[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1244]]
                                 ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the continued 
terrorist attacks against Israel.
  As we all know the President has recently returned from his first 
official visit to the Middle East where he attempted to move the peace 
process forward.
  During the summit Israel and the Palestinians agreed to the road 
map--now comes the hard part.
  Progress will be difficult and we must focus now on action, not 
words. In short, performance matters.
  The United States must do more to put pressure on Israel's neighbors 
and make sure they cease all support of terrorist groups like Hamas and 
Islamic Jihad.
  With 16 Israelis dead from Wednesday's bus bombing, four soldiers 
killed last weekend, and hundreds of other Israelis dead from Hamas 
attacks, Israel has the right to protect herself and her people from 
terrorists.
  Hamas and other terrorist groups oppose the road map, they oppose any 
lasting peace with Israel. They oppose the existence of the Jewish 
State.
  These groups have been tolerated for years by the Palestinian 
Authority and the PA chairman, Yassir Arafat.
  The administration must also increase dialog with our European allies 
who continue to have relations with Yassir Arafat, as if he were the 
head of state. Support for Yassir Arafat and his terrorist ways must 
stop.
  More support must be given to Abu Mazen so he can disarm the 
terrorist groups so Israel can live in safety and security.
  There will be no peace and there should be no peace plan until all 
sides agree that Israel has the right to exist and her people the right 
to live in safety on the streets, in cafes and on their buses--anything 
else is a failure that the U.S. should take no part in.

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