Even as Israel began escalating its devastating attack on Gaza late last week, even as Israel appeared to be violating U.S. law by using weapons from the United States to escalate the conflict, our elected officials in Congress shamefully and overwhelmingly endorsed Israel’s aggression.

The Senate voted unanimously in favor of a resolution vigorously supporting Israel.

It expressed its “vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders, and recognizes its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism.”

The House voted 390-5 on a similar resolution.

Both laid all the blame for the conflict on Hamas, and not a word about Israel’s cruel blockade and collective punishment of the people of Gaza, much less blaming Israel for its escalation. The House resolution, for instance, even blames Hamas for the deaths of Palestinian civilians. It calls on all nations to “lay blame both for the breaking of the `calm' and for subsequent civilian casualties in Gaza precisely where blame belongs, that is, on Hamas.”

By the way, the five courageous Representatives who voted against the House bill are:

Dennis Kucinich

Ron Paul

Gwen Moore

Maxine Waters

And Nick Rahall.

They should be saluted for doing so.

But what about everybody else? Their support for Israeli aggression is immoral—and it represents a huge obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

For if Israel can keep getting $3 billion a year in military aid from Congress, and if it receives almost total approval when it violates international law, what incentive does it have to come to a decent settlement with the Palestinians?