Congress Reacts to Jimmy Carter Courting Hamas

By Peggy Shapiro

As Jimmy Carter continues on a self-appointed mission of courting the terrorist group Hamas with hugs and honor, Congress is expressing outrage at the former president's undermining of U.S. policy. "We ought to be screaming from the rafters about the lack of judgment in the former president going to see a known terrorist," U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), told JTA. "Khaled Mashaal is the worst of the worst."

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) teamed up with Shelley Berkley (D-NV) to sponsor a resolution (H.Res 1110) condemning Hamas and calling on the group to "renounce terrorism, fully disarm, and recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state." It also expresses support for Israel's efforts to defend itself against terrorism."

The resolution makes special mention of Carter's planned meeting with Hamas official Khaled Mashaal in its first paragraph, "In light of former President Carter's meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Damascus, Congress needs to remind the world Hamas is a terrorist organization calling for Israel's destruction and responsible for the death of American citizens."

It also makes the following points:

Hamas should be isolated until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and accept past agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas and other Iranian and Syrian-backed terrorists have fired more than 6,000 rockets and mortars at Israeli population centers.

Hamas also continues to smuggle weapons and build up its infrastructure for future conflict with Israel.

Israel may need to take more vigorous action to exercise its inherent right to defend her citizens from such wanton violence.

The following representatives have co-sponsored or signed on to the resolution:

Rep. Shelly Berkley [D-NV-1] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Blunt, Roy [R-MO-7] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Bonner, Jo [R-AL-1] - 4/17/2008
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [R-FL-5] - 4/17/2008	Rep Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Burton, Dan [R-IN-5] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Cantor, Eric [R-VA-7] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Davis, Geoff [R-KY-4] - 4/17/2008	Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO-8] - 4/17/2008
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Feeney, Tom [R-FL-24] - 4/17/2008
Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [R-PR] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Fossella, Vito [R-NY-13] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Franks, Trent [R-AZ-2] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY-20] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Kagen, Steve [D-WI-8] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep. Mark Kirk [R-IL-10) - 4/16/2008 * Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [R-NY-29] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ-2] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-21] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Miller, Candice S. [R-MI-10] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Poe, Ted [R-TX-2] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Porter, Jon C. [R-NV-3] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Ramstad, Jim [R-MN-3] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8] - 4/17/2008	Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Saxton, Jim [R-NJ-3] - 4/17/2008	Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13] - 4/17/2008
Rep Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9] - 4/16/2008 *
Rep Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3] - 4/16/2008 *	Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [D-CA-10] - 4/17/2008
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12] - 4/17/2008	Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] - 4/16/2008 *