[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 116 (Friday, September 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H6949-H6954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TERRORIST BOMBING IN JERUSALEM 
                          ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 146) expressing the sense of 
the Congress regarding the terrorist bombing in Jerusalem on September 
4, 1997, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

[[Page H6950]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 146

       Whereas on September 4, 1997, three terrorist bombs 
     exploded almost simultaneously on the Ben Yehuda street 
     pedestrian mail in Jerusalem, killing at least four innocent 
     people and wounding over 190 others; and
       Whereas Hamas claimed responsibility for this bombing; and
       Whereas despite a clear U.S. call that Palestinian 
     commitment to fight terror must be constant and absolute, PLO 
     Chairman Yasser Arafat convened a national unity conference 
     on August 20, 1997, in which he embraced leaders of the Hamas 
     and Islamic Holy War movements; and
       Whereas in the four years that the Oslo process has been in 
     effect, it is clear that the leaders of the Palestinian 
     Authority have yet to implement in any sustained manner the 
     specific pledges they made in numerous agreements to: prevent 
     incitement and hostile propaganda; combat terrorist 
     organizations and their infrastructure systematically and 
     effectively; apprehend and punish terrorists; and confiscate 
     illegal firearms: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress
       Expresses its outrage at this latest attack on civilian 
     Israelis, extends the deepest sympathies of the Congress and 
     the American people to the families of the victims and to the 
     people and Government of Israel at this tragic loss of 
     innocent human life, and expresses the commitment of the 
     American people to remain dedicated to Israel's security in 
     the face of this brutal and heinous act of terrorism;
       Demands that Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority 
     systematically and comprehensively eliminate the terrorist 
     infrastructure and combat terrorist activities of members of 
     all terror groups operating in areas under its control and 
     fulfill the commitments the PLO made to Israel, the United 
     States, and the world; and
       Informs PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and the leaders of the 
     Palestinian Authority in the strongest possible terms that 
     choices must now be made: either they do what they solemnly 
     pledged to do as part of the Oslo process to fight terror and 
     the terrorist infrastructure in a consistent, serious and 
     sustained manner, or the entire peace process, relations with 
     America, and the hopes of the Palestinian people for a better 
     future will be seriously jeopardized; and
       Urges Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to underscore 
     to the Palestinians one distinct message: the Palestinian 
     Authority must fulfill its most important single obligation 
     of fighting terrorism relentlessly with all the means at its 
     disposal; and
       Believes that all United States assistance to the 
     Palestinian Authority, whether direct or indirect, should be 
     suspended until such time as substantive compliance with its 
     commitments under the Oslo agreements is achieved.

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the concurrent resolution be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. I am pleased to yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York [Mr. Nadler].


