American Jewish Committee Praises President Bush For UN Veto, Warning Arafat

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 30 March 2001

The American Jewish Committee has expressed profound appreciation to President George W. Bush for standing by Israel, America's friend and partner, against monstrous terrorism and international political attack.

"That your Administration would choose so forthrightly to shoulder the burden of truth-telling in the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict is inspiring," wrote AJC President Bruce M. Ramer and Acting Executive Director Shulamith Bahat in a letter to President Bush.

The AJC said it was gratifying that the U.S. would stand up alone at the UN Security Council and nullify a resolution condemning Israel and seeking to bypass the Israeli-Palestinian negotiating process through the introduction of a UN force.

"We found it especially chilling that the Security Council would take up a resolution calling for an international observer force 'to protect Palestinian civilians' one day after a 10-month-old Israeli girl was murdered in cold blood by a Palestinian sniper, and at a time of repeated terrorist attacks on Israelis," wrote Mr. Ramer and Ms. Bahat.

The AJC also praised the President for his "powerful and refreshing" message to the Palestinian leadership at today's presidential news conference in which he made clear that the U.S. will not tolerate or ignore the Palestinian Authority's failure to stop violence against Israel.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org