British Friends of Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the Congress and Citizens of the United States a praiseworthy statement signed by thousands of our staunch ally, the United Kingdom, whose thought leaders and public figures declared solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people during one of the greatest periods of catastrophe, suffering, and trial since the Nazi Holocaust. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance, as well as the International Religious Freedom Caucus, I feel it a duty highlight and commend these significant gestures.

At a time when the world is in urgent need of moral clarity, leaders of media, government, business, sport, and the arts of the UK have risen masterfully to the occasion to establish British Friends of Israel with its clear-eyed statement--the October Declaration, signed by, as of this moment, nearly 100,000 of some UK's most influential, accomplished, and notable citizens. Many excerpts best express what much of the world holds true regarding our Jewish brothers and sisters who are tragically confronting the ugliness of anti-Semitism in real time. In part, the Declaration reads:

``We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism against civilians in Israel, especially the massacre on 7 October 2023.

``On 7 October 2023 the State of Israel and her citizens, both Jews and non-Jews, were subjected to a brutal terrorist attack, which resulted in the murder, torture, rape and kidnapping of over 1,500 people.

``More Jews were killed on that day than on any other day since the Holocaust. We are aware that Jews are not the only victims of this tragedy. Hamas knew that there would be consequences to 7 October, but the consequences did not weigh with Hamas.

``Its ongoing terrorist operation is calculated to cause maximum fear and distress. The people of Israel have been subjected to a near constant bombardment of rockets from Gaza and Lebanon. Civilians of all kinds--including the elderly, disabled, women, children, and babies--have been targeted in a direct breach of the rules of war.

``We call for all the hostages taken on 7 October to be released immediately. It is an essential step on the path to peace and the cessation of hostilities.

``We stand in support of British Jews and condemn acts of anti-Semitism.

``British Jews should not live in fear because of actions taken by the state of Israel to defend itself. The British state must do everything in its power to protect them.

``We ask the media, members of all political parties and everyone in public life to call out Hamas for what it is: a terrorist organisation.

``Hamas, whose actions have led directly and indirectly to the tragic deaths of many Palestinian civilians as well as Israelis, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK as well as in many other states. The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister have identified Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Failure to use the correct language--describing Hamas as `militants' or `fighters', for instance--creates the false impression that Hamas and Israel's armed forces are morally equivalent and is an affront to the group's victims-- the dead, their families, and those currently being held hostage.

Mr. Speaker, in our time, who could have anticipated the need to take such a stand in nations like the United States and the United Kingdom against unspeakable events that unfolded exactly one month ago today. But regrettably, denial of the atrocities and the willingness of some to side with Hamas have exposed a layer of society that raises concerns about the value placed on Jewish lives.

The idea for British Friends of Israel came from leading British public figures including journalists Laura Dodsworth, Allison Pearson, Toby Young, legal scholar Francis Hoar, Think Tank head Emma Webb and others who recognize the duty to express solidarity with global Jews. The speed at which the media narrative shifted from the savagery of Hamas attacks to concern about the destruction in Gaza is disheartening.

We have witnessed bias and antagonism by public figures, some in this Congress, some in the media, and some at leading American universities in the face of these atrocities. This is beyond troubling.

In the words of Sir Tom Stoppard, ``Before we take up a position on what's happening now, we should consider whether this is a fight over territory or a struggle between civilization and barbarism.''

Let us stand united with British Friends of Israel and The October Declaration. By lending our voices, we send a powerful message of support to our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world. The stakes are critical in the fight for Civilization over barbarism.

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