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on House Concurrent Resolution 146.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the pending legislation, 
House Concurrent Resolution 146, which condemns the latest bombing 
against Israelis which occurred just yesterday. Once again, a heinous 
terrorist attack, this time at a busy pedestrian mall in Jerusalem, has 
claimed innocent lives. Three terrorist bombs exploded almost 
simultaneously on Ben Yehuda Street yesterday afternoon, killing at 
least 4 innocent people and wounding almost 200 others. The Gaza-based 
Hamas terrorist group claimed responsibility for this bombing.
  Regrettably, the House considered similar legislation just a few 
short weeks ago.
  During the August recess, a number of my colleagues joined with me in 
visiting Israel, where we paid our respects to those who were still 
hospitalized from the July 30 attack. We also visited the Machaneh 
Yehuda market where the bombings took place.
  Today's act of terrorism occurred once again in the very heart of 
Jerusalem. If Machaneh Yehuda market is where Jerusalem people buy 
their fruit, meat, and vegetables, the Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian 
mall is where they shop, where they bank, and where they socialize, 
another busy street in Jerusalem.
  This resolution before us condemns this bombing. Despite a clear 
United States call for Palestinian leaders to wage a war on terror, PLO 
Chairman Yasser Arafat convened a ``national unity conference'' on 
August 20, 1997, in which he kissed and applauded leaders of the Hamas 
and the Islamic holy war movements and warned that Palestinians were 
prepared to resume their violent revolt against Israel.
  Since the signing of the declaration of principles between Israel and 
the PLO on September 13, 1993, over 200 Israelis have been brutally 
murdered in terrorist acts, many of which were plotted by individuals 
in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, repeatedly calling 
into question the PLO's compliance with its commitments.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. Speaker, it has become increasingly clear that the leaders in the 
Palestinian Authority have yet to implement the specific pledges they 
made in numerous agreements to prevent incitement and hostile 
propaganda, to combat terrorist organizations and their infrastructure 
systematically and effectively, to apprehend and punish terrorists, and 
to confiscate illegal firearms.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress did not reauthorize the Middle East Peace 
Facilitation Act, due to its conviction that the PLO was not complying 
with its commitments. This measure that is now before us expresses our 
collective outrage at this latest attack on civilian Israelis, and 
makes several recommendations.
  We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and 
to the people and the Government of Israel with regard to this tragic 
loss of innocent human life. We express the commitment of the American 
people to remain dedicated to Israel's security in the face of this 
brutality and heinous act of terrorism.
  Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority must systematically and 
comprehensively eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in areas under 
its control, and it must fulfill the written commitments that the PLO 
made to Israel in Oslo, and to the United States and to the entire 
world.
  PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and the leaders of the Palestinian 
Authority must understand that Congress speaks in the strongest 
possible terms. The choices must now be made. Either they do what they 
solemnly pledged to do under the Oslo agreements to fight terror and 
the terrorist infrastructure in a consistent, serious, and sustained 
manner, or the entire peace process and relations with our Nation will 
be further undermined.
  Our legislation also urges Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in a 
forthcoming trip to the Middle East to underscore to the Palestinians 
one distinct message. That is, if the Palestinian Authority does not 
fulfill its most solemn, single obligation of fighting terrorism 
relentlessly with all the means at its disposal, relations with our 
Nation will be seriously jeopardized. This legislation also expresses a 
belief that all U.S. assistance to the Palestinians be halted until 
such time as substantive compliance to their commitments under the Oslo 
agreement will be achieved.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], our ranking minority member, and the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Berman], our distinguished committee colleague, 
for their close involvement and original cosponsorship of this bill. I 
also want to thank those who cosponsored House Concurrent Resolution 
146 on such short notice.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to voice strong 
support for this measure, and request its urgent adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H6951]]

