House passes bill recognizing Israel's right to defend itself

[spanone]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution Friday "recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza," a measure that it said reaffirms the United States' strong support for Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The bill, which was sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed by a vote of 390 to 5.

The measure was passed on the 14th day of fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. The Israeli military reported earlier Friday that it had attacked more than 70 targets, while more than 30 rockets were fired at the Jewish state.

The bill was also passed amid growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 1 million Palestinians are without food and clean water, according to senior U.S. officials, citing reports from the World Food Program.

The densely populated Gaza also is facing widespread epidemics because of the dire living conditions and the suspension of vaccination programs December 27, when the conflict began, the officials said, citing reports from the World Health Organization.

About 680,000 Palestinians living in central and southern Gaza are cut off from proper health care, unable to reach the health ministry or Shifa hospital, the territory's main hospital in Gaza City, because of the division of the Gaza strip by Israeli forces. Read more about Gaza »

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East suspended food delivery operations Thursday to 750,000 Palestinian refugees after strikes by Israel killed one of its drivers and wounded a second, "although they had received Israeli clearance," the agency said.

U.N. officials said aid operations would resume as soon as they received "credible assurances" from Israel that aid workers will be well-protected.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/09/gaza.us/index.html

[mrs_p]

1. but the palestinians can't, right?

[dkofos]

2. I think their time would have been better spent looking into why

the Palestinians feel the need to lob rockets at their neighbors.

Could it be the blockade??

[sandnsea]

3. Here's their statements

I wish Pelosi understood how her position makes the situation look to the loons on the right.

http://potshotpolitics.ning.com/profiles/blogs/boehner-and-pelosi-support

[sixmile]

4. Does Congress live in a vacuum?

Have they been in the United States recently?
This is what they are spending our time and tax money on.

[uppityperson]

5. Good lord, of course they can defend themselves but it is HOW they go about it that is my issue.

What's the ratio now? 700-14? And that will help...how?

[B o d i]

6. I think I might go out tonight, find a bar, and defend myself against the first person I see

Wait, that'd be illegal as well as stupid. Nevermind.

[whosinpower]

7. This action goes far beyond defending itself

I am unsurprised, but still find this whole thing offensive.

Hamas came into being as a direct result of the Israeli occupation, its marginalization of Arabs, its suppression of equal rights, and its policies of settlements on disputed lands.

We can easily condemn the actions of Hamas - terrorizing Israel and attacking them wholesale......
but, at the same time, if Israel is to gain peace, it must remake policies that ensure a jewish only society that is surrounded by Arabs. This is not sustainable. If the situation was reversed, and it was the jewish peoples who were marginalized and forced to accept laws that alienate their rights, based on their religion - I would be just as outraged. It is not right. It is not fair. After all the history of mankind that has marked our existance as a species - you would think we would figure this one out.