    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [August 9, 2001]
    [Page 953]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 953]]

    Statement on the Terrorist Bombing in Jerusalem
    August 9, 2001

        I deplore and strongly condemn the terrorist bombing in downtown
    Jerusalem today. My heartfelt sympathies and those of the American
    people are with the victims of this terrible tragedy and their families.
        Nothing is gained through cowardly acts such as this. The deliberate
    murder of innocent civilians is abhorrent to all, a threat to peace, and
    inconsistent with the parties' signed agreements to put aside violence.
    Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat must
    condemn this horrific terrorist attack, act now to arrest and bring to
    justice those responsible, and take immediate, sustained action to
    prevent future terrorist attacks.
        I urge the parties to return immediately to the cease-fire
    commitments they have previously made and to renew effective security
    cooperation so this kind of terrorism will not happen again. The United
    States stands ready to assist the parties in this effort, as it has in
    the past, but the effort must begin with the parties acting to fulfill
    their obligations under the Tenet work plan.
        The United States remains committed to implementation in all its
    elements of the Mitchell Committee Report, which provides a path to
    return to peace negotiations based on United Nations Security Council
    Resolutions 242, 338, and the Madrid Conference. To get to Mitchell, the
    parties need to resume effective security cooperation and work together
    to stop terrorism and violence.
        I call upon the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Israel to demonstrate
    foresight and responsibility by choosing the path toward a better future
    for their people.