[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TERRORIST PROSECUTION ACT

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, this morning a group of Senators met with 
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a very informative session as 
part of Prime Minister Sharon's visit to the United States where 
yesterday he met with President Bush.
  An item which has been worked on for many years has been the effort 
to try in the U.S. courts Palestinian terrorists who murder U.S. 
citizens abroad. The Terrorist Prosecution Act, which I wrote back in 
1986, provides for exterritorial jurisdiction where U.S. courts have 
jurisdiction to try a Palestinian terrorist who murders an American 
citizen.
  There are two prominent cases which could lend themselves to this 
approach. One case involves a Palestinian terrorist who is in the 
United States, where we have jurisdiction over him, where we need the 
cooperation of Israel in providing the witnesses. It was a matter which 
I discussed this morning with the Prime Minister, and we are working to 
see if we can secure that kind of cooperation. It was pointed out that 
sort of cooperation has been present in the past, and we are seeking to 
bring that about here.
  Another possible prosecution would involve a Palestinian terrorist 
who confessed on television, so there is no issue about the 
voluntariness of his confession. There is a potential problem in that 
Israel opposes the death penalty and characteristically will extradite 
only where there is assurance from the country receiving the individual 
that the death penalty will not be sought. I believe there are 
exceptions under Israeli law where Israeli national security is 
involved. I believe the threat of the war on terrorism would qualify 
under that section.
  There is a second aspect, and that is the vindication of U.S. rights 
where American citizens are murdered by Palestinian terrorists in 
Israel. I think there is a very real issue about vindicating U.S. 
interests. We are going to continue to pursue that line.
  One other observation in the brief amount of time remaining. The 
meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was a 
very warm and a very good meeting. One of the items which I think bears 
a little focus is the unusual rapport between these two men, where 
President Bush referred to Prime Minister Sharon by his first name 
``Ariel,'' and Prime Minister Sharon reciprocated by referring to 
President Bush as ``George.'' I think that signifies an unusually warm 
relationship.
  It brings to mind comments by Prime Minister Begin who visited the 
United States back in June of 1982 and met with a group of Senators, 
and at that time made a comment that President Reagan had asked Prime 
Minister Begin to call President Reagan ``Ron.'' Prime Minister Begin 
said that he deferred, which led President Reagan to say to Prime 
Minister Begin: Well, Menachem, if you don't call me Ron, I won't call 
you Menachem.
  Prime Minister Begin went through that circle but refused to call the 
President by his first name, referring to the President as a Head of 
State.
  I think it is a very encouraging sign when the President of the 
United States and the Prime Minister of Israel are on a first name 
basis. That bodes very well for the relationship.
  I note the time of 1 o'clock has arrived.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The time controlled by the Senator 
from Kentucky has expired.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I yield the floor in any event.

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