END TO FIGHTING IN GAZA STRIP NEEDED --
(House of Representatives - January 15, 2009)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern over the increasingly grave situation in the Gaza Strip and to express my disappointment that Congress has not spoken more clearly and forcibly in favor of a cease-fire. The latest fighting between Israel and Hamas has led to a humanitarian crisis. According to news reports, quoting various official sources on both sides of the battle, the impact on civilians in Gaza is severe and growing worse.

Madam Speaker, like every Member of this House, I support the right of Israel to defend itself and its people, and, like my colleagues, I strongly denounce Hamas' ongoing indiscriminate destabilizing rocket attacks against civilian populations in southern Israel and Hamas' clear intent to terrorize the people of Israel. In no uncertain terms, I call on Hamas to end its rocket attacks against Israel immediately.

But I also believe in no uncertain terms there must be a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel and it must commence immediately. The loss of life to children and their families, the vast destruction of homes and the enormous suffering in Gaza that is being caused by the escalation of this conflict must end.

Last week, the House spoke out on this latest conflict in the Middle East by passing H. Res. 34 that ``recognizes Israel's right to defend itself against the attacks from Gaza, reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.''

I was disappointed that, as this body has done so often in the past, the House voted only to reiterate its support for Israel and its right to defend itself, rather than also to have used our considerable influence to pressure both sides to agree to a cease-fire in order to protect civilians on both sides caught in this conflict and in order to work toward a lasting resolution of this conflict that will lead to the protection and security of Israel.

I support much of the language in the resolution, but I regret that H.R. 34 in its entirety was not a correct statement for the House to make at the time. The question for the House and the international community is how the Israeli people will be able to live in peace and security without the constant threat of attack from Hamas and others and how the United States and all other nations can assist in achieving that outcome in a lasting manner.

The House has not weighed in on this question. The House of Representatives should throw its considerable weight behind the call for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The cease-fire is in the best interests of Israel and the United States.

The fact is that there has been a failure of political leadership that has led to this renewed and devastating fighting in Gaza. The Bush administration failed to adequately and successfully address the Middle East conflict during its time in office and during the time in which we knew the cease-fire was coming to an end, and conditions might have been changed so that it could have been extended.

The international community has failed to adequately address the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Experts in the Middle East had warned that a conflict of this nature would eventually come, and will continue to come in the future if conditions on the ground do not change. Their warning went unheeded, and now a new and costly war has broken out.

Hamas rocket attacks against Israel are indefensible. But neither can the disproportionate military response by Israel be defended. The latest fighting was preceded by a lengthy and crushing blockade by Israel of Gaza that caused an humanitarian crisis. Hamas, unfortunately, chose to break the cease-fire and continue shelling of Israel. And Israel chose the breaking of the cease-fire to launch, as it should have, a defense of Israel, but unfortunately, with an all-out attack on Gaza.

Lost in all of this is the answer to the question of how the Israeli people can be assured the protection they deserve. The rocket attacks against Israel continue, albeit lessened now, despite the enormous firepower brought against Hamas by Israel. There is no clear answer as to how Israel will bring this conflict to an end in Gaza or clear what Israel's ultimate goals are in this conflict.

Only a cease-fire and a new international commitment to negotiate a cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel can protect the people of Israel. (January 15, 2009)