[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1534-S1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

  Mr. FEINGOLD. On September 13, 1993, the world watched with hope and 
fear when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader 
Yasser Arafat signed the Declaration of Principles on the White House 
lawn and began a new era in the Middle East. As much as we hoped there 
would be an end to terrorism, bloodshed, and occupation, I think just 
about everyone knew the road to peace would not be that simple.
  We had reason to cheer though because now the battle lines would be 
drawn differently. Rather than Arab versus Jew, the peace process 
created a new alliance, moderate versus extremism, where Israelis, 
Palestinians, and others were joined to pursue a peaceful and 
prosperous Middle East.
  While there were some very tenuous periods during 1994--continued 
terrorist attacks, such as the disastrous bombing in the center of Tel 
Aviv, and the bomb attack in Beit Leid where over 20 soldiers were 
killed, the massacre of 28 Palestinians in Hebron by an extremist 
Israeli named Baruch Goldstein--nonetheless, Mr. President, the peace 
process was progressing. By late 1995, in fact, it seemed relations 
between Arafat and Rabin were warming.

  Israelis themselves, Mr. President, were becoming more confident that 
this was the path to take. On November 4, 1995, 150,000 Israeli 
supporters attended a Tel Aviv peace rally to demonstrate their depth 
of commitment to the peace process.
  Then, of course, as we all sadly know, extremism struck again. This 
time a Jewish radical gunned down Prime Minister Rabin in an effort, of 
course, to kill the peace process.
  I think it is important to note that this, too, was a terrorist 
attack, an attack in the vein of a new Middle East where extremism and 
violence of any stripe lashes out against any sign of peace and 
tolerance.
  Of course, with the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin, the world 
lost one of its great leaders and great men. He possessed so many 
attributes that made him an extraordinary figure. As a soldier, he 
helped build Israel, and as Prime Minister, he paved the way for a 
peace that can only come from Israel's strengths. With this, he earned 
the trust and confidence of Israelis who knew that Rabin would not take 
risks for peace that outweighed the dangers of continued war.
  He recognized the day had passed when one people in the Middle East 
can really think seriously about dominating another people; when most 
Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and others saw that they must co-
exist if there is to be any security or prosperity in the region.
  Rabin put his full weight behind the peace process as the only way to 
protect Israel's security. His achievements were illustrated again, 
sadly, during the funeral, an event that in itself helped solidify the 
process the assassin had tried to stop. The huge United States 
delegation, which I was fortunate to be part of, testified to the depth 
of support that the United States has and will offer Israel. The fact 
that President Mubarak and King Hussein not only set foot in Jerusalem 
but also eulogized Prime Minister Rabin at his funeral spoke to the 
commitment for peace with a strong Israel. The more than 40 heads of 
State and representatives from over 80 countries who were there also 
signaled international investment in the peace process as well as the 
tremendous personal tribute to Rabin that it represented.
  I think Prime Minister Peres has been equally determined in this 
quest. He has continued implementation of the Oslo II Agreement, 
expanded relations with Jordan, pursued preliminary peace talks with 
Syria and he has also cemented ties with other countries.

  We had hoped that the extremists in the Middle East would have been 
weakened. But as their ranks have been withering, their hatred was 
intensifying. Israel, with some cooperation from Palestinian leader 
Yasser Arafat, has continued its war against terrorism, and it is 
widely assumed that that led to the January assassination of the 
engineer, the so-called engineer, Yahyia Ayash, the Hamas technician 
who masterminded the bus explosions in Israel.
  Mr. President, in the last 9 days, we all know we have seen 4 
devastating bombs, all delivered by fanatics on a suicide mission, 
explode during commuter rush hours in urban centers in Israel, 
murdering at least 59 people and injuring many more. The horrific 
images we see on television cannot even compare with the terror any 
Israeli must now feel when they get on a bus to go to work, pick up 
their shopping, send their kids to school. This is a real source of 
insecurity and pandemonium in Israel now.
  What makes this problem so challenging is how does Israel stop a 
suicide bomber? There are young Hamas supporters who are willing to 
blow themselves up as long as they can take a few Israelis with them. 
At first they said the attacks were in retaliation for the killing of 
the engineer. Now it is because of Israel's announced war on Hamas. It 
is really a war against any kind of Western or modern presence in the 
Middle East and against the peace process. Prime Minister Peres has 
responded forcefully and decisively. He has pledged that Israel will 
take all measures necessary to fight the war against terrorism. Last 
night, they arrested a man from Ramallah who they believe orchestrated 
three of the last four attacks. A strict closure, a drastic effort to 
fully separate Israelis and Palestinians, will be in effect, I expect, 
until the election at the end of May.
  I am also very proud of President Clinton's efforts and commitments 
to crack down on the supporters of terrorists. I feel confident the 
United States will continue to support Israel, be it through strict 
enforcement of the ban on contributions to Hamas or through more 
intelligence sharing with Israel to avert would-be attacks, or 
whatever. But the next steps are really with the

[[Page S1535]]

Palestinians. The protest demonstration by tens of thousands of 
Palestinians in Gaza against the bombers who struck on Sunday in 
Jerusalem was exactly the kind of support the peace process needs. 
While moderate Palestinians may feel their lives are in danger by 
openly opposing Hamas, the peace process could potentially fail if they 
do not speak out against extremism and demonstrate their investment in 
the process.
  Mr. Arafat must do all he can in his power now to prevent further 
attacks. Political agreements, such as that which he made with Hamas 2 
weeks ago, are simply and clearly insufficient. Hamas may now be 
splintered into several camps and Arafat must counter all of them. He 
must also recognize that merely arresting people, though a good first 
step, is hardly sufficient. There must be an aggressive policy of hot 
pursuit and follow-through in the Palestinian justice system if peace 
is to be sustained.
  Mr. President, it is with great disappointment that I say it may be 
unrealistic to think that Arafat can control the extremists in the 
Hamas, even if he puts all of his efforts into it. For that reason, it 
is time again Israel not only join with Arafat in the fight, but also 
pursue its own means where necessary to protect its citizens.
  The peace process is in danger. But, as Leah Rabin appealed to us 
yesterday, it is far from over. In the context of the bombings and 
atrocities of the last 9 days, there should be a suspension of 
implementation or further negotiations. Israel is in no position to be 
talking further peace when the current situation gives its citizens no 
security.
  But that is the genius of the Oslo process which Rabin left: Israel 
can go at its own speed, and it should focus on the fight against 
terrorism now.
  Mr. President, this has been a very difficult period and leaves the 
past and the future in a very confusing posture. But we do know that 
peace is the only alternative to this war and insecurity. I hope the 
forces of peace will prevail over the destructive and powerful--but 
minority--forces of hate.
  Israel and the Palestinians are too invested in the peace to throw it 
away now. Even more compelling is that if they did throw it away, war 
will continue in this and many other forms. For that reason, they must 
put all their efforts into fighting these forces.
  The United States also has a continued interest in Israel's security, 
and the world has a humanitarian interest in halting this mindless 
violence. I think and hope all parties will rise to the challenge. We 
must counter the horrific forces of extremism that took Prime Minister 
Rabin's life, and fight and extinguish the forces such as Hamas that 
undermine the future of the Middle East.
  In Rabin's vision of the Middle East, one nation will not stand in 
opposition to the rights and dignity of another. To achieve this, and 
to carry on Rabin's lifelong work, violent extremism, such as that 
which killed Rabin--and President Sadat before him--must be confronted, 
condemned, and stopped. That, indeed, will continue to be the biggest 
obstacle to peace.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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