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to first acknowledge the great assistance and aid 
in drafting this resolution of the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Berman], who cannot be here at the moment, without whose assistance and 
work this would not have been drafted.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from 
New York [Mr. Engel].
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New 
York, for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I have just 
recently gotten back from a trip to the Middle East, which I took with 
the gentleman from New York, Chairman Gilman, and had the opportunity 
there to express my sense of outrage over the previous bombings in 
Jerusalem on July 30, and certainly my outrage is even more intense 
after the spate of bombings yesterday.
  Let me tell my colleagues what I said to Mr. Arafat face to face on 
August 21. It was the day after he convened his so-called unity 
conference, and kissed the leader of Hamas, and embraced all the people 
in the Palestinian camp, including those who support terrorism.
  I was very unequivocal and forthright, and told Mr. Arafat that he 
had to make a very important decision; that we in the Congress would 
not continue to fund the Palestinian Authority, we would not continue 
to fund any of these activities, unless he went after the terrorists, 
unless he went after them actively, unless he moved to break up their 
infrastructure, unless he fulfilled his commitments under the Oslo 
accords.
  I have not been convinced, sadly, that he has fulfilled his 
objectives. We understand and we know that he can go after the 
terrorists if he so chooses. He has, unfortunately, this year chosen 
not to do so. Last year there were some times when he went after the 
terrorists. He went after them, he tried to break up their 
infrastructure, but we have not seen him do it at all this year.
  When the Palestinian population was rioting in the town of Hebron, 
the riots went on for days and days and days, and when Mr. Arafat 
decided there was enough, he moved his police in and they effectively 
were able to quell the rioting. We know that there can be effective 
measures taken by Mr. Arafat to destroy the Hamas terrorist 
infrastructure. He chooses not to do so.
  I would say to Mr. Arafat what I said to him face to face, and I will 
say it again and again. The ball is squarely in his court. He can no 
longer talk out of 16 sides of his mouth. Either you support terrorism 
or you do not. Supporting terrorism does not mean that you have to be 
the one to plan the actions. Supporting terrorism means that you know 
actions are being planned and you do nothing to stop it, you do nothing 
to destroy it, you do nothing to break it up.
  Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. The peace talks, the Oslo accords, 
the underpinning of the Oslo accords was combating terrorism. Terrorism 
cannot be equated with anything else. It cannot be equated with the 
building of homes, it cannot be equated with closures, it cannot be 
equated with collective punishment, so to speak. Terrorism has to stand 
by itself. If terrorism is not eradicated, if terrorism is not gone 
after, there can be no peace process, there will be no peace process, 
and there will be no peace.
  Mr. Arafat has to decide. Terrorism cannot be used as a legitimate 
negotiating tool. That is what he is doing. He is looking the other 
way. He is winking at terrorism. He is saying, I did not plan it, I did 
not do it, I am not at fault. That is not enough. That is not good 
enough. How many more people are going to be killed and maimed, 
innocent people, including American citizens, killed and maimed by 
terrorist bombs?
  I went in the latest trip to Hadassah Hospital and saw some of the 
victims. One of those victims was a 15-year-old Arab boy who had his 
leg blown off in the market in Jerusalem. Bombs do not know the 
difference between Arabs and Israelis or Americans or anybody else. 
Bombs kill and maim people.
  I say to Mr. Arafat and to those with him in the Palestinian 
Authority, we in the U.S. Congress are not going to stand idly by and 
pretend there is business as usual. No leader of any country can 
continue to accept innocent civilians being blown up wantonly in the 
street.
  I say that enough is enough. We are at our wit's end. Our patience is 
over in this Congress. Until we see the Palestinian Authority and Mr. 
Arafat actively go after the terrorists, actively break up the Hamas 
infrastructure, and actively do the things that we know he is capable 
of doing, we will not believe that he is serious in combating 
terrorism.
  So I support this resolution wholeheartedly. I said it to him face to 
face, to Mr. Arafat face to face, on August 21, and I say it now in the 
U.S. Congress, exactly what I repeated to him, except I think it is 
even more important now. We will not stand for terrorism. We insist 
that the Palestinian Authority and Mr. Arafat live up to his 
commitments under the Oslo accords to fight terrorism, get at the root 
of terrorism.
  If he does not do that, then there can be no peace process and the 
blame will rest solely at the foot of Mr. Arafat. The ball is in his 
court. He has to decide what he wants to do. Let us see some serious 
going after terrorism before I will vote for one more red cent for the 
Palestinian Authority.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Weldon].
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding 
to me.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution. I commend him, as well 
as the ranking member of the committee, and all my colleagues who have 
worked on behalf of this resolution. I certainly extend my condolences 
and condolences from the people of the 15th Congressional District to 
the people of Israel who have, again, been victimized by the 
terrorists, and in particular, by this very, very ugly form of 
political terrorism, the suicide bomber.
  I had the opportunity as well to go to Israel in August and visited 
with the Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, as well as the defense minister 
and the Arab negotiators. I additionally had the opportunity of 
visiting the Jerusalem market where the bomb exploded in July, and I 
personally, along with my wife, we were at the Ben Yehuda Street where 
this recent bombing occurred.
  I can tell all of my colleagues that this is the most vicious, 
despicable form of terrorism that is imaginable, where you send suicide 
bombers into shopping markets where innocent men, women, and children 
are, and as very correctly pointed out by our colleague, Palestinians 
are actually in the area. They are blowing themselves up, in some 
instances.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a form of mindless terrorism. What is extremely 
disturbing about all of this, as has been indicated by the previous two 
speakers, there is abundant evidence that Mr. Arafat has the ability to 
put a stop to this; that he has actually attended a meeting and spoken 
in support of Hamas, and Hamas has taken credit, responsibility, for 
this act. For Mr. Arafat to claim to be in support of peace, in my 
opinion, is hypocrisy. Some people have risen up and said he should 
return his Nobel Peace Prize, and I would say he should, at this point.
  Just a few minutes ago in this body we rose and had a moment of 
silence in recognition of Mother Teresa, a woman who is recognized the 
world over for her work on behalf of the poor and the innocent, and the 
sacrifices she has made in her life in respect of human life. Yet, just 
1 day ago we can see that others in another place in this world decided 
that they were going to take brute force in their hands and kill 
innocent women and children, innocent elderly people.
  The problems that exist in the Middle East are serious, but they will 
not be moved forward, peace will never occur in the Middle East, as 
long as there are people in Hamas, in the PLO, that are willing to 
resort to these kinds of heinous acts in order to fulfill their ends.
  I encourage all my colleagues to support this resolution. I again 
commend the chairman and the ranking member and all of my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle for their work on behalf of this. I rise in 
strong support of this, and in opposition to terrorism in any place in 
this world.

