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Memorandum from Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Shelley Berkley, February 5, 2008, regarding defense of Israel at the United Nations (1 page)

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    Congress of the United States February 5, 2008 Condemn Terrorism and Defend Israel at the United Nations Over the past three years, Palestinian militants have fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel. In southern Israel, near Gaza, the residents of Ashkelon and Sderot live in fear, spending much of their days huddled in bomb shelters. Yet these indiscriminate attacks on civilians have prompted no resolutions, no emergency sessions, no response at all from the United Nations or the Human Rights Council. After years of enduring these attacks, the Israeli government warned that it would cut power to the Gaza Strip if the barrage did not end. When Israel finally acted, the UN response was all-too predictable: countless Member States rebuked Israel for defending itself, while UN official John Dugard stated that the Israelis were guilty of "cowardly actions" and "war crimes." The Human Rights Council drafted a resolution that demanded Israel lift the blockade, yet failed to mention the rocket attacks at all. There has been no outrage at the UN over the rockets that continue to rain upon Israeli civilians. There was no outrage when - while the UN Human Rights Council was meeting to denounce Israel - two Palestinian terrorists stabbed and wounded three innocent Israeli students. There was no outrage when extremists attacked ^>raelis in northern Jerusalem on Thursday night, killing 20 year-old Rami Zoari and wounding his colleague. . \s usual, these crimes were met with only UN silence. The UN has once again proven itself more willing to denounce Israel than condemn terrorism. This is why we have introduced H.Res. 939, a resolution that condemns the glorification of terrorism and the unyielding anti-Israel rhetoric at the United Nations. Please contact Seth Robinson (x68467) to sign on, or with any questions. Sincerely, Ranking Member Committee on Foreign Affairs ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN