AIPAC praises Senate support of Israel

The Jerusalem Post reports: AIPAC on Thursday praised a bipartisan US Senate resolution which expressed support for Israel in its fight against terrorism.

The resolution, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, "conveys America's unequivocal and steadfast support for Israel's right to self-defense," according to a statement from the pro-Israel lobby group.

Reid was quoted in the statement as telling the Senate floor that the legislative body would "strengthen our historic bond with the State of Israel by reaffirming Israel's inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza, as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."

The resolution itself promoted a "durable and sustainable" cease-fire in Gaza, which "would not allow a reestablishment of the status quo ante where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza."

It also noted that Hamas "was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel," and deplored the 2006 capturing of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, who is still held in Gaza.

The Republican leader was quoted voicing strong support of Israel, saying that the country was "responding exactly the same way [the US] would if rockets were being launched into the United States from Canada or Mexico." He too reaffirmed Israel's right to self defense.

The AIPAC statement went on to "applaud" US President George W. Bush's recent statements in support of Israel.

Last week Bush branded Hamas rocket attacks on Israel an "act of terror" and said that no peace deal would be acceptable without monitoring to halt the flow of smuggled weapons to terrorist groups.

"Another one-way cease-fire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable," he had said.

AP contributed to this report.