U.S. House of Representatives Bill On Israel Tells Obama To Shove His Policies Up His Ass

Once again, "The Peoples' House" smacked President Barack Hussein Obama silly with new legislation that strengthens America's commitment to the nation of Israel - believe me, the signal of this bill to Obama could not have been more direct and more blatant.

At a time when the Israelis might feel more threatened by America than ever before due to the Islamic terror tactics of the American President, the House of Representatives has ALWAYS been solidly behind the protection of Israel and thankfully, has now stood up and told Hussein Obama to shut the fuck up.

The story comes from The Jerusalem Post.

US bill 'dramatically strengthens' Israel alliance


The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that declares Israel a "major strategic partner" of the United States, reinforcing the broad relationship between the two nations and laying the groundwork for more expansive strategic cooperation.

The bill would expand the delivery of forward-deployed US weapons to Israel, as well as other military technologies, and would commit Congress to further funding of the Iron Dome short-range missile defense system.

Controversially, the bill would also invite Israel into a visa waiver agreement with the US, which has been opposed by members of the intelligence community and the Democratic caucus for multiple years.

The bill passed 410-1 in the House. The Senate has taken up a similar measure, which is still in the committee process.

Just a day after its annual policy conference in Washington, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee declared the bill's passage a victory, and characterized the measure as "dramatically strengthening the US-Israel relationship."

"This designation lays the foundation for expanded US-Israel cooperation in a wide variety of spheres, including defense, intelligence, homeland security, energy, agriculture and trade," AIPAC said in a statement, applauding the bill as "critical" and calling on the Senate to act with similar haste.

The second half of the bill, which focuses on US-Israel energy relationships, was authored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries on energy projects.

The United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill first passed through the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on December 11, and a Senate companion bill passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on December 20. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was responsible for the Senate companion bill, alongside Se.s Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

This portion of the bill officially determines that "United States-Israel energy cooperation, and the development of natural resources by Israel, are strategic interests of the United States," recognizing Israel specifically as a partner in water technology, safety and security arenas. Encouraging the US National Science Foundation to collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation, the text also encourages more robust academic cooperation in a variety of energy-related fields.

Advocating "open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement," the bill calls for continued energy partnerships among government and academic institutions as well as the private sector from both sides. Some particular topics of interest include identifying priorities for developing Israeli natural resources, discussing best practices to secure cyber energy infrastructure, leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional stability and improving energy efficiency, the bill says.

The bill also acknowledges the important role of the US-Israel Binational research and Development Foundation (BIRD) and the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and commits continued multiyear funding "to ensure the continuity of the programs of the foundations."

“I am pleased this important measure was included in the legislative package and encouraged to see it received such overwhelming support," Upton said, following the bill's passage. "With a simple amendment to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, this legislation will help bolster the partnership between Israel and the US on energy production and help enhance energy security."

With American assistance, Israel will be able to continue making advancements in developing its natural resources, Upton stressed. He also committed to working on future "commonsense energy solutions" with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as occurred while drafting this legislation.

"Today the House passed an important bill that will expand the partnership between the U.S. and Israel," Waxman agreed. "Israel is a close ally, and it is in our national interest to help the Israelis development their natural resources in a responsible way that protects the environment."

...And the Horse You Rode In On Nancy !

239 - 183

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47 Republican Congressmen Offer Up House Resolution That Israel Deserves the Right To Defend Herself From Iran

The pro-Iran lobby in Washington, D.C. is pulling its hair out today as 47 House Republicans have offered up House Resolution 1553 which states that Israel has every right to take offensive action against Iran in order to protect itself from nuclear attack.

From the article at Israel National News, we see part of the resolution:

“condemns the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its threats of ‘annihilating’ the United States and the State of Israel, for its continued support of international terrorism, and for its incitement of genocide of the Israeli people.”

It “supports using all means of persuading the Government of Iran to stop building and acquiring nuclear weapons” and pledges that the U.S. will ensure that Israel “continues to receive critical economic and military assistance, including missile defense capabilities, needed to address the threat of Iran.”

In addition, it “expresses support for Israel’s right to use all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran, defend Israeli sovereignty, and protect the lives and safety of the Israeli people, including the use of military force if no other peaceful solution can be found within a reasonable time.”