[[Page H6952]]

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his 
strong, supportive arguments.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, this latest atrocity in Jerusalem tears the heart out of 
all civilized people. It is another example of terrorism, which is a 
crime against all of us. It is not only a crime against all of us and 
against all concepts of civilized life, it is a crime against peace, 
and it is intended to be a crime against peace.
  The whole campaign by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the last 2 years has 
been a campaign of terror, to make sure there will be no peace accord 
between Israel and the Palestinians and the neighboring Arab countries. 
Unfortunately, Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority and the 
Palestine Liberation Organization, has played into their hands, into 
the hands of the terrorists, and has done so deliberately.
  He has his own political problems in the Palestinian constituency. We 
all appreciate political problems, but that is no excuse for allowing 
murder. It is no excuse for winking at murder, for encouraging murder. 
If the peace process collapses, as it seems to be doing, it will be on 
Mr. Arafat's head. The blame and the blood will be on his hands for 
playing with the terrorists.
  We must all remember in looking at this the key element of the entire 
Middle East peace process. The key element is land for peace. Israel 
will trade land to the Palestinians, will give up sovereignty, will 
give up control of land, and how much land and which land is to be 
debated, to be discussed, to be negotiated, but will give up land in 
return for peace.

                              {time}  1430

  But this is not a symmetrical process. Land is tangible and once 
given up is very difficult or impossible to recover. Peace is a 
promise. So the peace process is that Israel gives up tangible land in 
return for a promise. And the peace process says we will spend a few 
years developing confidence.
  But what kind of confidence can Israel develop that she will be 
allowed to live in peace and security once she has given the 
Palestinians everything they are going to get, everything they want; if 
she is continually attacked and if men, women, and children in the 
streets of Israel are continually attacked by terrorist bombs; and if 
Mr. Arafat holds a day of unity with the terrorists, with the bombers, 
and kisses one of their leaders; if Mr. Arafat, when there is a 
terrorist bombing and the world is aghast, says to his people, Round up 
the usual suspects, and a week later releases them; when Mr. Arafat has 
broken every commitment so far he has made under the Oslo accords?
  Mr. Speaker, remember some of those commitments, some of the easy 
ones. Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization is supposed to 
repeal those provisions of the Palestinian charter that call for the 
destruction of Israel and for the murder of its entire population. They 
have not done so. A document that calls for genocide, they cannot 
repeal. They promised to do so in 1993. They did not do it.
  When Israel gave up Hebron, withdrew her troops from Hebron last 
year, the promise was that they would repeal that charter within 2 
weeks. That is a year ago and they have not done so. There cannot be an 
agreement, there cannot be a peace process if Arafat and Company 
continue to wink at terrorism and do not bring everything to bear, all 
their forces to bear to stop it.
  We know that Arafat talks out of both sides of his mouth and uses 
violence and the threat of violence as a negotiating weapon. As the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel] said before, when the stone-
throwing mobs and the mobs that were shooting at Israeli soldiers last 
year with slingshots and other weapons were suddenly told by Mr. 
Arafat, ``Stop,'' they stopped.
  There can be no peace process if Arafat does not finally decide, if 
he is not persuaded by American pressure, by other pressure, by maybe 
common sense, that he must stop trying to coddle the terrorists, he 
cannot do business with them, and if there is going to be a peace, he 
must crack down and do everything in his power to stop the terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, in the United States we have gone a long, long way in 
turning our eyes; to give him the benefit of the doubt; to say maybe he 
is not coddling the terrorists; let us continue giving him aid. But I 
think we have come to the end of that road. We should have come to the 
end of that road a while ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, and I say to Ms. 
Albright, the Secretary of State, and the President, the one major 
purpose of that trip next week to the Middle East must be to convince 
Mr. Arafat that if the peace process is not going to be broken down, 
war resumed, and everyone blaming him, he must crack down on the 
terrorists. He must be seen doing it, and there must be confidence that 
there is someone there worth negotiating with and not simply a snake in 
the grass.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Lantos].
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman], my good friend and the distinguished chairman of the 
Committee on International Relations, for introducing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, it seems we were here just a few weeks ago dealing with 
an identical resolution, at which time we all hoped that perhaps we saw 
the last of these monstrous terrorist attacks on innocent women, 
children, and the elderly in the streets of Jerusalem.
  Apparently, Mr. Speaker, the series of outrages have not yet ended. 
But the hypocritical charade of Yasser Arafat is at an end. This 
corrupt dictator who has misconstrued the patience of the Congress and 
the American people must now understand that our patience has been 
exhausted. We will no longer tolerate his embrace of the leaders of 
terrorist gangs. We will no longer tolerate the double-talk that on 
American television emphasizes the importance of the peace process, 
while in the streets of Gaza and the West Bank whips up sentiments of 
hate, violence, and bloodshed.
  Mr. Speaker, Secretary Albright is going to the region at a critical 
moment. She has the full support of this body and of the American 
people in making it clear to Yasser Arafat that the game is over. This 
corrupt dictator can no longer play along with the goodwill and the 
patience and the genuine desire of the American people and the American 
Congress to see a peace evolve between the Palestinians and Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, we will not tolerate one more school girl's body torn 
apart by terrorist bombs without full, significant retaliation. The 
infrastructure of the terrorists must now be destroyed by Arafat. If it 
will not be destroyed by Arafat, it will be destroyed by the Israeli 
defense forces, because to continue this series of terrorist attacks in 
the city of Jerusalem is simply unacceptable by the civilized world.
  Mr. Speaker, our President spoke forcefully and eloquently on this 
subject. The American people are united behind the policy of firmness. 
Yasser Arafat must understand that the clock has now struck 12. He will 
either destroy the terrorist infrastructure or that infrastructure will 
be destroyed for him.
  As the only survivor of the Holocaust ever elected to this body, I 
witnessed at close range the mass murder of 6 million innocent people. 
I am sick and tired of seeing this process repeated piecemeal in the 
streets of Jerusalem.
  Our patience is now at an end. We have suspended aid, but that is 
only step No. 1. This Congress and the American people are determined 
that the bloodbath in the streets of Jerusalem can no longer continue. 
We are anxious for peace, but for peace to take place the terrorists 
must be exterminated, their infrastructure destroyed, their embrace 
ended, and a truly genuine attempt at reconciling the long-suffering 
people, the Palestinians and Israelis, must at long last begin.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Sherman].
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, along with the gentleman from

