Kyl: Israel Has Full Support Of The United States

U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) will be part of a bipartisan group of Senators that will introduce a Senate Resolution later today condemning the actions of Hezbollah & fully supporting Israel's self-defense efforts. The following are excerpts from his floor statement today:

"In a time when one of our closest allies is threatened by indiscriminate attacks on its population centers, & our President & Secretary of State are overseas, it is incumbent on this body to remain united in standing behind Israel. I am pleased that the [Senate] leadership is preparing a resolution expressing bipartisan condemnation of Hezbollah's attacks, & support for Israel's right to respond in the name of self-defense."

"I am pleased that our allies, too, understand the grave nature of this crisis & its origins. The joint statement released over the weekend by the G8 states unequivocally that this violence results from efforts by extremist forces to destabilize the region & to frustrate the aspirations of the Palestinian, Israeli, & Lebanese people for democracy & peace. These extremist elements & those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos, & a wider conflict."

"In light of the chaos being precipitated by Hezbollah's rocket & missile capability, a capability being provided directly to Hezbollah by the governments of Syria & Iran. I thought it would be appropriate to take a moment today to talk about how that threat can be addressed. The estimated 13,000 missiles currently in Hezbollah's arsenal are hidden throughout Southern Lebanon, in private homes, caves, & factories. At present, the only way to destroy these systems is to search them out on foot - a risky & potentially provocative solution. Alternatively, Israeli forces can strike at missile launchers after they have fired, meaning that at least one salvo will already be en route. It would be a vast improvement if Israel had the option of neutralizing the Hezbollah threat through defensive, rather than offensive means."

"We still don't know how the current crisis is going to end. What we can and should say, however, is that Israel has the full support of this body in its ongoing efforts to fight terrorists, protect its citizens, and create the circumstances for peaceful coexistence with Lebanon, & all of its neighbors."