[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2402-S2403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE MIDEAST CRISIS

  Mrs. CARNAHAN. Madam President, last week, as people of many faiths 
celebrated holy days of peace, our television screens were filled with 
visions of horror. Young Palestinian men and women, strapping 
explosives to their bodies and detonating themselves in crowds of 
Israeli civilians, destroyed dozens of lives and with them exploded the 
hopes and dreams for a peaceful resolution of the Middle East crisis.
  The words used to acclaim these acts are deeply troubling. The 
murderous bomber who killed celebrants at the Passover meal was deemed 
``a glorious martyr.'' Such a proclamation is a cruel hoax, perpetrated 
by those dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state. It comes 
from those who have never admitted in their hearts--and will never 
admit that Israel has the right to exist within secure and peaceful 
borders.
  They unleash their hate under the banner of such groups as Hamas, and 
Hezbollah, the Fatah and the Al Asqa Mosque Martyrs' Brigade.
  Unfortunately, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser 
Arafat, is unwilling or unable to prevent the wave of assaults against 
Israeli civilians. For far too many years he has talked the talk of 
peace; but he has never walked the walk for peace.
  When it has served his interest to speak of reconciliation, of 
compromise, of security for Israel--he has done so. But days, or even 
hours, later when speaking to his people, or the Arab world, he uses 
language that urges armed struggle, a war of liberation, and a return 
to conquered lands.

[[Page S2403]]

  He has not prepared his people for peace. He has not explained the 
need for compromise. In fact, maps in school books do not even show the 
State of Israel.
  On the White House lawn, President Clinton urged both sides to take a 
chance for peace. Israel was willing to do just that. Israel traded 
land in the hope for peace. Israel promised even more land, and a 
Palestinian state.
  What did the Palestinians do? They did not create a government to 
serve the best interests of their people. Yasser Arafat created a gulag 
on Israel's back doorstep--one riddled by corruption and bent on 
crushing dissent. The Palestinian leader built an infrastructure for 
terror and then incited his people telling them that Palestine would 
run from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
  When the parties met at Camp David, Israel did what it had never done 
before. It put the issue of Jerusalem on the table. But the most 
generous offer Israel could possibly make, was not only rejected, it 
was brutalized by violence. That violence has intensified for 18 
months, mutating into waves of suicidal terror.
  In the minds of most Israelis, this cruel response has undermined 
Yasser Arafat as a genuine partner in search of peace, for Israel now 
has to question whether land for peace is actually an equation for more 
violence.
  Israel has an obligation to its citizens to respond. When al Qaeda 
attacked America, we sent our military across the globe to seek out the 
terrorists in training camp by camp, cave by cave. Israel has 
terrorist's cells just a couple miles from its largest cities. It had 
no choice but to take them out--root and branch.
  America is conducting her own war on global terrorism in the wake of 
attacks on our country and to address the threat of Saddam Hussein 
acquiring weapons of mass destruction. But the United States must at 
the same time devote its full resources to resolving the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. We must do so in a way, however, that does not 
undermine the core principle of our war against terrorism. There must 
be zero tolerance for terrorism. Such deeds cannot have, or be 
perceived to have, any political benefit.
  Those who seek a political solution to conflict must first rebuild 
trust by rejecting terror. Unfortunately, both the Arab League and 
Islamic Conference have failed to do so. Nonetheless, Secretary 
Powell's mission takes place against the backdrop of a new Arab 
initiative.
  This initiative has many flaws, but it is significant. Arab 
governments have now demonstrated a desire to play a constructive role 
in resolving the conflict. Since the Palestinian leadership has been 
totally discredited as peace partners, the path to peace goes through 
Amman, Cairo, and Riyadh.
  If these governments are serious peace-seekers, other steps must 
follow. They must denounce terror against Israel with the same strength 
and passion as they denounce actions taken against Palestinians. They 
must halt their financial backing for terrorist groups dedicated to the 
destruction of Israel. They must put an end to the anti-semetic, anti-
Israel, and anti-American rhetoric in their state sponsored media. 
Finally, they must convince Yasser Arafat, and more importantly the 
Palestinian people, to abandon their self-destructive behavior.
  Had the Passover ceremony in Netanya not been violated by a murderous 
bomber, those present, together with Jews around the world, would have 
ended the ceremony by saying: ``next year in Jerusalem.''
  The Jerusalem to which they aspire, however, is not the city we see 
today--a city stricken with fear; a city of shattered windows and 
shattered lives where calls to worship have been replaced by sirens and 
ambulances.
  No, the Jerusalem to which they aspire, is a Jerusalem of tolerance, 
of faith, and of peace.
  While that vision seems remote at the moment, we are reminded of the 
words of Louis Pasteur, who said:

       Never let yourselves be discouraged by the sadness of 
     certain hours which pass over nations.

  For those who earnestly seek peace, even dark days can be the 
harbingers of brighter tomorrows.
  Our prayers today are for a brighter tomorrow for all in the Mideast, 
for all people of goodwork.

                          ____________________