To express the sense of the Senate regarding actions needed on the part of the Government of Egypt to promote the rule of law and reduce the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.

1. Inserts new text on page 410, between lines 15 and 16

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   Inserted: RULE OF LAW AND BORDER SECURITY IN EGYPT

   Inserted: Sec. 699B. (a) The Senate makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) Fighting in Gaza during the summer of 2007 demonstrated that the terrorist organization Hamas, which unlawfully seized control over Gaza in June 2007, has been able to achieve a dramatic increase in the quantity and sophistication of arms at its disposal.

   Inserted: (2) Without these arms, the terrorist organization would not have been able to seize control over the Gaza territory.

   Inserted: (3) There is substantial evidence that a significant proportion of these arms were smuggled across the border between Gaza and Egypt.

   Inserted: (4) The Egyptian military is a capable force, made possible in substantial part by a close relationship with the United States.

   Inserted: (5) Concurrent with the escalation of dangerous arms smuggling across the border between Egypt and Gaza has been a retrogression in the rule of law in Egypt.

   Inserted: (6) This loss of hard-earned ground has been characterized by reports of harsh reaction by the Government of Egypt to dissent, including the jailing of political opponents.

   Inserted: (7) The United States has provided aid to Egypt in excess of $28,000,000,000 over the past three decades.

   Inserted: (b) The Senate--

   Inserted: (1) reaffirms its long-standing friendship with the people of Egypt;

   Inserted: (2) believes that our friendship with Egypt requires the Senate to address such vital policy concerns;

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   Inserted: (3) urges the Government of Egypt to make concrete and measurable progress on restoring the rule of law, including improving the independence of the judiciary and improving criminal procedures and due process rights and halting the cross-border flow of arms to Gaza;

   Inserted: (4) believes it is the best interest of Egypt, the region, and the United States that Egypt takes prompt action to demonstrate progress on these matters; and

   Inserted: (5) urges the Department of State to work vigorously and expeditiously with the Government of Egypt and the Government of Israel to bring the border between Egypt and Gaza border under effective control.

   Original wording

   On page 410, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:

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