[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          COMBATING TERRORISM

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 1996

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
condemn in the harshest terms the recent wave of suicide-bomb attacks 
in Israel. These cowardly attacks, carried out by Hamas, 
indiscriminately maimed and killed hundreds of innocent civilians and 
must be stopped. How many times must Israel watch her children be 
butchered in the street while she stands by idly in the name of peace? 
How long would the United States tolerate this level of terror if these 
scenes were played out in the streets of New York or Washington?
  The time has come for Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority 
[PA] take action against the perpetrators. If Chairman Arafat is 
serious about achieving a lasting peace in the Mideast and Palestinian 
self-determination, then he must step forward and honor his commitment 
to combat terrorism in areas under controlled of the PA. It is time to 
start disarming Hamas and apprehending the perpetrators of these 
heinous crimes. If Chairman Arafat and the PA hope to further appeal to 
the United States and international community for financial assistance 
they must send a clear and unmistakable message to Hamas and other 
terrorist groups that they are not welcome and further attacks on 
Israel will not be tolerated.
  In closing let me send my heartfelt condolences to the friends and 
families of victims of these horrible bombings and assure the people of 
Israel that the United States of America is firmly committed to 
combating terrorism and its roots abroad.

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