Jackson Purchase News

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addressed the Senate floor today, focusing on national security priorities and the situation in Israel. He drew historical parallels between Israel's past conflicts with Hizballah in Lebanon and its current struggles with Hamas in Gaza.

“In May, 2000, Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon. But while the occupation ended, Hizballah’s appetite for waging war on Israel only grew," McConnell stated. He continued to draw comparisons with Hamas: “Israel withdrew there in August, 2005. And by 2007, Iran-backed terrorists had bent the enclave to its all-consuming mission: war on Israel.”

McConnell criticized international bodies and their handling of these conflicts. "Take, for starters, how the Biden-Harris Administration chose to welcome the U.N. General Assembly by signaling its openness to resuming funding for UNRWA," he said.

He questioned why U.N. resolutions aimed at curbing Hizballah's influence in Lebanon have not been enforced effectively: “Why hasn’t the U.N. Security Council managed to enforce resolutions 1559 and 1701 in Lebanon?”

The senator also pointed out perceived failures of U.N. peacekeeping efforts: “And why has the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon allowed Hizballah to build up massive stockpiles on Israel’s border in clear preparation for war?”

Turning his focus back to domestic issues, McConnell criticized what he sees as naivete within American policy towards Iran-backed groups targeting Israel: “This past weekend once again cast a spotlight on America’s own naivete toward the glaring facts of Iran-backed war on our friend, Israel.”

He quoted an unnamed White House official who claimed efforts were being made "to try to prevent an escalation" since October 8th attacks by Hizballah and Hamas.

“Unfortunately, the Administration official also seemed to suggest a moral equivalence between Israel and Hizballah,” McConnell remarked.

He argued that such positions weaken America's stance and embolden terrorist organizations: “Instead, by their misplaced obsession with escalation, the Administration and Washington Democrats are making Israel’s job harder.”

McConnell concluded his remarks urging stronger support for Israel against terrorism: “If our colleagues want peace, it’s time to show support for a nation founded on peace… And resolve toward terrorists whose reason for existence is chaos and violence.”