Israel says its three-week assault on the Gaza Strip was an act of legitimate self-defense in response to years of Palestinian rocket attacks.

VOA: standard.2009.10.16

Republicans on the committee wanted stronger language, which they inserted in a Republican alternative to the main legislation,regarding U.S.support for Israel and its missile self-defense projects.

VOA: standard.2009.05.20

He dismissed as "biased and unjust" a U.N.Human Rights Council report that accused Israel of war crimes during its December Gaza offensive, saying his country was acting in self-defense against militant rocket fire.

VOA: standard.2009.09.24

Besides urging the Obama administration to oppose any further consideration of the Goldstone report in multi-lateral forums, or measures stemming from it, the resolution also reaffirms support for Israel's security and right to self-defense, and its right to defend its citizens from violent militant groups and their state sponsors.

VOA: standard.2009.11.04