Israel

I stand with Israel.

An NJDC has the following statements.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD)(7/12/06):

"The House Democratic leadership strongly condemns the seizure of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah terrorists operating from Lebanon... Countries with influence over Hezbollah, particularly Syria and Iran, must move quickly to bring about the return of the soldiers and the end of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The Palestinian Authority, and countries with influence over Hamas, must take similar action in Gaza.

"Those who finance, direct, or otherwise support acts like these need to understand that they have produced an extremely dangerous situation and that they are responsible for the consequences. Israel has an inherent right to defend itself, and the United States supports our ally."

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV) (7/12/06):

"Today's attacks by Hezbollah in Israeli territory were disgraceful and unwarranted acts of violence by a terrorist organization. Hezbollah must release the captured Israeli soldiers immediately. Hezbollah must be dismantled, and all nations have an obligation to cease any and all assistance to this terrorist organization. Israel has a right to live in peace and security, and the United States will stand by our ally in this difficult time."

U.S. Representative Gary Ackerman (NY), Ranking Democrat of the House of Representatives International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia (7/12/06):

"If the world is serious about peace in the Middle East, then Tehran and Damascus need to be held accountable for feeding, fostering, and occasionally unleashing, these rabid, blood-spattered killers. The money, weapons and political support Hezbollah and Hamas receive from Iran and Syria are not uncontrollable or natural phenomena and the international community must demand that they stop. Cross-border attacks on Israel should result in tough international sanctions on Syria and Iran, and the UN Security Council should immediately pursue this option...

"Israel has an absolute right to defend itself from this aggression and the Israeli Defense Forces has shown it knows how to do this."

U.S. Representative Alcee Hastings (FL), Co-Chair, House of Representatives Democratic Working Group on Israel (7/12/06):

"Hezbollah's actions against Israel are unconsciousable. Instead of working towards peace, Hezbollah has chosen to perpetuate the violence. Terrorist attacks such as these are cowardly and resolve nothing... Let us not be misled into believing these attacks arise from a single source. The terrorist organizations, Hezbollah and Hamas, are unquestionably sponsored and guided by the Iranian and Syrian governments... The Syrian and Iranian governments should be condemned along with the terrorist groups they harbor.

"Israel must have the right to defend herself. Like the United States and other sovereign nations, Israel is justified in reestablishing its deterrent posture."

U.S. Representative Gene Green (TX), Co-Chair, House of Representatives Democratic Working Group on Israel (7/13/06):

"Attempts by Hezbollah to open a second front after the kidnapping from Gaza are an attack on Israel's sovereignty. Hezbollah's actions require Israel to defend itself, and Israel's actions to take out terrorist camps along its borders to prevent this from happening again are warranted and justified.

"Israel has had to defend itself from terrorist organizations that have felt it shouldn't exist throughout its history, and must continue to do so following these killings and kidnappings to protect its people and free the soldiers taken by the terrorist group Hezbollah."

U.S. Representative Robert Wexler (FL), Ranking Democrat of the House of Representatives International Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats (7/12/06):

"I strongly condemn the horrific attack on Israel's northern border carried-out by Hezbollah terrorists based in Southern Lebanon. The murder and abduction of Israeli soldiers - in conjunction with the infiltration of Israeli military bases and rocket attacks on Northern Israel - are inexcusable acts of aggression that further destabilize the Middle East.

"These provocations stand in stark violation of international law, and I strongly support Israel's unequivocal right to self-defense."

Also, in local news, Kathy Stein is stepping up against the administration with legislation to unblock the sites that Fletcher et al blocked.

Stein, at a news conference in the Capitol Annex, said her bill still would allow government to ban workers' access to pornographic or gambling Web sites, but would make sure news and commentary sites would be handled in a "viewpoint-neutral way."

"This common-sense bill respects workers and taxpayers and it prevents politically motivated censorship," said Stein, D-Lexington.

Joining Stein to support the legislation were Treasurer Jonathan Miller and David Sirota, co-chair of the non-partisan, non-profit Progressive States Network based in New York City.

Earlier this week, Public Citizen -- a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization -- filed a federal lawsuit against the Fletcher administration, saying it cannot block state workers' access to political blogs while permitting the use of traditional news sites.

Public Citizen, based in Washington, D.C., filed the suit on behalf of Mark Nickolas, who writes the BluegrassReport.org political blog.

Louisville attorney Jennifer Moore, who is working with Public Citizen on the lawsuit, said the state unconstitutionally singled out Nickolas' political news site one day after Nickolas criticized the governor in a New York Times article.

The Fletcher administration contends that it did not target Nickolas' blog, but had formulated a policy to add to a list of sites banned on state employees' computers, including gambling and pornographic sites.

Blogs on mainstream media Web sites, as well as prominent conservative blogs, remain accessible.

Sirota said Fletcher's action is troubling.

"What's next on a slippery slope like this? Books he doesn't like?"

Nickolas, who attended today's news conference but did not participate in it, said he supports the intent of Stein's legislation.

"State workers should do their work but shouldn't be beholden to the political views of their employer," he said.

Stein said she hopes to have her legislation finalized in a few weeks. It would be considered in the 2007 General Assembly, which begins in January.

Fletcher's office referred questions about Stein's legislation to the Finance and Administration Cabinet, which oversees state computers.

Jill Midkiff, a cabinet spokeswoman, said, "We cannot comment on a concept."

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