(The Center Square) – At an event commemorating the Oct. 7th terrorist attack against Israel, Gov. Greg Abbott expressed Texas’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense and for its efforts to eliminate the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, saying “the world cannot have peace until Hamas is gone.”
On the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack, he said, “One year later, Israel is still defending itself against Hamas, Hezbollah and … attacks from Iran itself. One year later, the Jewish people prove just how resilient they truly are. No country faces the daily onslaught of missiles being fired upon it like Israel does. No country faces daily terrorist attacks like Israel does, but Israel refuses to be defined by those attacks. Instead, Israel is charting its future. Israel is charting its survival by how [it] responds to those attacks.”
Abbott called for the return of all hostages, including Americans. At least four American hostages are believed to be alive: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer Neutra and Keith Siegel. The bodies of three who were killed remain in Gaza: Itai Chen, Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein Haggai.
Abbott spoke before a crowd of more than 900 at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas.
He also described his trip to Israel three weeks after the Oct. 7 attacks. He did so, he said, “to show the world Texas stands with Israel.”
“I saw firsthand the carnage caused by Hamas. I visited victims at a hospital in Tel Aviv,” he said. Many “were about the same age as my own daughter. They had their bodies ripped apart by terrorists.” Survivors described “how Hamas bombed medical tents and used RPGs to attack ambulances that were driving Israelis to a safer place.”
He also met with Israel’s prime minister, president and others, who “explained the necessity of eliminating Hamas,” he said, adding: “Israel cannot have peace. The world cannot have peace until Hamas is gone.”
“The same can be said for Hezbollah,” he said, referring to the Lebanon-based Islamic terrorist organization. “Both Hamas and Hezbollah have been exposed for what they are: tools of Iran.”
He also said, “Israel must be allowed to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah. The United States must do everything possible to support Israel and all hostages must be returned.”
He also noted that Texas has stood with Israel throughout his administration, pointing to bills the Texas legislature passed that he signed into law.
“Texas does stand solidly with Israel, not just now in a time of war, but in times even before the war ever arose,” he said. “I signed a law that prevents Texas agencies from doing business with companies that do business with Iran. We don’t do business with regimes to chant death to America and death to Israel.”
He also signed into law an anti-BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) law that prohibits state agencies from doing business with companies and investing in financial funds tied to BDS policies. He also issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from purchasing goods produced in or exported from Gaza and from any organization or state actor with ties to Hamas.
He also signed an executive order requiring all higher education institutions in Texas to comply with a list of requirements to ensure Jewish students are safe on campus. He also directed Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest campus protestors calling for the death of Jews.
Abbott also advanced multiple resources to protect the Jewish community in Texas, including encouraging public schools to use resources shared by the Texas Education Agency “to increase awareness and understanding” about the Middle East conflict.
At the event, Abbott was joined by the rabbis, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Livia Link-Raviv, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas President Igor Alterman, Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission Chair Kenny Goldberg, an October 7 survivor, family members of those killed by Hamas, state lawmakers and others.
