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Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman from Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill, but deeply concerned with the funding to the Palestinian Authority and to rebuild Gaza. By giving this money, I believe we are sending precisely the wrong message that Hamas can partner with Iran, attack Israel with impunity, and refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist, all the while the United States will provide aid no matter what. Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations.
At the very least, we should use our aid to help modify the behavior of Hamas. Before we send more money to the Gaza, more money to the Palestinian Authority, all Palestinian factions should recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, renounce terrorism, respect past agreements, and release Gilad Shalit, the young Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas and who has been held captive in the Gaza for almost 3 years. Without these conditions, we are simply writing the Palestinians another blank check to continue their self-destructive and violent behavior.
So while I support the rule and the bill, I have serious reservations about funding this and urge my colleagues that we not continue this pattern of rewarding unacceptable behavior in the future.
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