And after that was publicized, the filthy pro-Iran lobby in America went on their rant with the following frothing at the mouth:

“Obviously we are reaching silly season in Washington with the elections in November,” NIAC's founder-president Trita Parsi told RN, a news venue that focuses on Russian issues. He added that “there have already been some signs that Israel is going to be a major element that some Republicans will use to get both voters as well as finance, donations to campaigns, away from the Democrats.”

NIAC warned that an attack on Iran would ignite a regional war that would put the lives of “innocent Americans, Iranians, and Israelis” in harm's way, as well as risking the pro-democracy movement in Iran, U.S. national security and the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan and the global economy, which relies on oil from the Persian Gulf.

Well, I have some brief words for the Iranian lobbyists - these Republican Congressmen are right, you are wrong and perhaps you should just waddle off to Tehran and embrace the murderers you see fit to defend here. I totally support this House Resolution and if this Resolution passes, I would say that not only does it give Israel the green light to do whatever it needs to do against Iran, but it also commits America to assist the Israelis in that effort.

House Republicans Giving Green Light for Israeli Strike on Iran


Nearly one third of the Republican congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution that would support Israel's right to use “all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran”, including military force.

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Louie Gohmert [R-Texas] and 46 co-sponsors.

House Resolution 1553 “condemns the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its threats of ‘annihilating’ the United States and the State of Israel, for its continued support of international terrorism, and for its incitement of genocide of the Israeli people.”

It “supports using all means of persuading the Government of Iran to stop building and acquiring nuclear weapons” and pledges that the U.S. will ensure that Israel “continues to receive critical economic and military assistance, including missile defense capabilities, needed to address the threat of Iran.”

In addition, it “expresses support for Israel’s right to use all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran, defend Israeli sovereignty, and protect the lives and safety of the Israeli people, including the use of military force if no other peaceful solution can be found within a reasonable time.”

Iran lobby alarmed
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a pro-Iranian lobby group, is up in arms over the proposed resolution.

“Obviously we are reaching silly season in Washington with the elections in November,” NIAC's founder-president Trita Parsi told RN, a news venue that focuses on Russian issues. He added that “there have already been some signs that Israel is going to be a major element that some Republicans will use to get both voters as well as finance, donations to campaigns, away from the Democrats.”

However, Parsi said, “even silly season has real repercussions on the real world.” The resolution would send “a dangerous signal” to Israel, that some in congress would welcome military action by it against Iran, while the White House and U.S. military oppose such a strike, he argued.

NIAC's website warned that the “game plan” behind HR 1553 was spelled out earlier this month by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton in the Wall Street Journal, when he wrote: “Having visible congressional support in place at the outset [of an attack] will reassure the Israeli government, which is legitimately concerned about Mr. Obama's likely negative reaction to such an attack.”

“The Obama Administration quietly resisted Congressional efforts to pass unilateral economic sanctions for over a year, before ultimately giving in to Congressional pressure,” NIAC wrote. “Now that 'crippling' sanctions have been put in place, the far-right wing and Iran-hawks have begun openly advocating for what has always been their ultimate objective: war with Iran.”

NIAC warned that an attack on Iran would ignite a regional war that would put the lives of “innocent Americans, Iranians, and Israelis” in harm's way, as well as risking the pro-democracy movement in Iran, U.S. national security and the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan and the global economy, which relies on oil from the Persian Gulf.

NIAC denies allegations that it is used as a tool by the Iranian regime, citing its condemnations of human rights abuses in Iran.

When Is the Last Time You Saw the House of Representatives vote 410-4 on ANYTHING??!!

In case you didn't hear, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 410-4 in favor of the U.S. contributing $210 million for the Israeli defense system named "Iron Dome." The Left will tell you that Obama asked for this to be given the Israelis but I'll clue you, Obama wanted to see this bill pass a lot closer than it did. As for Obama, this is a smokescreen of working in favor of Israel, we know better, but the important thing is that this vote reflects the true support of Israel in America.

From the article at YNET:

The US House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly backed President Barack Obama's plans to help Israel deploy an anti-missile system, in an unmistakable election-year show of support.

By a 410-4 margin, lawmakers endorsed Obama's plan to give Israel 205 million dollars for its production of a short-range rocket defense system called "Iron Dome."

"With nearly every square inch of Israel at risk from rocket and missile attacks, we must ensure that our most important ally in the region has the tools to defend itself," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman.

