NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder has welcomed the US Senate’s passage of a bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on those who use civilians as human shields. “The US Senate has taken an important and praiseworthy step forward in the war on terror and is sending a strong message to terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah that their cynical use of innocent civilians to promote their callous acts of violence will not be rewarded,” Lauder said.
“Every terror group that cowardly hides behind women and children while using hospitals and schools as bases to attack civilians, in clear violation of both international law and basic moral values, should be held accountable and punished,” Lauder added. “We hope that the House of Representatives, and subsequently, other governments and nations, will follow suit in such moves, to work together to help bring security and stability to the Middle East and the wider world."
Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, Chair of WJC US, said: “We applaud the unanimous passage of the bipartisan STOP Using Human Shields Act, S. 3257, by the US Senate. It sends the message to the world that terrorist groups and their enablers, such as Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, who blatantly violate international law and use human shields in order to achieve military ends, will be held accountable for their evil activities."
“Placing weapons arsenals and other terrorist infrastructure among civilian populations is reprehensible and demonstrates complete disregard for innocent human life and should not be tolerated by the international community,” said Rabbi Meyers. “We praise the members of Senate for this important measure that will provide the government tools with which to censure the groups that carry out this unlawful activity. We urge the US House of Representatives to do the same very soon.”