The Resolutions: S Res 534; H Res 921
Dates Passed: July 18; July 20
About: Last week, both houses of Congress passed strongly-worded resolutions supporting Israel’s act of “self-defense” against Lebanon. There was little to no dissent as the nation’s congressmen and women rushed to show their strength. Like those who now admit the Iraq war -- and giving Bush the authority to wage it -- was a mistake, perhaps in three years, our representatives will see their resolution condoned Israel’s murderous attacks on Lebanon.
Sen. Robert Menendez had the prescience to oppose the Iraq war in 2002, unlike many of his Democratic colleagues. But he lacked that same integrity last week when he and Sen. Frank Lautenberg signed on – with 59 other Senators – as cosponsors of the Senate resolution that completely ignores the Lebanese victims and Israel’s culpability.
The resolution, “Condemning Hezbollah and Hamas and their state sponsors and supporting Israel's exercise of its right to self-defense,” asks “the President to continue fully supporting Israel as Israel exercises its right of self-defense in Lebanon and Gaza.” (emphasis added)
The House resolution, which passed 410 to 8, and which every NJ congressman supported, never addresses the Lebanese peoples’ suffering, nor does it tackle Israel’s atrocious human rights record.
Instead, it pats Israel on the back for its “longstanding commitment to minimizing civilian loss” and “welcome[s] Israel's continued efforts to prevent civilian casualties.”
In response to Hezbollah’s – not Lebanon’s – kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and killing of eight others – Israel has devastated Lebanon, killing over 380 Lebanese and wounding at least 1,000, many of them civilians. Israel has destroyed Lebanon’s homes, roads, bridges, schools, institutions and infrastructure, and created 500,000 refugees.
And somehow, each one of NJ’s 14 congressmen agree that this type of “self-defense” is worth supporting.
How They Voted is a regular City Belt feature breaking down how New Jersey’s congressmen voted on the bills we think are important.
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