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The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) criticized the anti-Israel statement published by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) on what she calls the 'Israel-Hamas War.' The statement contained at least six separate errors of fact, and unfortunately reflects talking points taken directly from pro-Hamas propaganda. In general, her entire approach is unrealistic, since she claims to want to "protect [Israel's] citizens and sovereignty against the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas" and claims to want the "immediate and safe return of the hostages," yet she chastises Israel for military efforts to accomplish those exact goals.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said:
"It is shocking to see these slanders of Israel in the official statement of a member of Congress. The only hope here is that Rep. Houlahan is misinformed instead of malicious. I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt, so in that spirit I propose she meets with ZOA members to discuss the actual situation in Gaza. In the absence of her withdrawing these absurd statements, ZOA calls on her constituents to make clear to Rep. Houlahan that her comments are unacceptable."
ZOA Director of Government Relations Dan Pollak said:
"We have appreciated Rep. Houlahan's service to our country as an Air Force Officer. She has not signed on to the House Resolutions sponsored by the worst antisemites in the Congress and has expressed support for Israel immediately following the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorists. It is not clear to me how Rep. Houlahan and the other members of Congress who are expressing pro-Hamas propaganda have morphed into critics of the only path really open to Israel, which is to destroy Hamas completely and free the hostages by any means necessary. Her statement is not helpful towards these goals."
The errors in her statement include:
- She states, "Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current stated intention to move the conflict to Rafah."
The conflict is already in Rafah. Hamas has launched missiles from the area and extensive terrorist tunnels are embedded there. Senior Hamas terrorists are hiding in Rafah and directing the terrorist campaign against Israel. Hostages are being continually mistreated in Rafah, and it was in Rafah that two hostages were rescued on Sunday.
- She states Israel intends to attack "Rafah with no apparent realistic or feasible plan to protect the innocent civilian lives who shelter there."
This is completely untrue. At every stage of the attack on the terrorists in Gaza, Israel has gone to extraordinary efforts to prevent losses to innocent civilians. Unfortunately, every war has innocent victims. This war was started by Hamas and can be ended with their surrender at any time. Israel has enunciated its plan to relocate civilians to safer areas, and has advocated allowing civilians to relocate to Egyptian territory, which the U.S. has opposed and Egypt will not allow.
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