House GOP Israel caucus defends Israel's rights

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY and members of the House Republican Israel Caucus on Wednesday condemned Hamas and said Israel has the right to defend itself. (May 19)

Video Transcript

REP. LEE ZELDIN: Israel has an inherent right of self-defense. Hamas is a terrorist organization and an Iranian proxy that seeks to wipe Israel off the map. They had actually put it into their charter calling for jihad. Hamas has launched more than 3,100 rockets at Israel and counting. Israel's Iron Dome has blocked 90% of these rockets. It says a lot about Israel's neighbors that it needs a complex missile defense system like this. Unfortunately, United States has been there for Israel in the past. Now is the time to ensure that we are standing shoulder to shoulder in this ultimate battle of good versus evil.

Israel has been a loyal ally and partner, and there needs to be no daylight between the issues between Israel and the United States on this issue. Unequivocally, ensuring that we are going to be providing the precision-guided missiles that were promised to Israel without delay. We should not be providing funding to an entity that incites violence and financially rewards terrorism. The administration, since coming in in January, has been going in the opposite direction. Leadership, too, is going to require President Biden to be confronting those within the ranks of the Democratic party who want to see the United States go in a different direction.

REP. DOUG LAMBORN: Israel needs our support now more than ever. Unfortunately there are those in Congress who are wanting to defund our military support of Israel. They're wanting to condemn Israel's right to defend itself. And that is totally wrong. We're not going to let that happen.

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