Hamas

For Immediate Release
July 26, 2006
Contact: Andrew Schwab
(973) 249-3665

(PASSAIC) -- Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer today announced he will introduce an Assembly Resolution that condemns the recent attacks against the State of Israel, holds terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks, and supports Israel's right to defend itself. Schaer said this measure will lend additional support to a similar resolution, H.RES. 921, introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"New Jersey has and should continue to take a strong stance against any and all acts of terrorism," said Schaer (D-Bergen/Essex/Passaic). "The unprovoked attacks against Israel are reprehensible and signify a disconcerting trend of instability throughout the Middle East region. Israel has a long history of commitment to protecting its civilians, and we must offer our unwavering support in sustaining these efforts."

Schaer said he crafted the resolution in response to the June 25th kidnapping of Israeli Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit in Israeli territory. Shalit is being held hostage in Gaza by a Palestinian terrorist group which includes members of Hamas. Schaer added that on July 12, 2006, operatives of the terrorist group Hezbollah killed three Israeli soldiers and took two others hostage.

"Israel's fight is America's fight," said Larry I. Lerner, President of the NJ State Association of Jewish Federations. "We applaud Assemblyman Schaer, and we stand with the Israeli people in their effort to bring about a genuine and sustainable peace in the region, one that will allow all people of good faith to flourish."

The Assemblyman's resolution condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in armed attacks against Israel on undisputed Israeli territory, for taking hostages, for killing Israeli soldiers, and for continuing to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian populations with their rockets and missiles. Further, the resolution offers condolences to all the families of the innocent victims of the recent violence.

"The unprovoked attacks Israel endured are acts of war," Schaer concluded. "It is imperative we stand together as a state and a nation in condemning this rapid escalation of violence, and calling for peace."

Schaer plans on introducing the measure on Friday.

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Assemblyman Gary Schaer says that comments made by Arab-American businessman Sami Merhi in a Star-Ledger column written by Tom Moran is "evidence that he is unfit to have the endorsement of the Passaic County Democratic Party." Moran wrote that Merhi "was hesitant to condemn Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two groups responsible for most suicide bombings in Israel and the occupied territories, even though he was perfectly comfortable condemning al Qaeda."

Schaer, an Orthodox Jew from Passaic, says that he is open to supporting a candidate from the Arab-American community on the Democratic line, just not Merhi. "Hamas is an organization that since September 2000, is credited with over 500 terrorist attacks, killing 400 Israelis and wounding over 2,100. Among their more infamous attacks was the bombing of a hotel during a Passover Seder holiday celebration in March of 2002, killing 30 and wounding 140 mostly elderly participants." The freshman Assemblyman was among the key players in a move to reject Merhi as a candidate for Freeholder.

Congressman Bill Pascrell, who supported Merhi's Freeholder bid, issued a statement today saying: "I unequivocally condemn any organization that commits acts of terrorism, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Any person who thinks differently is flat out wrong."