[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
[March 5, 1996]
[Pages 373-374]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Address to the People of Israel
March 5, 1996

    Good evening, and thank you, Ms. Dayan, for inviting me to speak to 
the people of Israel at this very difficult moment.
    Over the last week the world has watched in horror as scores of 
innocent Israeli citizens have been murdered by suicide bombers. On 
behalf of the American people, I want to express my deepest sorrow and 
strongest outrage to the people of Israel and especially to the families 
and friends of the victims. As I have told Prime Minister Peres, I share 
your determination to do everything possible to bring this horror to an 
end and to bring those responsible to justice.
    These fanatical acts are aimed not just at killing innocent people 
but at killing the growing hope for peace in the Middle East. Those 
responsible for these vicious crimes thrive on division and conflict. 
They know a new day is dawning in their region. They know the vast 
majority of Israelis and Palestinians have chosen the path of peace. 
With every new step that is taken along that path, the enemies of peace 
grow more desperate. We must not allow their hatred to turn us back to 
the past. We must counter their senseless violence with resolve and 
action.
    Those who committed the recent bombings brutally attacked Israelis. 
But make no mistake: The future they darken is their own. Instead of a 
life of security and prosperity, all they have to offer is violence, 
poverty, and despair. Chairman Arafat knows that his leadership and the 
hopes of the Palestinian people are under direct challenge. He must do 
everything possible to end this campaign of terror.
    I have pledged to Prime Minister Peres that the United States will 
work with Israel and with our friends in the Middle East to stop the 
killing, to bring the criminals to justice, to permit the process of 
peacemaking to continue. Today I announced a series of measures to 
support these critical goals. These include the immediate emergency 
transfer to Israel of sophisticated equipment for detecting explosives; 
the dispatch of American specialists to work with their Israeli

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colleagues on strengthening antiterrorism measures; the development of a 
comprehensive package of training, technical assistance, and equipment 
to improve antiterrorism cooperation among Israel, Palestinians, and 
regional governments; and urging our friends and allies all around the 
world to step up their own struggle for peace.
    The United States has stood with you, the people of Israel, in times 
of triumph and tragedy. We stand with you today. Our nations both 
cherish the same ideals: freedom, tolerance, and democracy. And we know 
that whenever these ideals are under siege in one country they are 
threatened everywhere.
    We have never been more determined to defend these ideals and to 
achieve our goal of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The 
road ahead will not be easy, but think how far you have come. Now is the 
time to redouble our efforts. Now is the time to be strong. Bullets and 
bombs must not prevail against the will for peace. And they will not.

Note: This address was recorded at 1:30 p.m. on March 5 in the Roosevelt 
Room of the White House for later broadcast in Israel. In his remarks, 
the President referred to Ilana Dayan, anchor, Channel 2 TV in Israel.