IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1241 

Supporting the right of Israel to defend itself against terrorists and the 

Israeli construction of new security fences along the border of Egypt. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 13, 2010 

Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the right of Israel to defend itself against terrorists and the Israeli construction of new security fences 

along the border of Egypt. 

Whereas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the construction of two fences along the IsraelEgypt and Israel-Gaza Strip borders where it is easy for 

terrorists and illegal immigrants to cross; 

Whereas some estimates suggest that 17,000 to 19,000 illegal 

immigrants have come into Israel via the southern border 

since 2005; 

Whereas many of the aggressors in the Gaza Strip belong to 

Hamas or the Islamic Jihad, both recognized terrorist organizations operating with the intent to destroy Israel, 

and fired rockets into southern Israel in early 2009, with 


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•HRES 1241 IH 

particular emphasis on the cities of Ashkelon, Netivot, 

and Sderot; 

Whereas areas in Egypt are believed to be Al-Qaeda strongholds, and it is known that terrorists use tunnels from 

Egypt to smuggle drugs, ammunition, and arms into the 

Gaza Strip; 

Whereas the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to remain 

a threat to international security and regional stability; 

Whereas the West Bank security fence, which is approximately half built, and checkpoints along the fence, were 

constructed as a response to the ongoing terrorist acts by 

Palestinians coming into Israel from the West Bank; 

Whereas before the security fence was built, terrorists had to 

simply walk across the border; 

Whereas the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) noted that there 

was a significant decrease in terrorist attacks in the West 

Bank over the last 3 years; 

Whereas in total, the ISA reported 1,309 terrorist attacks in 

2006, 946 terrorist attacks in 2007, 893 terrorist attacks 

in 2008, and 636 terrorist attacks in 2009; 

Whereas the ISA reported 333 shootings and 131 explosive 

attacks in the West Bank in 2007, 83 shootings and 54 

explosive attacks in 2008, and 22 shootings and 13 explosive attacks in 2009; 

Whereas the ISA reported that there were 15 deaths due to 

conflict in 2009, 9 of which were casualties of Operation 

Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip; 

Whereas in 2009, the ISA did not report any suicide bombings in Israel; 


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•HRES 1241 IH 

Whereas Iran funds, trains, and openly supports terrorist 

groups that operate in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas, 

Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad among many others, all of 

which have murdered United States citizens, Israelis, and 

non-Israeli Muslims and are determined to destroy Israel; 

Whereas since its inception as a country, Israel has been confronted with repeated terrorist attacks that have inflicted 

death and suffering on innocent men, women, and children; 

Whereas Israel has been the victim of brutal and vicious declarations by Iran that the country does not have a right 

to exist; 

Whereas Israel, like any sovereign nation, has the right to defend itself against internal and external threats to its existence; 

Whereas article 51 of the United Nations Charter expressly 

states that all countries possess an inherent right to selfdefense; 

Whereas Israel has reached out to the United States and the 

international community for support against the threat of 

Iran and terrorists in the region; and 

Whereas despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis at 

the hands of murderous, suicide bombers and other terrorists, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with 

their neighbors: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the right of Israel to defend itself 

3 against terrorists that wish to infiltrate its borders 

4 and attack Israeli citizens; 


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•HRES 1241 IH 

1 (2) supports Israel’s plight to protect its bor2 ders with the construction and upkeep of a security 

3 fence and checkpoints along the West Bank, the 

4 Gaza Strip, and Egypt; 

5 (3) recognizes the remarkable success of the ex6 isting security fence in keeping out terrorists; 

7 (4) condemns the actions and rhetoric of Ira8 nian leaders and terrorist organizations that are 

9 willing to stop at nothing to kill Israelis and ter10 rorize its people; 

11 (5) reaffirms the robust alliance between the 

12 United States and Israel; and 

13 (6) recognizes Israel’s assertive efforts to com14 bat international terrorism. 

Æ 


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