[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1533-S1534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           BOMBINGS IN ISRAEL

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, each one of us has been horrified at what 
we have seen on our television sets with the tragedies in Israel. I was 
at my home and reading the recent account--what I thought was the most 
recent account of bombing in Israel--when I got a call from somebody in 
my office who started referring to the terrible bombing in Israel. I 
said, ``I am reading about it right now.'' He said, ``No; not the one 
that is in this morning's paper, the one that happened within the last 
few minutes.''
  The shock that fell on everybody in my office, on everybody in my 
family, and on the family members of those in my office--one of whom 
lives with his wife and daughter in Israel.
  I believe that we are witnessing a determined, relentless suicidal 
attempt to destroy the peace process in the Middle East. It may be 
predictable. We have seen these attempts before. Fanatical extremists 
have tried time and again to intimidate and destroy the forces for 
peace; unfortunately, on both sides. But so far they have failed.
  I think that Israel today faces its greatest challenge with the 
handshake on the White House lawn. When Prime Minister Rabin was 
assassinated by a Jewish fanatic I thought we had reached the low 
point. But the situation has only deteriorated since then. At least 60 
people, innocent civilians, have been killed in the past 9 days alone. 
The people responsible in an almost obscene perversion seem to take 
pride in claiming responsibility for the slaughter of men, women, and 
children.
  So our sympathies--and I believe this can be said of all Americans--
and our prayers are with the victims and their families.
  The White House has said that they will provide counterterrorism 
assistance to Israel, and the Palestinian authority--and the Congress, 
of course--is going to support whatever can be done to stop these 
atrocities. But we know there are no guarantees. If someone is prepared 
to sacrifice his life to commit murder, there are real limits on what 
we can do to prevent that.
  Prime Minister Peres has said he will take all necessary steps to 
fight back. He has no alternative. To stand by and not do whatever he 
can would be inconceivable, and I know the Prime Minister's 
determination is to do all that is possible that he, his government, 
and his great country can do.
  Chairman Arafat has condemned the attacks and has pledged to fight 
back, as he should have done long, long ago. He should be taking all 
necessary measures to track these people down and stop them before they 
strike again. Those who would urge Prime Minister Peres to turn his 
back on the peace process should also understand that is exactly what 
the terrorists want. They want the war to go on because they know that 
if peace prevails--as we all pray it will--then they lose.

  Real opportunities for peace come rarely. It took great courage and 
years of patient work to get to this point. Prime Minister Rabin gave 
his life for it, as have dozens of others. There is no other way than 
to search and continue searching for peace.
  So I express my sorrow and my horror at what has happened to this 
brave country. I hope that now steps can be taken to stop terrorists 
from striking again and stop those who would plan even more terrorism 
but also let the peace process go forward.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mrs. BOXER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from 
California.
  Mrs. BOXER. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
  I thank the Senator from Vermont for his eloquence. We come to the 
Senate floor all too often to talk about tragedy and needless loss of 
life. The Senator talked about the tragedy in Israel; needless tragedy. 
We see it in England. We see it here at home. We saw it in Oklahoma 
City, in New York City. Terrorism must be--and will be--

[[Page S1534]]

stopped because people in this world want peace, and they want life as 
they choose to live in peace.
  Tragedy also comes too often in the course of our lives here in 
America in our hectic life. I am here to talk about one such tragedy 
that occurred in California.

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