Letter from members of Congress to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (Washington, D.C.) and UN Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (New York, N.Y.), June 10, 2008, regarding communication of H.R. 951 to entities involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts (1 page)

Congress of the United States June 10, 2008 The Honorable Condoleezza Rice U.S. Secretary of State 2210 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520 The Honorable Zalmay Khalilzad Permanent Representative to the UN United States Mission to the UN 140 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017 Dear Secretary Rice and Ambassador Khalilzad, The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed, by a vote of 404-1-4, a resolution (H.Res. 951) condemning the ongoing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza. We respectfully request that you communicate the principles contained in this resolution to the nations and entities involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. In particular, we ask you to stand up for Israel at the United Nations, especially if Israel faces further criticism for retaliating against the rocket attacks. Among other things, the House-passed resolution noted that these unprovoked Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks have killed over a dozen Israelis, inflicted hundreds of casualties, produced thousands of cases of shock and post-traumatic stress (especially among ohildren), and caused severe disruption of daily life. These deliberate cross-border rocket and mortar attacks on civilian populations are unquestionably gross violations of human rights and international law. Furthermore, the resolution supported "the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory against attacks." While Israel has shown remarkable restraint in its military, economic, and humanitarian responses to the ongoing attacks, it is, of course, possible that Israel may rightly become more vigorous in its responses. The sadly predictable reaction to any increase in Israel's defensive intensity will be the introduction of UN condemnation resolutions against Israel. We are appalled that anti-Israel and anti-Semitic factions continue to denounce Israel for protecting its own citizens, even though the United Nations has shown neither the will nor the moral fortitude to condemn the ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli citizens. We respectfully request that you use all available resources to work against such condemnation of Israel at the UN and elsewhere and to uphold Israel's sovereign right to defend itself against attacks. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter, and we look forward to your response. ' Scott Garrett Eliot Engel Member of Congress Member of Congress PRINTED ON HECYCIED PAPER