Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.) spoke on the Senate floor Monday to express his deepest concerns for the people of Israel and to call for more aid for them.
"Mr. President, our great country has many friends in the world…but certainly our deepest attachment is what we have with Israel…Right now our friends in the state of Israel are under attack. Hamas continues to indiscriminately fire hundreds of rockets into Israel," Reid said.
He explained that Israel has been forced to act quickly to shoot the rockets down. "Israel doesn’t have the luxury about not worrying where these rockets land, though. They must respond swiftly in shooting down all rockets, or else risk serious harm to its people."
The Nevada Senator reiterated the need to honor Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s request for $225 million in emergency funding to help Israel boost its defense system.
"If Hamas continues to escalate this conflict, Israel’s resources- including the funding request by the Secretary of Defense- will quickly be depleted," Reid warned.
He called for the United States to provide all necessary aid to Israel, "The United States of America should live up to its commitments, particularly with our friend Israel, which happens to be the only true democracy in the Middle East. We can do better and need to go further in protecting Israel…Coming to the defense of Israel is not a partisan issue…Its an American principle."
Reid’s pro-Israel words conflict with the Obama administration which admitted yesterday it’s seeking a "common place" between Israel and Hamas.
On CNN’s State of the Union, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser said that Secretary of State John Kerry is seeking "a common place" between Israel and Hamas in order "to stop the violence" in Gaza.
Ben Rhodes, one of Obama’s closest foreign policy advisers, also criticized Israel over civilian casualties in Gaza, saying, "I think you can always do more."
Rhodes did not elaborate on where "a common place" between Israel and the terrorist group sworn to its destruction may be found.