Don’t reward Hizbullah for its attacks on an American ally

U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-New Providence
represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District in Congress.

Since its victory in the Six Day War in 1967, Israel has controlled Mount Dov, a 100-square-mile strategic outpost at the foot of Mount Hermon where the Syrian, Lebanese, and Israeli borders meet. In the last four decades, Israel has constructed key military outposts on Mount Dov’s hills.

Although Mount Dov — which is also called Shebaa Farms — was formerly Syrian territory, Lebanon also claims it.

More troubling, however, is a recent report in The Jerusalem Post that the United States is advocating that Israel negotiate with Lebanon about the control of and the future Israeli withdraw from Mount Dov. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice raised the issue during a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the Post reported.

I strongly believe that Israel should not be pressured into relinquishing Mount Dov — especially by the United States. The United Nations has long established that Mount Dov was part of Syria before 1967, not Lebanon. If Israel wants to discuss the future of the territory, it should do so under the terms it chooses and in talks with Damascus, not Beirut.

Moreover, linking Mount Dov with the current conflict — that is, offering an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for a cease-fire — would represent an unnecessary victory for the Hizbullah terrorists. The focus should not be on Israel relinquishing land; the focus should be stopping Hizbullah and other terrorists from attacking Israel and killing innocent civilians.

After all, the current crisis began in June when Hizbullah terrorists built a tunnel into Israel and emerged behind an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint, killing IDF soldiers and kidnapping others.

Innocent lives have been lost in the current conflict. Any loss of life — Israeli or Arab, civilian or military — is a tragedy not only for the victims’ families but also for the cause of lasting peace in the region.

As I said this month during Israel solidarity events at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater and Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, I believe strongly that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hizbullah’s terror attacks and to defeat Hizbullah’s ability to strike Israel.

The United States is Israel’s strongest ally, and America often prevents other nations from using world bodies such as the United Nations from advancing anti-Semitic proposals or blocking initiatives from countries like Iran that are committed to Israel’s destruction.

It is critically important, now more than ever, that the United States stand firm with Israel, especially in the face of mounting international pressure from some European nations that are trying to give legitimacy to Hizbullah as a political force rather recognizing it as a terrorist organization.

Hizbullah is not a mainstream political organization. It is financed and equipped by Syria and Iran and has as its sole purpose the total destruction of Israel. Hizbullah is responsible for scores of terrorist incidents worldwide, including killing 220 U.S. Marines, 18 U.S. Navy personnel, and three U.S. Army soldiers in Beirut in 1983, and the bombings of synagogues in Argentina.

Hizbullah is not a political party — it is a terrorist organization.

America must continue to support Israel, and that’s why Secretary Rice’s statement on Mount Dov is so troubling.

I have written to Secretary Rice raising my strong objection to the United States advocating that Israel withdraw from the area or negotiate with Lebanon over its future.

America’s role in the current conflict should be to stand with Israel as it defends itself against terrorists.