Discussion · House of Representatives
Lois Frankel Democrat
“We need to talk carefully about how we spend foreign aid money, not rush it in a short debate. Innocent people in Gaza are suffering, and we must send help. But Israel has faced thousands of attacks from groups backed by Iran, including Hamas. We need to work together toward a solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can live peacefully in their own states.”
“Madam Chair, there is no question that going forward there needs to be a thoughtful conversation how we spend our foreign aid money. I know we are all committed to that. My heart breaks for the suffering of innocent people in Gaza. We must find a way to infuse humanitarian support, how to find a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, but let me tell you how we got here. Since 1979, Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination while arming terrorist proxies. In the past 3 years, those proxies have launched more than 30,000 rockets, missiles, drones, and mortars into Israel while Hamas hid in their billion dollars’ worth of building of tunnels, 450 miles of tunnels, beneath civilian areas to wage war, not peace. This is not a way to handle foreign policy. I join all rational people who say let’s have a deliberate conversation how to move forward, but not with a 10-minute debate on the floor of the House. Let’s have our efforts aimed together to a two-state solution where Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully and prosperously together. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.”
Madam Chair, there is no question that going forward there needs to be a thoughtful conversation how we spend our foreign aid money. I know we are all committed to that. My heart breaks for the suffering of innocent people in Gaza. We must find a way to infuse humanitarian support, how to find a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, but let me tell you how we got here. Since 1979, Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination while arming terrorist proxies. In the past 3 years, those proxies have launched more than 30,000 rockets, missiles, drones, and mortars into Israel while Hamas hid in their billion dollars’ worth of building of tunnels, 450 miles of tunnels, beneath civilian areas to wage war, not peace. This is not a way to handle foreign policy. I join all rational people who say let’s have a deliberate conversation how to move forward, but not with a 10-minute debate on the floor of the House. Let’s have our efforts aimed together to a two-state solution where Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully and prosperously together. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.