"The looming threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, and the persistent threat posed by Iran's allies Hamas and Hezbollah, only serve to reinforce our longstanding commitment to Israel's security," the California Democrat added.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Democrats in the House who voted for this bill - it's about time you stood up and did the right thing and I appreciate the signal you sent to YOUR President, that he's been out of line since day one regarding Israel and he better get his act together...and quickly.

Now, if any of you out there are like me, you probably want to know who the four ASSHOLES are that voted against this. Well, here's the four Congressman who voted "No" and in essence voted in favor of Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria and Iran killing the innocents of Israel:

Rep. Fortney Stark - California (D)

Rep. John Conyers - Michigan (D)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich - Ohio (D)

Rep. Ron Paul - Texas (R)

By the way, in case some of you don't see the smokescreen that Obama tried to use with this bill, I offer up the fact that Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota voted FOR this bill - I imagine after Ellison punched the "Yes" button on his voting tabulator, he quickly exited for the men's room so he could puke up his lunch.

US lawmakers back Israel missile defense aid

WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly backed President Barack Obama's plans to help Israel deploy an anti-missile system, in an unmistakable election-year show of support.

By a 410-4 margin, lawmakers endorsed Obama's plan to give Israel 205 million dollars for its production of a short-range rocket defense system called "Iron Dome."
"With nearly every square inch of Israel at risk from rocket and missile attacks, we must ensure that our most important ally in the region has the tools to defend itself," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman.

"The looming threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, and the persistent threat posed by Iran's allies Hamas and Hezbollah, only serve to reinforce our longstanding commitment to Israel's security," the California Democrat added.
Israel completed tests in January on its Iron Dome system, designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired at Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah.

The next phase is to integrate the system into the army. Israel hopes the Iron Dome will help counter rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and from Lebanon.

Missile threat
Palestinian militants have fired thousands of home-made rockets into southern Israel, prompting Israel's devastating assault on the Islamist Hamas in Gaza on December 27, 2008.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also fired some 4,000 rockets into northern Israel during a 2006 war with Israel. The group is believed to have an arsenal of some 40,000 rockets.

Rep. Keith Ellison (Terrorist-MN) Has a Coffer of Donations For Re-election...From The Muslim Brotherhood?

Big surprise, huh? Rep. Keith Ellison, whose ties to the Nation of Islam were well documented in his first election campaign in Minnesota, has moved up the ladder of radical islam contributors for his new re-election effort as this story at The Investigative Project on Terrorism points out the links between Ellison's contributions and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

From the article:

That's understandable. Tucked in among those contributions, however, are a handful of donors with a history of Muslim Brotherhood connections. For example, Ellison accepted $950 in contributions from Jamal Barzinji and another $1,000 from Hisham Al-Talib. And in late March, the Investigative Projec t on Terrorism has learned, Ellison attended a private fundraiser at the northern Virginia home of a man who led a group tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Barzinji and Al-Talib have served as vice presidents at the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), a Northern Virginia think-tank federal authorities suspect was part of a terrorist financing network. In addition, a previous FBI investigation concluded that Barzinji and Al-Talib were among U.S. leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood when they came here as students.


Ellison also received $1,000 from Esam Omeish, former president of the Muslim American Society (MAS), another group founded by Muslim Brotherhood members in the United States. The MAS Minnesota chapter paid Ellison's travel expenses for a 2008 pilgrimage to Mecca.

During a 2000 rally, Omeish praised Palestinians for "choosing the jihad way" to liberation.

Other donors include Turkish Islamist Merve Kavakci, and Asad Zaman, principal of the MAS-run Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Minneapolis, and Aly Abuzaakouk, former executive director of the American Muslim Council and a former IIIT publications director.

He also received money from two men who were officers in the American Muslim Council (AMC). Its founder and longtime executive director, Abdurrahman Alamoudi, pled guilty to illegal transactions with Libya that included a plot to kill a Saudi crown prince. Alamoudi was a Muslim Brotherhood member.

Now, for those of you who don't follow Keith al-Ellison like I do, I want to address a couple of points. The district in Minnesota that Keith Ellison represents is as Liberal Democratic as any in the United States, so there is simply no way that Keith Ellison will ever be defeated by a Republican, a Tea Party candidate or an Independent. Ellison's predecessor, a liberal Leftist Democrat, held that same office for 14 consecutive terms or 28 long, long years.

