Ted Cruz Delivers Passionate Speech On Kidnapped Israeli Teens

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, imploring the US to finally take action over the abduction of Naftali Frenkel, a 16-year-old US citizen, as well as Gilad Sha'ar (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19). "This should be on the front page of every paper in the United States, because this is an issue which is as vital to us as it is to the nation of Israel." 

Cruz began. News coverage of the abduction in the US has been severely limited at best, biased toward Hamas kidnappers at worst. "Just imagine if these were your children, or any children you know," he continued. "Just imagine if your child was kidnapped for fourteen days - and you don't know where they are, or even whether they're still alive." 

Cruz explained how the boys - "smart, hardworking, diligent students" - were kidnapped on their way home from school. "These boys weren't doing anything wrong," he said. "These are teenagers who were targeted for who they are, who have done no wrong, who have done nothing that comes near to deserving what has happened to them that day while waiting at the bus stop to go home from school." 

Cruz then demanded that the US sever all ties with Hamas, a "vicious terror organization" that he points out has not only killed Israelis, but "many Americans." "There can be no more illusions that Hamas has any role in any future government formed by the Palestinian Authority," he urged. "They must not receive any further recognition or legitimization." "Hamas is a violent terrorist organization ready and eager to brutalize the most innocent. Hamas is a terrorist organization that kidnaps three innocent school boys." "Hamas, give the boys back," he said. "Hamas, give those boys back now."

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The IDF on Thursday evening authorized for publication the identities of two Hamas terrorists being hunted for being “deeply involved” in the kidnappings of Israeli teens Eyal Yifrah (19), Naftali Frenkel (16), and Gilad Sha'ar (16). The two, Marwan Kawasmeh and Amar Abu-Eisha, are well-known Hamas terrorists operating in the Hevron area. Security forces are in pursuit of the two, the army said. Kawasmeh, 29, was first arrested in 2004 for security violations, and since then has been arrested at least four more times. In an interrogation in 2010, he admitted working on behalf of Hamas in the Hevron area. He has participated in Hamas training camps and has helped the terror group to recruit new members. 

Abu-Eisha, 33, was first arrested in 2005, and remained imprisoned until 2006. He was released, only to be arrested again in 2007. His brother was killed while conducting a terror attack in 2005 against an IDF patrol. His father has also been arrested numerous times for security offenses. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Israel had “unequivocal proof that the organization responsible for the abduction is Hamas.” Netanyahu said "we are transferring these proofs to a number of countries around the world. Soon the information will be made public.” 

Netanyahu also told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday that the information in Israel's hands unequivocally indicates that Hamas is responsible for the abduction of three Israeli teenagers last week, adding that this needs to be expressed in actions on the ground. Last week, Hamas-Fatah unity government Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki accused Israel on Friday of not only conducting an "exaggerated" and "political" search for three teens kidnapped by Hamas terrorists last Thursday, but also of fabricating the abduction itself. "He (Netanyahu) cannot keep blaming one side without showing evidence," Malki said. "When you go to court if you don't show evidence you lose your case," said Malki. "If Netanyahu has any evidence, he has to put it on the table."

Source: Arutz Sheva