House Resolution Supporting
Israel’s Right to Defend Itself
(July 20, 2006)
H.Res. 921
A resolution:
Condemning the recent attacks against the State of
Israel, holding terrorists and their state-sponsors
accountable for such attacks, supporting Israel's right
to defend itself, and for other purposes.
Whereas on September 12, 2005, Israel completed its
unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, demonstrating its
willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of peace;
Whereas more than 1,000 rockets have been launched
from Gaza into Israel since Israel's disengagement;
Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred
in undisputed Israeli territory on June 25, 2006, Israeli
Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped
and is being held hostage in Gaza by a Palestinian
terrorist group which includes members of Hamas;
Whereas Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, in
Damascus, Syria, has acknowledged the role of Hamas
in holding Corporal Shalit hostage;
Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred
in undisputed Israeli territory on July 12, 2006, operatives
of the terrorist group Hezbollah operating out of southern
Lebanon killed three Israeli soldiers and took two
others hostage;
Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations
Security Council Resolution 425 (1978) by completely
withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as certified by
the United Nations Security Council and affirmed by
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on June
16, 2000, when he said, `Israel has withdrawn from
[Lebanon] in full compliance with Security Council
Resolution 425.';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution
1559 (2004) calls for the complete withdrawal of all
foreign forces from Lebanon and the dismantlement of
all independent militias in Lebanon;
Whereas despite the adoption of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1559, the Government of Lebanon
has failed to disband and disarm Hezbollah, allowing
Hezbollah instead to amass 13,000 rockets, including
rockets that are more destructive, longer-range and
more accurate than rockets previously used by Hezbollah,
and has integrated Hezbollah into the Lebanese Government;
Whereas the Government of Israel has previously shown
great restraint despite the fact that Hezbollah has
launched at least four separate attacks into Israel
using rockets and ground forces over the past year;
Whereas the failure of the Government of Lebanon to
implement all aspects of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1559 and to extend its authority throughout
its territory has enabled Hezbollah to launch armed
attacks against Israel and recently to kidnap Israeli
soldiers;
Whereas Hezbollah's strength derives significantly
from the direct financial, military, and political
support it receives from Syria and Iran, and Hezbollah
also receives important support from sources within
Lebanon;
Whereas Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to operate
in southern Lebanon, providing support to Hezbollah
and reportedly controlling its operational activities;
Whereas the Government of the United States has enacted
several laws, including the Syria Accountability and
Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public
Law 108-175) and the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of
1996 (Public Law 104-172), which call for the imposition
of sanctions on Syria and Iran for, among other things,
their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations;
Whereas the House of Representatives has repeatedly
called for full implementation of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1559;
Whereas section 1224 of the Foreign Relations Authorization
Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228) withholds
certain assistance to Lebanon contingent on the deployment
of the Lebanese armed forces to the internationally
recognized border between Lebanon and Israel and its
effective assertion of authority in the border area
in order, among other reasons, to prevent cross-border
infiltration by terrorists, precisely the criminal
activity that has provoked the current crisis;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated on July 12,
2006, `Hezbollah's terrorist operations threaten Lebanon's
security and are an affront to the sovereignty of the
Lebanese Government. Hezbollah's actions are not in
the interest of the Lebanese people, whose welfare
should not be held hostage to the interests of the
Syrian and Iranian regimes.', and has repeatedly affirmed
that Syria and Iran must be held to account for their
shared responsibility in the recent attacks;
Whereas the United States recognizes that some members
of the democratically-elected Lebanese parliament are
working to build an autonomous and sovereign Lebanon
and supports their efforts; and
Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize
Israel's right to exist and call for the destruction
of Israel: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State
of Israel;
(2) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in
unprovoked and reprehensible armed attacks against
Israel on undisputed Israeli territory, for taking
hostages, for killing Israeli soldiers, and for
continuing to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian
populations with their rockets and missiles;
(3) further condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for cynically
exploiting civilian populations as shields, locating
their equipment and bases of operation, including
their rockets and other armaments, amidst civilian
populations, including in homes and mosques;
(4) recognizes Israel's longstanding commitment to
minimizing civilian loss and welcomes Israel's
continued efforts to prevent civilian casualties;
(5) demands the Governments of Iran and Syria to
direct Hamas and Hezbollah to immediately and unconditionally
release Israeli soldiers which they hold captive;
(6) affirms that all governments that have provided
continued support to Hamas or Hezbollah share responsibility
for the hostage-taking and attacks against Israel
and, as such, should be held accountable for their
actions;
(7) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria for
their continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas
in their armed attacks against Israelis and their
other terrorist activities;
(8) supports Israel's right to take appropriate action
to defend itself, including to conduct operations
both in Israel and in the territory of nations
which pose a threat to it, which is in accordance
with international law, including Article 51 of
the United Nations Charter;
(9) commends the President of the United States for
fully supporting Israel as it responds to these
armed attacks by terrorist organizations and their
state sponsors;
(10) urges the President of the United States to
bring the full force of political, diplomatic,
and economic sanctions available to the Government
of the United States against the Governments of
Syria and Iran;
(11) demands the Government of Lebanon to do everything
in its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli
soldiers being held in the territory of Lebanon;
(12) calls on the United Nations Security Council
to condemn these unprovoked acts and to take action
to ensure full and immediate implementation of
United Nations Security Council 1559 (2004), which
requires Hezbollah to be dismantled and the departure
of all Syrian personnel and Iranian Revolutionary
Guards from Lebanon;
(13) expresses its condolences to all families of
innocent victims of recent violence; and
Sources: Library of Congress |