[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RESOLUTION CONDEMNING TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, a few moments ago the Senate unanimously 
passed a resolution by a vote of 96 to nothing, condemning the 
terrorist attacks 2 days ago which killed 19 Israeli soldiers and 
wounded dozens more.
  There was not time prior to that vote to speak about that subject, 
which I would like to do briefly at this moment. I believe that it is 
very important the PLO, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and 
its chairman, Yasser Arafat, act, and act promptly, to fulfill the 
obligations of the PLO under the Declaration of Principles, to see to 
it that the perpetrators of those terrorist acts are brought to justice 
and to immediately condemn those terrorist acts.
  It is obviously not easy to find terrorists and to punish them. But 
in no uncertain terms, Yasser Arafat and the PLO ought to condemn those 
atrocious acts of terrorism, promptly and in the strongest terms. This 
resolution says in paragraph 3:

       Chairman Arafat should, consistent with the obligations of 
     the Declaration of Principles, publicly and forcefully 
     condemn acts of terror against Israelis.

  There is absolutely no excuse for that not to happen. Senator Shelby 
and I introduced an amendment last year which became law, which 
requires the PLO to change its charter which up to the present time 
calls for the destruction of the State of Israel, and to take all steps 
to stop acts of terrorism as a condition for United States aid.
  The United States has agreed to support the efforts of the PLO to 
govern certain territories, pursuant to the Declaration of Principles, 
and that was an historic meeting, back on September 13 of 1993, when 
President Clinton, in the Rose Garden, put his left arm around Arafat's 
shoulder and his right arm around Prime Minister Rabin's shoulder to 
bring those two men to shake hands. I found it a difficult moment, to 
see an international terrorist like Chairman Arafat honored at the 
White House, considering the fact he was personally implicated in the 
murder of the charge, the second of command in the United States 
Embassy in the Sudan in 1974, and considering his involvement in the 
murder of Leon Klinghoffer on the Achille Lauro.
  But in those Declarations of Principles, and in the aid which the 
United States is giving to the PLO, there is that obligation for that 
firm condemnation. And Yasser Arafat and the PLO have an obligation to 
do that and they have not done it. There is no excuse for that. The 
second clause of paragraph 3 calls for taking ``immediate steps to 
bring to justice those responsible'' for those acts. That is more 
difficult. But that ought to be done as well. Then the third clause is 
to ``implement steps to prevent future acts of terrorism in all 
territory under * * *'' the control of Chairman Arafat and the PLO.
  Mr. President, there is obviously a pattern of terrorism at work. On 
December 25th, not a month ago, a Hamas terrorist attack in Jerusalem 
wounded 13 civilians, including an American citizen. On the October 
19th of last year a Hamas terrorist attack in Tel Aviv killed 22 
Israelis and wounded 10 more. Mr. President, 110 Israeli citizens have 
been killed and hundreds more wounded in the last few months. It is 
just indispensable that Arafat and PLO live up to their obligations.
  The resolution additionally calls for President Assad to immediately 
end all support for terrorist groups, including safe haven and material 
and financial support in all territory under his control.
  As there have been efforts to try to improve relationships between 
the United States and Syria, that is an obligation which, or action 
which the Syrian government and its President, Hafez Assad, ought to 
undertake.
  But at an absolute minimum, at an absolute minimum, Arafat and the 
PLO have an absolute obligation to condemn this act of terrorism 2 days 
ago in the killing of 19 Israeli soldiers, 18 of whom were barely old 
enough to vote.
  The U.S. Senate has spoken unanimously in this resolution, and the 
PLO and Chairman Arafat ought to be on notice that when the foreign aid 
bill comes up this year--and this Senator sits on the Foreign 
Operations Subcommittee--that there will be a move to cancel U.S. aid 
unless the PLO lives up to its obligations and the mandates of U.S. 
law: To change their charter, which calls for the destruction of 
Israel, and their obligation to seek out the terrorists and at a 
minimum to make a forceful condemnation of this atrocious conduct.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

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