[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 453 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                     November 21, 2003.
Whereas in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, two explosions, set off 
        minutes apart during Sabbath morning services, devastated Neve Shalom, 
        the city's largest synagogue, and the Beth Israel synagogue, about three 
        miles away;
Whereas more than 20 people, both Muslims and Jews, were killed, and more than 
        300 people, both Muslims and Jews, were wounded, in the bombing attacks 
        on the synagogues;
Whereas on November 20, 2003, two bombs exploded at the Consulate of the United 
        Kingdom in Istanbul and at the HSBC Bank;
Whereas among the more than 25 killed and 450 wounded in the November 20 bombing 
        attacks on the consulate general and commercial buildings were Muslims 
        and Christians--Turks, British diplomats, and visitors to the Turkish 
        Republic;
Whereas the United Kingdom is an ally of the United States and Turkey in the 
        global war on terrorism;
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20, 2003, in Istanbul, 
        Turkey, were cowardly and brutal manifestations of international 
        terrorism;
Whereas the Government of Turkey immediately condemned the terrorist attacks in 
        the strongest possible terms and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to 
        justice at all costs;
Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey equally abhor and 
        denounce these hateful, repugnant, and loathsome acts of terrorism;
Whereas with anti-Semitic activities escalating the safety and security of 
        Jewish people throughout the world is a matter of serious concern;
Whereas since Turkey cherishes its traditions of hospitality and religious 
        tolerance and in particular its history of more than five hundred years 
        of good Jewish-Muslim relations, the attacks on synagogues and consular 
        premises came as a special shock to the Turkish people and to their 
        friends throughout the world;
Whereas the United States and Turkey are allied by shared values and a common 
        interest in building a stable, peaceful, and prosperous world;
Whereas Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation with a seculargovernment, has 
        close relations with Israel and is also the only predominantly Muslim 
        member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20,2003 show again that 
        terrorism respects neither boundaries nor borders: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks 
        in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003;
            (2) expresses its condolences to the families of the individuals 
        murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses its sympathies to the 
        individuals injured in the attacks, and conveys its hope for the rapid 
        and complete recovery of all such injured individuals;
            (3) expresses its condolences to the people and government of the 
        Turkish Republic and of the United Kingdom over the losses they have 
        suffered; and
            (4) expresses its solidarity with the United Kingdom, the Turkish 
        Republic, and all other countries which stand united against terrorism 
        and which work together to bring to justice the perpetrators of these 
        and other terrorist attacks.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.