[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 96 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1369-E1370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONDEMNING TERRORISM INFLICTED ON ISRAEL SINCE AQABA SUMMIT AND 
             EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE ISRAELI PEOPLE

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                               speech of

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2003

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 294, and I 
thank Mr. DeLay for scheduling this important resolution this week.
  On June 4, 2003, President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon, and Prime 
Minister Abbas came together to pledge their commitment to the ``Road 
Map'' to Peace. At this summit, Mr. Abbas promised to reign in the 
terror groups that have plagued Israel with 3 years of relentless 
terror. Since this summit, 29 Israelis have been murdered and over 120 
have been wounded in terrorist attacks by Palestinian organizations 
such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Yasser Arafat's own Fatah. In all, 
the Israeli defense forces have counted 319 separate attacks on 
soldiers and civilians.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States sustained a horrifying terrorist 
attack on September 11, 2001, and responded rightfully by pursuing and 
attacking those responsible for the cowardly murder of innocent 
civilians on American soil. Israel has lived with a perpetual September 
11 since its inception and must be allowed to pursue those who wish to 
murder innocent Israeli civilians. The terrorist actions of the last 
few weeks demonstrate that these organizations are not interested in 
peace, but rather the complete eradication of the State of Israel. We 
must condemn those who use terror against civilians as a means to 
destroy freedom and peace.
  Israel, like the United States, was founded on the common values of 
democracy, freedom, and peace. Today, I reiterate that we

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must stand by Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, in its 
fight against the terrorist organizations that seek to destroy the 
peace. We must maintain our commitment to Israel's security and the 
safety of its citizens.
  Peace must come with security, not in spite of it. Israel has always 
made a sincere commitment to peace in the region. Many times its 
commitment to peace has come at the expense of innocent life. Before 
the process can move forward, we must compel the Palestinian authority 
to take immediate and effective steps to dismantle the terrorist 
infrastructure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Only then can we come 
to a peaceful solution of this conflict in which Israel, the Jewish 
State, can live side by side with a democratic Palestinian State in 
peace and security.

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