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“VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S8403-S8404 on July 28, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart concerning the violence taking place in Israel and Lebanon. On July 12, Hezbollah committed a reckless act of aggression against Israel by killing eight soldiers and kidnapping two others.
Following this outrageous act, I joined with all of my colleagues in the Senate to support a resolution reaffirming Israel's rights to defend itself. I stand by that commitment, because Hezbollah and its large cache of arms is a threat to Israel and to America.
But I also watched the last 2 weeks, and those last 2 weeks have brought bloodshed on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border--innocent people dying, families being torn apart, communities being destroyed. It has gone on too long, and it must stop.
I am proud to represent the great State of Michigan. When you come from Michigan, violence in the Middle East isn't just a news story. It isn't just ``over there.'' It is here, and it affects thousands of people--friends of mine, people whom I know and respect. In the case of Lebanon and Israel, this violence affects mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, and whole communities on both sides.
Some people call Bint Jubail a Hezbollah stronghold--and I understand that. But 15,000 of my constituents call it their hometown. In fact, Dearborn, MI is home to the Bint Jubail Cultural Center that provides sort of a home away from home for many families.
Tragically, many Michigan families, their relatives, and their loved ones are trapped in Bint Jubail at this moment. They are caught in heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, and people are dying on both sides. Today I pray for them and grieve with their families.
The lucky ones were able to get out--such as Rania Horani from Dearborn who was vacationing with her family in Bint Jubail when the fighting broke out. Fortunately, Rania was evacuated, but she spoke to the Associated Press about this terrifying experience. She said:
You're waiting, you're scared, you don't know if you are going to die. But you have to get out because you're going to die either from starvation, fear, stress, or a bomb. Thank God we're [in Cyprus].
We share that sentiment.
But the tragedy continues for hundreds of others stuck in Bint Jubail right now. The State Department must not stop the evacuations until every American and their family is safely out of Lebanon.
Last evening I spoke with one of the assistant Secretaries of State about American citizens and their family members who are still there. And I appreciate the attention of the assistant Secretary and of the Embassy, but we can not stop the ships.
We can not stop the rescue missions until all Americans and their families can come home. Too many people are still stuck there.
On the Israeli side, there is also too much destruction and loss of life. I understand how they must feel. Thousands of Americans fear for their families. Thousands of people in Michigan, friends of mine, hundreds of Michigan teenagers were evacuated in the middle of a summer trip to Israel because they were close to Hezbollah rocket attacks. I know their families and the fear of their moms and dads about whether their children would come home safely from a summer trip.
Brandon Lebowitz, a student at West Bloomfield High School, was a few miles away from the bombings in Tiberius. He talked about his harrowing experience:
We saw the missiles hitting the city and the smoke and we heard them from across the sea. We were pretty close to the missiles exploding.
I know how I would feel if that were my son.
Innocent Americans from both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border have fled to Michigan, have come back home to escape the violence, watch the news every day, waiting to see what will happen to their families.
Unfortunately, many civilians did not escape the violence. Over 400 Israelis and Lebanese have died in the fighting. This has got to stop. The U.S. Government must push hard to stop the hostilities and the violence against innocent citizens. Innocent citizens are being killed in Lebanon and in Israel. I believe it is our responsibility to stand up and do everything possible to bring that violence to an end. That is why I am pleased to be a cosponsor of a resolution with Senator Dodd, my colleague, Senator Levin, and Senator Sununu that expresses support to attain a cessation in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. We know this is not easy, but we know innocent people--families, Americans--are counting on us to show leadership.
Regrettably, over the last 5 years our Government has not played the leadership role so critical in the Middle East, the leadership role played by every other administration, whether Democrat or Republican. It is time to assert our leadership and put a stop to the violence as soon as possible. The innocent people of Lebanon and Israel have had enough of the violence and bloodshed. It is time for them to be able to live their lives in peace.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation in the Senate?
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is in morning business with 10 minutes for Senators to speak therein.
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