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.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |