Dems plan pro-Israel resolution

January 6, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Top Democrats are planning to introduce a non-binding congressional resolution supporting Israel's goal in its Gaza Strip operation.

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the U.S. House of Representatives majority leader, told JTA he was looking at such a resolution, which is being drafted in the office of Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"Certainly it would not demand a cease-fire," Hoyer said. "It would speak to the conditions that would justify a cease-fire. A cease-fire is not a just cease-fire when it's just Israel" holding fire.

Israel launched its major operation Dec. 27 in a bid to end rocket attacks on its South. Such attacks, carried out by militants allied with Gaza's Hamas rulers, drastically intensified last month following the end of a six-month cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also may join the resolution.

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