[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP MUST STOP TERRORIST ATTACKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 16, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest 
sympathy to the families of the three Americans who were killed 
yesterday, and a fourth who was seriously injured by a massive 
terrorist explosion, while they were traveling along the main road 
toward Gaza City. They were employees of a government contractor that 
provides security services to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.
  I also want to express my outrage at the continued terrorist attacks 
that take the lives of children and innocent people in Israel, Gaza and 
the West Bank. Only twisted minds could ever conceive of such murders 
as ``warfare.''
  What made this particular terrorist attack unusual was that it 
involved American citizens, part of a diplomatic and security convoy 
traveling to Gaza to interview Palestinian candidates for a Fulbright 
scholarship. Ironically, this scholarship was established to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other 
countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. What 
was tragically not unusual, however, was that this was just the latest 
in a string of hundreds of violent killings spanning several years.
  Mr. Speaker, when I visited Israel a few months ago, I met with 
Palestinian leaders who expressed their opposition to terrorist 
attacks. However, their actions have not backed up their rhetoric. 
Yesterday's terrorist bombing further demonstrates the Palestinian 
authority's continued reluctance--perhaps even aversion--to 
aggressively dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in areas under its 
control. Although Palestinian officials condemned this attack, their 
inability to act against such acts of terrorism has led to continued 
terrorist attacks against both Americans and Israelis.
  In order to have real progress toward peace, Palestinians must have a 
leader who is willing to stop terrorism--leadership the world has not 
seen from Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian authority, while denouncing 
terrorism, has never fought terrorists or terror organizations in a 
serious or effective way either under Arafat's direct leadership, or in 
the shadow of his leadership.
  It is clear that despite the best efforts of people of good will on 
both sides, real progress toward peace can never happen as long as the 
Palestinians have a President who is unwilling to stop terrorists from 
blowing up innocent Israelis and Americans.

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