CNN - Bombing reaction in U.S.

Bombing reaction in U.S. is sharp, but leaders want peace process to continue

March 3, 1996
Web posted at: 10:20 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Kathleen Koch

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the United States, reactions to Sunday's deadly bombing in Jerusalem have been strong and impassioned.

In New York, dozens of outraged Jews spilled into the streets chanting "Peace, yes, Arafat, no." (60K WAV sound) They charge that Palestinian Assembly President Yasser Arafat speaks of peace but doesn't follow through, leaving Israel no choice but to break off peace talks. (952K QuickTime movie)

"You cannot make peace with an enemy who does not want to make peace with you," said Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Coalition for Jewish Concerns.

Itamar Rabinovich, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., says that Arafat must take stronger steps than Sunday's decree outlawing military groups associated with Hamas and other fundamentalist Islamic groups.

"He needs to define Hamas and all other manifestations of terrorism as public enemies number one," Rabinovich said.

Palestinians insist they have been fighting Hamas, and are winning some ground.

"The Israelis know that we have pre-empted many operations in the last year or so," said Hasan Abdel Rahman, the Palestinian's Chief Representative to the U.S. (145K AIFF sound or 145K WAV sound)

On the U.S. political front, top Republican leaders call the third terrorist attack in Israel in a week a horrible -- though not unexpected -- setback. Presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole said that Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Arafat must continue "trying to make this work."

"Everyone knew the peace process was going to be filled with incidents of this kind," he said.

President Clinton telephoned Peres Sunday to express his support and discuss possible next steps. A White House official says the administration's senior Middle East advisers will meet Monday to review the situation.

"This is a troubling moment," Clinton said Sunday, "but I am determined to see that it does not defeat the peace process."

The president stressed that the peace-makers should remain resolute, but he has already backed a peace initiative for Northern Ireland that has been jeopardized by terrorist attacks. It is not a scenario that Clinton wants to see repeated in the Middle East -- especially in an election year. (247K AIFF sound or 247K WAV sound)

Feedback

Send us your comments - Selected responses are posted daily.

Bombing reaction in U.S. is sharp, but leaders want peace process to continue

Feedback

| CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN US NEWS PAGE |