[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 78 (Thursday, June 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST HAS GOT TO COME TO AN END

  (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to make note of a headline 
in the Washington Post today: ``Bomb's Fallout Sets Back Goals of 
Palestinians.'' It goes on to say that Chairman Arafat's call for a 
cease-fire was seen as the result of shifting opinion. It refers to the 
suicide bombing last Friday night when 20 innocent teenagers in Tel 
Aviv lost their lives. It was the single largest act of terrorism since 
violence began last September.
  This cycle of violence in the Middle East has got to come to an end. 
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Chairman Arafat swiftly denounced the 
attack and called for a cease-fire. I have to commend the Israeli 
Government for exercising restraint and not engaging in the retaliation 
that was anticipated following this terrible incident.
  Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Sharon under immense pressure showed 
restraint. The international community stands behind that restraint; 
but clearly these volatile events require this administration to get 
involved in the Middle East. Sending CIA Director George Tenet is the 
right thing to do. We need him in the Middle East. We need United 
States involvement in the Middle East, and we need to use the Mitchell 
Commission as the pathway to peace. This violence has to stop.

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