    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [July 17, 2002]
    [Page 1263]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1263]]

    Statement on the Tel Aviv and West Bank Terrorist Attacks
    July 17, 2002

        I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of
    those killed and to the wounded in the homicide bomb attack today in Tel
    Aviv and the attack yesterday in the West Bank. The American people and
    I condemn these despicable acts of terror.
        Once again, terrorist violence directed against Israelis has taken
    innocent life. Peace cannot be built on a platform of violence against
    innocents.
        These terrorist acts are also attacks on our efforts to restore hope
    to the Palestinian people. There is now broad international consensus--
    as evidenced by the meetings this week in Washington and New York--on
    the need to support Palestinian reform, address the urgent humanitarian
    needs of the Palestinian people, and restore momentum toward a two-state
    solution. As I said on June 24, the hopes of a few cannot be allowed to
    hold the hopes of many hostage.