As the Gaza Strip conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, few in Minnesota’s congressional delegation have commented. Protests prompted Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Sen. Norm Coleman to respond to the conflict, while Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison called for an end to the violence and outlined some ideas to get there.

The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Women Against Military Madness and the Anti-War Committee launched a protest at Klobuchar’s Minneapolis office, along with smaller ones at the offices of Coleman and Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum.

“I am not condemning what Israel has done as you have asked me to do,” Klobuchar told them. “We need to work toward a cease-fire and I would like to see a cease-fire in place.”

Coleman responded through his communications director, LeRoy Coleman, “While Senator Coleman strongly believes that Israel has a right to defend itself, he calls on both sides to quickly work towards a lasting cease-fire. However, a cease-fire cannot just be a short term opportunity for Hamas to regroup.”

But probably the strongest voice among the Minnesota delegation came from Ellison.

“If the Bush administration chooses to passively ignore the renewed violence during the waning days of their time in office, then I fully expect to work with President-elect Obama in actively, aggressively and with full purpose, engaging all parties in the pursuit of both a lasting peace, and a secure future. Nothing less is acceptable,” said Ellison.

He outlined a number of strategies to a ceasefire: intervention by the “Quartet,” which is comprised of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia; opening the borders with Israel and Egypt to allow civilians to seek refuge from the violence; and an end to “inflammatory rhetoric and aggressive actions.” Ellison called the Hamas rhetoric “belligerent defiance,” and said the Israeli sanctions made life “increasingly unlivable” for Palestinians in the Gaza.

“The escalation of violence leaves both parties less secure and with a deeper desire to seek revenge,” he said.

The other members of the Minnesota’s congressional delegation have not publicly weighed in on the Israeli-Gaza conflict.