[[Page H6953]]

New York [Mr. Gilman], I had a chance to visit in Hadassah Hospital 
Intensive Care Ward with several of the victims of the last atrocity in 
Mahane Yehuda Market, and I saw not only the pain but the 
indiscriminate effect of these acts of terrorism.
  One of the individuals we visited was an Arab boy, the other a 
Lutheran minister. And just as that memory seared of looking at the 
faces of those, and the hands still burned, of those who suffered from 
that atrocity, we face another atrocity at Ben Yehuda Market, and 7 
deaths and over 100 wounded.
  There is something that can be done, not to ease the suffering of the 
families, but at least to say: Never again. It is time for Yassir 
Arafat to change that Palestinian charter the way the gentleman from 
New York pointed out. It is time for him to crack down on the Hamas' 
infrastructure the way the previous gentleman from California remarked. 
And it is time for Mr. Arafat to go to every Arab capital and say, Now 
is the time to end hatred and venom against the Jewish people from 
Tehran to Libya, because Israel has already made unforced territorial 
concessions.
  Mr. Speaker, there is more that the United States can do. Yes, our 
Secretary of State can and should go to the Middle East to focus 
exclusively on security for Israel and for an end to terrorism. But 
there is one other thing we can do.
  There was a besieged city in the early 1960's, Berlin, and our 
President went there to show solidarity and he said, ``Ich bin ein 
Berliner.'' Now Jerusalem and its people are under siege from terrorism 
and there is something of equivalent import we can do, and that is move 
the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem now, without reservation, without 
condition, and making it plain that we stand with the citizens of 
Jerusalem as they stand against terrorism. It is time for everyone to 
do what they can to make amends for this tragedy.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Sherman] for 
not only his comments today, but for being with us when we went to the 
hospitals to pay our respects to the victims and also to conduct a 
memorial service at the marketplace where the last bombing took place. 
And, Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank all of my colleagues 
for their support of this measure.
  It is with a great deal of outrage and frustration, however, that we 
once again have to consider this kind of legislation. Let us hope and 
pray that we will not have to take up any more measures extending our 
sympathies to the families of the people of Israel as a result of the 
violence at hands of terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to turn over the balance of my 
time to the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] vice chairman of our 
Committee on International Relations, and that he be permitted to 
control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gibbons). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] before 
he leaves, that I want to express my appreciation for the gentleman's 
efforts in bringing this to the floor. It is my hope that this 
resolution will help lead from the crossroads where we are now, whether 
we will go down the road to war in the Middle East or to peace, that 
this resolution will be a milestone, hopefully, on the road to peace.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous adoption of the resolution, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart in 
full support of this resolution expressing the sense of Congress 
regarding the terrorist bombing in Jerusalem yesterday.
  I am, like many of my colleagues, a strong advocate for a negotiated 
peace in the Middle East and have felt with each attack a renewed sense 
of urgency to move forward in this process.
  On the behalf of the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I 
offer the families of the people killed and the people injured our 
sympathy, but also our encouragement in their search for a lasting 
peace built on the work set forth in Oslo.
  The rule of chaos and lawlessness must not win the day, or the dawn 
of the next century will not bring the unlimited promise that peace in 
the Middle East could offer this generation and the next.
  I have two school age children who understand that unrest anywhere in 
the world threatens the security of the world that they will some day 
inherent. I would hope for the children of the Middle East that the 
