>CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF WAR PERPETRATED AGAINST ISRAEL BY HEZBOLLAH FORCES

(Senate - July 13, 2006)

   Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I was dismayed to hear of the recent reprehensible actions taken by the terrorist group Hezbollah, in kidnapping two Israeli soldiers. This is an act of cowardice and also grimly unsurprising. Supported by both Syria and Iran, Hezbollah has, for almost a quarter of a century, targeted freedom; whether that be U.S. marines in 1983 in Beirut, U.S. airmen in the Khobar Towers tragedy, or repeated deadly attacks against innocent Israelis and ongoing weapons' stockpiling. Besides regularly supplying weapons to Hezbollah, Iran and Syria are also responsible for donating an estimated $100 million per year to Hezbollah. The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is an active part, bears a full measure of responsibility for this act of war against Israel, and Israel has a right, under international law, to take actions necessary to rescue her sons. Israel fully withdrew from southern Lebanon in May 2000. This move by Israel was certified by the U.N. Security Council as having met the requirements of U.N. Security Council Resolution 425, which called for an Israeli withdrawal and for Lebanon to assert control over the area vacated by Israel.

   The appropriate, reasonable and legal response to the brutality and dishonor of terrorism is proactive self-defense. We would do no different were these young men our own. Israel continues to be a force for freedom and democracy and as a friend and ally to the United States, deserves our full backing during this difficult time. Furthermore, as this body has reaffirmed time and again, we fully reject and denounce the terrorist activities fomented by both Iran and Syria. It is my fervent hope that those who dictate the activities of Hezbollah, both inside Lebanon and outside its borders, will quickly see the futility of this course of action, and make a move for peace and stability rather than chaos and war.