III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 10 

Recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza 

and reaffirming the United States’ strong support for Israel in its battle 

with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 8, 2009 

Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. KYL, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. 

HATCH, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BOND, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. THUNE, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. 

MARTINEZ, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. CASEY, Mr. 

PRYOR, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. CARPER, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. BAYH, Mr. 

JOHANNS, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. BROWN, and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States’ 

strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas, and 

supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

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, 


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•SRES 10 ATS 

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 improveVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:34 Jan 09, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR10.ATS SR10

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•SRES 10 ATS 

ment 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 ceasefire 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 

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•SRES 10 ATS 

ians are under threat from within Gaza: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses vigorous support and unwavering 

3 commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of 

4 the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state 

5 with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act 

6 in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of 

7 terrorism; 

8 (2) reiterates that Hamas must end the rocket 

9 and mortar attacks against Israel, recognize Israel’s 

10 right to exist, renounce violence, and agree to accept 

11 previous agreements between Israel and the Pal12 estinians; 

13 (3) encourages the President to work actively to 

14 support a durable, enforceable, and sustainable 

15 cease-fire in Gaza, as soon as possible, that prevents 

16 Hamas from retaining or rebuilding the capability to 

17 launch rockets and mortars against Israel and allows 

18 for the long term improvement of daily living condi19 tions for the ordinary people of Gaza; 

20 (4) believes strongly that the lives of innocent 

21 civilians must be protected and all appropriate meas22 ures should be taken to diminish civilian casualties 

23 and that all involved should continue to work to ad24 dress humanitarian needs in Gaza; 


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•SRES 10 ATS 

1 (5) supports and encourages efforts to diminish 

2 the appeal and influence of extremists in the Pales3 tinian territories and to strengthen moderate Pal4 estinians who are committed to a secure and lasting 

5 peace with Israel; and 

6 (6) reiterates its strong support for United 

7 States Government efforts to promote a just resolu8 tion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a seri9 ous and sustained peace process that leads to the 

10 creation of a viable and independent Palestinian 

11 state living in peace alongside a secure State of 

12 Israel. 

Æ 


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