[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 31 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Pages 1157-1158]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem, Israel, and an Exchange 
With Reporters

July 30, 1997

    The President. Good morning. Today's bombing by terrorists in 
Jerusalem was a barbarous act. There is no excuse and there must be no 
tolerance for this kind of inhumanity. The slaughter was aimed directly 
at innocent Israelis. And make no mistake, it was also aimed at the 
majority of Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs who want a lasting and 
just peace.
    The only answer can and must be concrete steps by the Palestinian 
Authority to increase security operations and the strengthening of 
security cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis and a deepened 
determination by both Palestinians and Israelis to pursue peace. Only 
when a lasting and secure peace is achieved will the enemies of peace be 
defeated.
    I have just spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu. I told him the 
hearts and prayers of Americans are with him, the people of Israel, and 
the victims of the attack and their families.
    I have nothing further to say about this except to say, again, we 
must not let the enemies of peace prevail. There must be increased 
security operations, increased security cooperation, and a continuing 
commitment that is deep into the peace process.
    Q. Mr. President, what kind of security could have guarded against 
these two people

[[Page 1158]]

who apparently were willing to kill themselves in order to do this 
damage?
    The President. Well, I can't answer that, but I do know that there 
have been long periods when the security operations have succeeded. And 
if these people were part of larger networks, there may well be 
something else that can be done, but I don't obviously know the facts of 
this specific case. We can't say whether any action by the Palestinian 
Authority, for example, could have stopped this bombing, but we can say, 
from our observations, that there could be increased security activity 
and cooperation.
    Q. Will you try to reach Chairman Arafat, and what publicly do you 
expect him to do in the wake of this explosion?
    The President. Well, he's already talked to Prime Minister 
Netanyahu, and I would expect him to say in public what he said to him 
in private. And I would expect there to be increased security activity 
and increased security cooperation.
    Q. Mr. President, how long will the Dennis Ross trip be postponed, 
and what specific new steps will he bring from the United States trying 
to revive the peace process?
    The President. I think it's inappropriate to discuss the second part 
of your question at this moment, but the trip will be postponed for a 
period--an appropriate period of mourning.
    Q. Mr. President, do you think that it's time for either you or the 
Secretary of State to become personally involved? There has been a lot 
of criticism that the United States hasn't been----
    The President. First of all, I think the suggestion that we've not 
been personally involved is just false. But certainly----
    Q. In a public way, though.
    The President. Well, I believe, and I think that the record will 
bear this out--I believe--my personal involvement has been continuing 
and intense in this. But I know of no example in recent history where 
peace is made by third parties trying to be helpful making public 
statements alone. I believe the way I'm doing this is the most effective 
way. But you should not conclude for a moment that the White House has 
not been intimately and intensely and continuously involved in this 
peace process, particularly as it has gotten more difficult.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. in the Briefing Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu 
of Israel; Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; and 
Special Middle East Coordinator Dennis Ross.