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Many US lawmakers have expressed strong support for Washington's staunchest Middle East ally since the May 31 Israeli commando raid on the Mavi Marmara ship, which left nine activists dead, though some have pleaded for patience until the full facts of the operation are known.
The ship was part of a flotilla that aimed to break the blockade Israel imposed on Gaza in 2006 after the capture of one of its soldiers and tightened the following year when the Islamist Hamas movement seized power.
Cornyn's resolution would reaffirm US support for Israel and "condemn the violent attack and provocation by extremists aboard the Mavi Marmara, who created a highly destabilizing incident in a region that cannot afford further instability."
It also aimed to "condemn any future such attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza for the purpose of creating or provoking violent confrontation or otherwise undermining the security of Israel."
The measure would condemn Hamas for rejecting Israel's right to exist, for its "human rights abuses" against Gaza's people, and its opposition to Middle East peace efforts, and would condemn Iran for supporting Hamas.
It also would encourage Turkey, which expressed outrage at the raid, "to recognize the importance of continued strong relations with Israel", and express "profound disappointment with the counterproductive actions of the United Nations regarding this incident."
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The ship was part of a flotilla that aimed to break the blockade Israel imposed on Gaza in 2006 after the capture of one of its soldiers and tightened the following year when the Islamist Hamas movement seized power.
Cornyn's resolution would reaffirm US support for Israel and "condemn the violent attack and provocation by extremists aboard the Mavi Marmara, who created a highly destabilizing incident in a region that cannot afford further instability."
It also aimed to "condemn any future such attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza for the purpose of creating or provoking violent confrontation or otherwise undermining the security of Israel."
The measure would condemn Hamas for rejecting Israel's right to exist, for its "human rights abuses" against Gaza's people, and its opposition to Middle East peace efforts, and would condemn Iran for supporting Hamas.
It also would encourage Turkey, which expressed outrage at the raid, "to recognize the importance of continued strong relations with Israel", and express "profound disappointment with the counterproductive actions of the United Nations regarding this incident."
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