[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS TO YASSER ARAFAT--UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE

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                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2001

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to a series of 
recent news reports indicating that the State Department is developing 
a plan to pressure Israel to make territorial concessions to Yasser 
Arafat. The latest indications point to Israel even having to give up 
part of Jerusalem.
  Mr. Speaker, such a proposal is utterly unacceptable.
  I find it hard to believe that anyone would choose now as the time to 
put pressure on our only democratic friend in the Middle East, a friend 
that has been at the mercy of terrorists for decades.
  According to a recent poll, the vast majority of Palestinians oppose 
the American air strikes against Afghanistan, and one in four believes 
terrorism against the United States is okay.
  Terrorism is terrorism wherever it occurs: New York, Washington, 
Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv. Until Yasser Arafat rids himself of his ties to 
terrorism, he should not be rewarded with statehood.

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