Deterrence. He was joined by Vice PresidentKamala Harris and secretary of state antony blinken. Joe biden good afternoon. You know, there are moments in this life and i mean this literally when the pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world. The people of israel lived through one such moment this weekend. The bloody hands of the terrorist Organization Hamas a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill jews. This was an act of sheer evil. More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered not just killed, slaughtered in israel. Among them, at least 14 american citizens killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomachturning reports of being babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace to celebrate peace. Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies. Families hid their fear for hours and hours, desperately trying to keep their children quiet to avoid drawing attention. Among them, at least 14 american citizens killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children, stomachturning reports of babies being killed, entire families slain, young people massacred while attending a Music Festival set abiding peace to celebrate peace. Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies. Families he had their fear for hours and hours desperately trying to keep their children but carrying with them the bullet holes and the shrapnel wounds and the memory of what they endured. You all know these traumas never go away. There are still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones, not knowing if theyre alive or dead or hostages. Infants in their mothers arms, grandparents in wheelchairs, Holocaust Survivors abducted and held hostage hostages whom hamas has now threatened to execute in violation of every code of human morality. Its abhorrent. The brutality of hamas this bloodthirstiness brings to mind the worst the worst rampages of isis. This is terrorism. But sadly, for the jewish people, its not new. This attack has brought to the surface painful memories and the scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and genocide of the jewish people. Israel we stand with israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse so, in this moment, we must be Crystal Clear we stand with israel. We stand with israel. And we will make sure israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse. Hamas does not stand for the palestinian peoples right to dignity and selfdetermination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the state of israel and the murder of jewish people. They use Palestinian Civilians as human shields. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price. The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, israel has the right to respond indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks. I just got off the phone with the third call with Prime Minister netanyahu. And i told him if the United States experienced what israel is experiencing, our response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming. We also discussed how democracies like israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. Terrorists purpo purposefully target civilians, kill them. We uphold the laws of war the law of war. It matters. Theres a difference. Today, americans across the country are praying for all those families that have been ripped apart. A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in your chest when you lose family, feeling like youre being sucked in. The anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness. This is what they mean by a human tragedy an atrocity on an appalling scale. But were going to s continue to stand united, supporting the people of israel who are suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism. The law of war. It matters. There is a difference. Today, americans across the country are praying for all those families who have been ripped apart. A lot of us know how it feels. It leaves a black hole in her chest when you lose family, a like you are being sucked in the anger, the pain sucked in, the anger, the pain, the sense of hopelessness. This is what they mean by human tragedy. An atrocity, and appalling scale. We are going to continue stand united in supporting the people of israel suffering unspeakable losses and opposing the hatred and violence of terrorism. My team has an end near constant communication with our israeli partners, partners all across the region in the world from the moment this crisis began. We are searching additional military assistance including ammunition and interceptors to replenish iron dome. We are going to make sure that israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens. My administration has consulted closely with congress about this crisis, and when congress returns, i will ask them to take urgent action to fund the National Security requirements our critical partners. This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world, the security of the United States of america. We now know that american citizens are among those being held by hamas. I have directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the nine States Government to consult with United States government to consult with and advised with israeli counterparts and hostage recovery efforts. Because as president , i have no higher priority than americans being held hostage around the world. The United States has also enhanced our military force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence. The department of defense has moved the uss gerald r. Ford Carrier Strike group and also boasted our Fighter Aircraft presence in the region and we stand ready to move additional assets as needed. Let me say again that any country any organization anyone thinking advantage of this situation, i have one word, dont dont our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear. Yesterday i spoke with france, germany, u. K. Leaders to discuss the latest development with our european allies and coordinate our united response. This comes on top of days of steady engagement with partners across the region. We are also taking steps at home in cities across the United States of america, Police Departments have stepped up security around centers for jewish life. The department of Homeland Security and fbi are working closely with state and local Law Enforcement and Jewish Community partners to identify and disrupt any domestic threat in connection with these horrific attacks. This is a moment for the United States to come together, to grieve with those who are morning m ourning mourning. Lets be clear. There is no place for hate in america, not against jews, muslims, anybody. We reject, reject, what we reject is terrorism. We condemn the indiscriminate people, just as we have always done. That is what america stands for. You know, just over 50 years ago i was thinking about of this money talking with the secretary of state and Vice President in my office over 50 years ago, as a young senator, i visited israel for the first time as a newlyelected senator. And i had a long long trip, a meeting with golda my year in her office just before the yom kippur war. And i guess she could see the consternation in my face as she described what was being phased, what they were facing faced, what they were facing. We walked outside and that sort of old way outside her office to have some photos and she looked at me a notice of and said, would you like to have a photograph . And so i got up and followed her out. We were standing there silent looking at the press, and you can tell i guess that i was concerned and she leaned over and whispered to me, she said, dont worry, senator biden, we have a secret weapon here in israel. My word is what she said. We have no place else to go. We have no place else to go. For 75 years, israel has stood as the only guarantor for the security of jewish people around the world so that the atrocities of the past could never happen again. Let there be no doubt that the United States has israels back and what makes her the jewish and Democratic State of israel can defend itself to date, tomorrow today, tomorrow, as cspans documentary competition is back with this years theme looking forward while considering the past. We are asking middle and High School Students to create a five to six minute video address in one of these questions, in the next 20 years what is the most important change she would like to see in america . Or over the past 20 years what has been the most important change in america. As we do each year we are giving away 100,000 in total prizes with the grand prize of 5,000 and every teacher who has students participate in this years competition has the opportunity to share a portion of an additional 50,000. The competition deadline is friday, 1 19 2020 four. For information visit our website at studentcam. Org. Monday at watch cspans series in partnership with the library of Congress Books that shaped america, we will feature the common law by Wendell Holmes junior written in 1881 two decades before homes would become a Supreme Court justice. The book is from a series of lectures he gave on criminal and civil law and other legal issues. Controversial at the time he wrote that the life of the law has not been logic it has been experience. Jeffrey rosen president and ceo of the National Constitution center will join us to discuss the book, watch books that shaped america featuring the common law monday live at 9 p. M. Eastern on cspan, cspan now our free mobile video app or onli