Secondly, you've seen the links to radical islamic groups in America that Ellison has - but did you know that currently, Keith Ellison sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee? Yep. Would you say it is just a coincidence that the first Muslim elected to the U.S. House of Representatives would just HAPPEN to land on a committee that would have the most direct effect on America's relationship with Israel and also, the committee that would be responsible for policy directed towards radical islamic terrorism?

Keith Ellison's Muslim Brotherhood Support


He is a fairly entrenched incumbent in a district drawn favorably for his party. That fact has helped U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) raise more than $650,000 in his bid for a third term in Congress. That amount includes $173,000 in political action committee contributions from interests ranging from organized labor to health insurers and trial lawyers.

Among individual donors, Ellison – the first Muslim elected to Congress – enjoys strong support from Muslim Americans throughout the country, campaign finance records show.

That's understandable. Tucked in among those contributions, however, are a handful of donors with a history of Muslim Brotherhood connections. For example, Ellison accepted $950 in contributions from Jamal Barzinji and another $1,000 from Hisham Al-Talib. And in late March, the Investigative Projec t on Terrorism has learned, Ellison attended a private fundraiser at the northern Virginia home of a man who led a group tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Barzinji and Al-Talib have served as vice presidents at the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), a Northern Virginia think-tank federal authorities suspect was part of a terrorist financing network. In addition, a previous FBI investigation concluded that Barzinji and Al-Talib were among U.S. leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood when they came here as students.

The Brotherhood, which also is called the Ikhwan, is an Egyptian-based religious/political movement that seeks to establish Islamic law as "the basis controlling the affairs of state and society." Documents from an FBI investigation from the late 1980s show Barzinji included among "members and leaders of the IKHWAN." He was the secretary general for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) at that time.

ISNA was founded by Muslim Brotherhood members in the United States, records from that FBI probe and other investigations show.

Investigative records and trial exhibits also show that the organizations donors Barzinji and Al-Talib have been involved in and have helped finance criminal organizations including the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development and a think tank that served as refuge for at least four members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's governing board during the early 1990s.

The IIIT was part of a network of Islamic companies and charities long suspected of financing terrorism. It was a principal financier of the World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), a think tank run by Palestinian Islamic Jihad board member Sami Al-Arian. Fellow PIJ board members Basheer Nafi and current Secretary General Ramadan Shallah worked at the WISE think tank in the early 1990s through visas Al-Arian helped secure.

In 1992, IIIT President Taha Jaber Al-Awani wrote to Al-Arian, saying he considers Al-Arian's think tank "an extension" of IIIT. "When we make a commitment to you or try to offer," Al-Awani wrote, "we do it for you as a group, regardless of the party or the façade you use the donation for."

According to an affidavit filed in connection with a 2002 search of the IIIT and related companies, the letter noted that others at IIIT, including Barzinji and Al-Talib, shared his assessment.

Ellison also received $1,000 from Esam Omeish, former president of the Muslim American Society (MAS), another group founded by Muslim Brotherhood members in the United States. The MAS Minnesota chapter paid Ellison's travel expenses for a 2008 pilgrimage to Mecca.

During a 2000 rally, Omeish praised Palestinians for "choosing the jihad way" to liberation.

Other donors include Turkish Islamist Merve Kavakci, and Asad Zaman, principal of the MAS-run Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Minneapolis, and Aly Abuzaakouk, former executive director of the American Muslim Council and a former IIIT publications director.

He also received money from two men who were officers in the American Muslim Council (AMC). Its founder and longtime executive director, Abdurrahman Alamoudi, pled guilty to illegal transactions with Libya that included a plot to kill a Saudi crown prince. Alamoudi was a Muslim Brotherhood member.

Ex-AMC President Mohammed Cheema has given Ellison $1,250 for the 2010 election. When President Bill Clinton invited novelist Salman Rushdie to the White House in 1993, Cheema wrote to the President saying the move showed "a disregard for the feelings of 7 million American Muslims." At the time, Rushdie faced a fatwa issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini for his novel, The Satanic Verses.

Another former AMC official, Yayha Basha, gave Ellison $500.

Ellison's campaign finance reports are surprisingly devoid of donations from executives at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), although this doesn't mean CAIR won't help him raise money. Executive Director Nihad Awad helped organize, and spoke at an intimate March fundraiser for Ellison at Omeish's Virginia home.