conflicts of the past not be adopted as their own, but left in the past 
where they belong.
  I would ask that all Americans join in the efforts to bring all sides 
in the Middle East peace process back to the negotiating table. That 
those who cater to or support terrorist activities are working against 
the Palestinian people and preventing them from reaching their full 
potential.
  I would also ask that all who have influence on the parties to the 
peace process aid them in moving toward each other and not be 
controlled by the bombmakers.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of the 
concurrent resolution now before this House expressing the sense of the 
Congress regarding the terrorist bombing in Jerusalem on September 4, 
1997.
  The choice in the Middle East is clear: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat 
must do everything possible in his power to aid Israel in fighting the 
scourge of terrorism or the peace process begun so hopefully in Oslo 
will die at the hands of Hamas suicide bombers.
  That the peace process has been in trouble in recent months, there 
can be no doubt. That fault can be found with both parties in 
implementing their commitments under Oslo, there can be no doubt as 
well.
  But now is not the time to engage in verbal score keeping. Now is the 
time for a clear commitment by Chairman Arafat to keep his solemn 
pledge to combat terrorism.
  The blood spilled on Ben Yehuda Street demonstrates all too vividly 
that the leaders of the Palestinian Authority have not implemented the 
promise made in the context of the Oslo peace process to: First, 
prevent incitement and hostile propaganda; second, combat terrorist 
organizations and their infrastructure systematically and effectively; 
third, apprehend and punish terrorists, and fourth, confiscate illegal 
firearms.
  Chairman Arafat's solemn promise to do everything possible to fight 
terrorism is at the heart of the peace process. It was his sacred oath 
to the Israeli people. He must keep that promise for the Israeli people 
to keep their faith in Oslo.
  I urge my colleagues to support this concurrent resolution. Its 
message is clear: There can be no progress toward peace nor American 
support for the Palestinian Authority unless Chairman Arafat fulfills 
his obligation to fight terrorism. The hopes of both Israelis and the 
Palestinian people depend on Chairman Arafat fulfilling his promise of 
peace.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my 
deepest sympathies to the families of those caught in the senseless 
bombing that shattered the fragile peace and security to which so many 
in Israel cling.
  Yesterday, three suicide bombers entered the main pedestrian area in 
Jerusalem and within minutes of each other set off three bombs killing 
themselves and three and injuring at least 165. The injury toll is 
still climbing.
  Watching the carnage, I shuddered how just last week I had walked 
down some of the very same streets where this violent attack occurred. 
In fact, I shopped at the stores located in this crowded area and spoke 
with the shopkeepers about the recent United States warning against 
travel to Israel. Those streets are crowded with tourists from around 
the world; residents out for a stroll or enjoying a quiet lunch, and 
students. Within walking distance of this area is the hotel where I 
stayed.
  Senseless and cowardly acts of terrorism like this bombing must stop. 
They do nothing to advance peace in the Middle East.
  This time, apologies like those given after the July 30 bombing will 
never bring about a peaceful resolution. The Palestinian Authority must 
honor its solemn promise to combat terrorism. If this does not happen, 
America will be forced to reconsider its willingness to deal with the 
Palestinian Authority.
  Knowing how it feels to have your life turned upside down by 
violence, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and ask the 
American people to keep the families of those injured and killed in 
their prayers.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for the 
resolution. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Gibbons]. Without objection, the 
previous question is ordered on the concurrent resolution.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the concurrent 
resolution.

[[Page H6954]]

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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