Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Supports Israel’s Right of Self-Defense Decries UN’s Focus on Condemning Israel Instead of Stopping Iran Threat

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on yesterday’s defensive naval operation by Israel. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Israel has the right and the duty to defend itself and its citizens, including by seeking to inspect ships run by Islamist extremist groups. These extremists, suspected of financing jihadist groups, were seeking to enter Hamas-controlled Gaza despite repeated requests from the Israeli government not to do so. “Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamist militant groups have repeatedly used innocent civilians as human shields.

They hide rockets and other weapons in homes, hospitals, and schools. With this in mind and given that the group running the ‘flotilla’ has ties to jihadist groups, Israel was compelled to search the cargo and passengers as a vital security measure.

“Israeli soldiers had every right to defend their lives against a lynch mob attacking them with knives and clubs.

“It is deeply troubling that the UN’s knee-jerk reaction was to immediately condemn and isolate Israel, particularly while still refusing to take concrete steps to stop Iran’s march toward a nuclear weapon.

“The U.S. must stand with Israel against this diplomatic lynch mob and the threats posed to its security, and very existence, by Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and Syria.” #####

House Foreign Affairs Committee U.S. House of Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

For Immediate Release June 1, 2010 Contact: Brad Goehner, (202) 226-8467 Alex Cruz, (202) 225-8200