It isn't clear why Awad would play such a supportive role, yet not be listed as a donor to Ellison's campaign. It may be that, of all the Islamist groups mentioned, CAIR may be the most politically risky today.

CAIR appears to be the subject of a federal grand jury probe and has been frozen out by the FBI out of concerns over the organization's ties to Hamas. An FBI official explained the cut off in a letter last year. In February, a Department of Justice official spelled out the evidence in a Hamas-support trial that justified naming CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator.

Ellison remains close to CAIR nonetheless. He spoke at three CAIR fundraising dinners last year and took to the House floor to defend the organization after another member made critical statements about the group.

Last fall, Ellison berated a Muslim critic of Islamist organizations such as CAIR and MAS. Rather than taking on specific criticisms made by American Islamic Forum for Democracy founder Zuhdi Jasser, Ellison accused him of fomenting bigotry against his own people.

"I think people who want to engage in nothing less than Muslim-hating really love you a lot because you give them freedom to do that. You say, 'yeah, go get after them.'"

Politicians of all stripes deny being influenced by those who contribute to their campaigns. Contributors, they often say, want nothing more than good government and expect nothing in exchange for their money. Perhaps. In his two terms, Ellison has demonstrated repeated support for Islamist organizations and their issues, even serving as an attack dog against an anti-Islamist Muslim who advocates for the separation between mosque and state.

These contributions are a small slice of Ellison's campaign war chest and hardly constitute the difference between a third term or defeat. By seeking them out, the congressman makes clear that he sees himself not as a representative of all American Muslims. Just like-minded Islamists.

And So It Begins...54 House Members Sign Letter Demanding Israel Sacrifice Its People To The Devils of Islam

I can safely say that most of my readers haven't seen me hopping mad. You are, right now. It is probably a good thing that I don't live in Washington, D.C. at this moment because I would be banging down the office doors of two U.S. Congressmen - one is Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and the other is Jim McDermott (D-Washington). First, here's a bit of a recap from the article at Haaretz that describes a letter signed by 54 House members directed to Barack Hussein Obama calling on Israel to lift embargos and such on Gaza:

Fifty-four members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter asking President Barack Obama to put pressure on Israel to ease the siege of the Gaza Strip. The letter was the initiative of Representatives Jim McDermott from Washington and Keith Ellison from Minnesota, both of whom are Democrats. Ellison is the first American Muslim to ever win election to Congress.

McDermott and Ellison wrote that they understand the threats facing Israel and the ongoing Hamas terror activities against Israeli citizens but that "this concern must be addressed without resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip." "We ask you to press for immediate relief for the citizens of Gaza as an urgent component of your broader Middle East peace efforts," they wrote, adding that the siege has hampered the ability of aid agencies to do their work in Gaza. The congressmen urged Obama to pressure Israel to ease the movement of people into and out of Gaza, especially students, the sick, aid workers, journalists and those with family concerns, and also to allow the import of building materials to rebuild houses. Israel has warned that such materials would be used to rebuild Hamas infrastructure and not civilian homes.

Now, make no doubt about it. This initiative is from Ellison. This IS the reason Keith Ellison, the first muslim member of Congress, ran for office. Believe me, Rep. Keith Ellison could care less about the United States of America or any person living in America, except for what he would call the oppressed muslims living here. No, Keith Ellison is in Washington for one purpose and that is to use the United States Federal Government to try and destroy the nation of Israel.

For those of you unaware of just how radical this terrorist in a suit actually is, I suggest you go over to Powerline and do a search of "Keith Ellison" and you will see a library of incriminating evidence against him during his campaign run for the House seat.

I also urge you to do some research on Ellison - check on how many trips Ellison has made outside of the United States during his stay in office and check on what percentage of those trips were made to the Middle East.

Now, some of you might think that 54 members signing this out of a total of 435 House members is pretty small but it is SHOCKING to see this - typically, the House of Representatives is the bulwark of support for Israel and the fact that Ellison and McDermott got this thing rolling at all is a travesty. Think about it - we have a letter signed BY OUR REPRESENTATIVES directed at Israel demanding that the terrorists and animals of the West Bank and Gaza be allowed to kill more Israelis! Keith Ellison has contaminated the House of Representatives and his evil and perversion is starting to spread. Sure, it's "only" 54 today...but in six months, what if it is 150? What happens when a majority decide that Israel is no longer worth defending?

