[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECENT VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

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                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, after 
learning this morning about the latest violence in Israel. News reports 
indicate that two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed in the West Bank 
town of Ramallah. The Israeli soldiers were detained by the Palestinian 
police after they inadvertently made a wrong turn down a street, and 
were taken to a police station. Apparently a mob of Palestinians broke 
into the police station, slaughtered the Israeli soldiers, and paraded 
their bodies through the streets.
  I call on Mr. Arafat to live up to his obligations under the Oslo 
Accords, and to maintain public order and calm in the West Bank through 
a vigorous use of the Palestinian police force. Let us remember that 
the Palestinians now fully control over 40% of the West Bank and Gaza, 
with over 95% of the Palestinian population under the civil 
administration of the Palestinian Authority. As the Palestinians gain 
greater authority and control over their domestic affairs, they also 
must shoulder the additional security responsibilities that come hand-
in-hand with territorial control. The Palestinians must ensure the 
safety of both Israelis and Palestinians within their areas of control.
  Mr. Arafat has personally assumed responsibility over all PLO 
elements and personnel in order to assure the maintenance of peace, 
law, and order in the West Bank. Just a few days ago Mr. Arafat allowed 
a Palestinian mob to destroy Joseph's Tomb, a Jewish holy site in the 
West Bank, just hours after Israeli troops withdrew and allowed the 
Palestinian police to take control.
  Mr. Speaker, each of us prays for peace in the Middle East. The only 
way to achieve peace is for the Palestinian leaders to not only condemn 
but to take steps to stop terrorism and violence.

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