[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 36 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Pages 1283-1284]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem and an Exchange With 
Reporters in Martha's Vineyard

September 4, 1997

    The President. Today's bombing in Jerusalem is an outrageous and 
inhuman act. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their 
families and all the people of Israel.
    It is clear that the perpetrators of this attack intended to kill 
both innocent people and the peace process itself. They must not be 
allowed to succeed. Everything possible must be done to stop them.
    The peace process can only move forward in a secure environment. And 
the Palestinian Authority, through concrete actions on its own and 
continuing work with the Israeli authorities, must do all it can to 
create an environment that leaves no doubt that terror will not be 
tolerated.
    This is the message that Secretary Albright will emphasize when she 
travels to the region next week. I know the overwhelming majority of 
Israelis and Palestinians yearn for an end to violence and for the start 
of lasting peace. If they are to see their hopes realized, we must see 
the strongest possible security cooperation. Only on that basis can the 
process proceed.

1996 Campaign Financing

    Q. Mr. President, the Justice Department says it's investigating--
reviewing, rather, whether campaign solicitations by Vice President Al 
Gore should warrant a preliminary investigation which could trigger the 
independent counsel law. Do you think that the Vice President's conduct 
should be investigated?

[[Page 1284]]

    The President. I have nothing to add to what I've said before. I 
believe what he did was legal, and the Justice Department has to make 
its own determination, which I'm confident they will do, based on the 
law.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Back on the bombing, sir----
    The President. Yes?
    Q.----what does this do to the peace process, do you believe?
    The President. I would hope it would give it added urgency. It is 
obvious that when things are hanging in limbo, all sides become more 
vulnerable to the enemies of peace, and particularly the people of 
Israel become more vulnerable to the terrorists who desperately do not 
want to see this peace process proceed. They do not want a peaceful 
resolution of the differences between the Israelis and the Palestinians. 
They do not want us to be able to go forward to see an ultimate 
resolution with the Syrians and the Lebanese. Hamas does not want that. 
Hamas and the other terrorists, they thrive on anger and anxiety and 
uncertainty and being able to inject their murderers into this 
situation.
    So what I hope will happen is that we will see--we believe we've 
made some progress. Mr. Ross went out there--on the security 
cooperation, and I hope we'll see some more, and I hope we'll see that 
this peace process can get going again.
    I think it's all the more important for Secretary Albright to go, 
and I've made it clear. And I tried to call Prime Minister Netanyahu. He 
was in the hospital with the victims and so he was unable to take my 
call, but I look forward to a discussion with him. I think it's 
important that she go on and go right out there, and we keep pushing 
this thing.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:18 p.m. at the press pool holding area. 
In his remarks, he referred to Special Middle East Coordinator Dennis B. 
Ross and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel.