AJCommittee Condemns Bombings In Jerusalem Mall

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 4 September 1997

The American Jewish Committee strongly condemns the multiple explosions set off at a busy mall in downtown Jerusalem, which have once again tragically claimed innocent Israeli lives and caused serious injury to many others. To our brothers and sisters in Israel we send a heartfelt message of condolence and our commitment for support and solidarity during these difficult times.

According to news reports, Hamas has officially claimed responsibility for these latest bombings, which come only a few short weeks after the July 30th bombings that killed fifteen people. On August 20, in Gaza, Chairman Arafat was photographed embracing a major Hamas leader. If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, this image bespeaks volumes about Mr. Arafat's two-faced approach to the peace process. If Mr. Arafat cannot deliver on the oft-repeated promises he makes to Israel and the United States to control violence and work in cooperation with Israel to stop the wanton bloodshed, we fear that the goal of peace will prove sadly elusive.

We hope that Secretary of State Albright will go to the Middle East next week, as planned. Now more than ever it is imperative that she carry forth the message to the Palestinian Authority and Chairman Arafat that they must clamp down on terrorism and aggressively strengthen security cooperation with Israel so that negotiations can move ahead toward the peace for which we hope. The carnage must end. The violence must stop. The terrorists must be caught and punished and their support cells destroyed.

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