And the real painful part of this is that after the 2010 mid-term elections, you will see more muslims in Congress adding to this assault on Israel. I urge you, wherever you live...don't fall for campaign rhetoric like what Ellison spewed out - these islamists running for the House of Representatives have one goal in mind - it isn't improving life in America, it isn't representing your District....hell no, it is to form an assassin brigade in the House that will, through legislative methods, target Israel and eventually create a schism between the U.S. and Israel that will lead to our abandonment of the Jewish state.

And when that happens people, you better be at peace with G_d.

Rep. Keith Ellison and Rep. Jim McDermott - some of us are watching your every move and the only resolution for you, I'm afraid, is to remove your name plate from your House office door. Perhaps your desire for America to support the likes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad flies in pockets of your districts but in America, you will find that the Judao-Christian foundations of this country are strong and we'll treat you no differently than if you were aiding and abetting enemies of any of our allies.

I'm going to get the full list of the 54 who signed this piece of filth and post it later for all of America to see.

UPDATE:

Here's the list of the scum Representatives who signed this shitrag letter. Find your Congressman or Congresswoman on this list, email them, call them and make it clear that you are OUTRAGED that they would seek to put Israelis in harm's way. Call them anti-Semitic, call them terrorist appeasers - you know, give them THE FUCKING TRUTH! By the way, EVERYONE of these excuses of human beings are DEMOCRATS.

Jim McDermott (D-WA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Lois Capps (D-CA), William Delahunt (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Bob Filner (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Betty McCullum (D-MN), James Oberstar (D-MN), John Conyers (D-MI), Pete Stark (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), James Moran (D-VA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), David Price (D-NC), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Tierney (D-MA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), John Olver (D-MA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Joe Sestak (D-PA), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), John Dingall (D-MI), Brian Baird (D-WA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Glenn Nye (D-VA), Eric Massa (D-NY), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Jim Himes (D-CT), Nick Rahall (D-WV)

U.S. lawmakers to Obama: Press Israel to ease Gaza siege

Fifty-four members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter asking President Barack Obama to put pressure on Israel to ease the siege of the Gaza Strip. The letter was the initiative of Representatives Jim McDermott from Washington and Keith Ellison from Minnesota, both of whom are Democrats. Ellison is the first American Muslim to ever win election to Congress.

McDermott and Ellison wrote that they understand the threats facing Israel and the ongoing Hamas terror activities against Israeli citizens but that "this concern must be addressed without resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip."

"We ask you to press for immediate relief for the citizens of Gaza as an urgent component of your broader Middle East peace efforts," they wrote, adding that the siege has hampered the ability of aid agencies to do their work in Gaza.

The congressmen urged Obama to pressure Israel to ease the movement of people into and out of Gaza, especially students, the sick, aid workers, journalists and those with family concerns, and also to allow the import of building materials to rebuild houses. Israel has warned that such materials would be used to rebuild Hamas infrastructure and not civilian homes.

Ellison has harshly criticized the House of Representatives decision to reject the Goldstone report, arguing that the report "only presents facts and raises recommendations for the future." He cast doubt that members of Congress who voted to reject the report even took the time to read it and that the rejection hurt the Obama government's role as an honest broker in the Middle East conflict.

In addition to members of Congress, several leftist organizations also signed the letter, including Americans for Peace Now and J Street.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington responded to the letter: "The Israeli position is that the Hamas government in Gaza does not meet the conditions set forth by the international community and the Quartet. And as long as Hamas continues to attack Israel with missiles and other means, Israel will not open the border crossings. With this, Israel is doing everything possible to ensure that humanitarian aid enters Gaza in a controlled manner so that it is ensured that the population receives what it needs, including medical care in Israel. But Israel will not allow a neighbor that calls for its destruction to enjoy the benefits of an open border."

Also, a letter signed by 33 members of Congress was sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to raise the issue with Israel of students from Gaza who are having difficulty studying at universities in the West Bank due to the lack of free passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"Ensuring that students from Gaza have access to higher education in the West Bank promotes U.S. foreign policy interests by investing in the future of the region," the letter states.

The State Department responded to the letter: "Education is a fundamental right and a force for moderation. The Secretary responds to all Congressional correspondence as appropriate."