 27, 

2008, that ‘‘[w]e strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against 

Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence there’’; 

Whereas, on December 27, 2008, Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert said, ‘‘For approximately seven years, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens in the south have 

been suffering from missiles being fired at 

them. . . . In such a situation we had no alternative but to respond. We do not rejoice 

in battle but neither will we be deterred 

from it. . . . The operation in the Gaza Strip 

is designed, first and foremost, to bring 

about an improvement in the security reality for the residents of the south of the 

country.’’; 

Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of 

State Rice stated that ‘‘Hamas has held the 

people of Gaza hostage ever since their illegal coup against the forces of President 

Mahmoud Abbas, the legitimate President of 

the Palestinian people. Hamas has used Gaza 

as a launching pad for rockets against Israeli 

cities and has contributed deeply to a very 

bad daily life for the Palestinian people in 

Gaza, and to a humanitarian situation that 

we have all been trying to address’’; 

Whereas the humanitarian situation in 

Gaza, including shortages of food, water, 

electricity, and adequate medical care, is becoming more acute; 

Whereas Israel has facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza with over 500 trucks and 

numerous ambulances entering the Gaza 

Strip since December 26, 2008; 

Whereas, on January 2, 2009, Secretary of 

State Rice stated that it was ‘‘Hamas that 

rejected the Egyptian and Arab calls for an 

extension of the tahadiya that Egypt had negotiated’’ and that the United States was 

‘‘working toward a cease-fire that would not 

allow a reestablishment of the status quo 

ante where Hamas can continue to launch 

rockets out of Gaza. It is obvious that that 

cease-fire should take place as soon as possible, but we need a cease-fire that is durable 

and sustainable’’; and 

Whereas the ultimate goal of the United 

States is a sustainable resolution of the 

Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will allow 

for a viable and independent Palestinian 

state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel, which will not 

be possible as long as Israeli civilians are 

under threat from within Gaza: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) expresses vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, 

and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in selfdefense to protect its citizens against acts of 

terrorism; 

(2) reiterates that Hamas must end the 

rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, 

recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians; 

(3) encourages the President to work actively to support a durable, enforceable, and 

sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, as soon as 

possible, that prevents Hamas from retaining 

or rebuilding the capability to launch rockets and mortars against Israel and allows for 

the long term improvement of daily living 

conditions for the ordinary people of Gaza; 

(4) believes strongly that the lives of innocent civilians must be protected and all appropriate measures should be taken to diminish civilian casualties and that all involved should continue to work to address 

humanitarian needs in Gaza; 

(5) supports and encourages efforts to diminish the appeal and influence of extremists in the Palestinian territories and to 

strengthen moderate Palestinians who are 

committed to a secure and lasting peace 

with Israel; and 

(6) reiterates its strong support for United 

States Government efforts to promote a just 

resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 

through a serious and sustained peace process that leads to the creation of a viable and 

independent Palestinian state living in peace 

alongside a secure State of Israel. 

Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a 

quorum. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. 

The legislative clerk proceeded to 

call the roll. 

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the order for 

the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 

LEVIN). Without objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under 

the previous order, the leadership time 

is reserved. 

f 

MORNING BUSINESS 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under 

the previous order, the Senate will proceed to a period for the transaction of 

morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes 

each. 

The Senator from Oklahoma. 

f 

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES 

SPECIALIST STEPHEN G. ZAPASNIK

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I 

wish to recognize a very special person 

and remember his life and sacrifice as 

a young man. I can identify with this; 

I was a specialist in the U.S. Army. 

Stephen Zapasnik of Broken Arrow, 

OK—that is right outside of Tulsa—lost 

his life. He was only 19 years of age. He 

died on December 24—that was on 

Christmas Eve—in Baghdad, Iraq, 

along with two other soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Stephen followed in the footsteps of 

his father by joining the Army and 


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