Palestinian Terrorists Encouraged By Arafat's Refusal to End Violence

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 25 May 2001

"The Palestinian leadership's inexplicable rejection of Israel's cease-fire call has given further encouragement to Palestinian terrorists to strike, as they did today in double terror bombing attacks in Hadera and Gaza," said Shulamit Bahat, acting executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

"The historical record is clear on Israel's yearning for peace," said Ms. Bahat. "Egypt and Jordan found a willing partner in Jerusalem and reached landmark peace agreements, but the Palestinian leadership, despite significant gains at the negotiating table, have chosen hatred over reconciliation, violence over peace."

"Last summer, at Camp David, Israel presented the Palestinians with an historic offer to achieve real peace, with far-reaching compromises on every major issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Palestinian leaders inexplicably rejected an opportunity to fulfill their people's aspirations and achieve real peace," Ms. Bahat continued.

"To Israel's forward-looking offer Arafat never gave a reply, not to Israel and not to the United States. Instead, the Palestinians, with his encouragement, launched last September a campaign of violence that, after more than seven months, has needlessly and tragically cost the lives of hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis, and brought inestimable damage to the Palestinian economy," said Ms. Bahat.

"The Palestinian leadership knows well that the significant achievements in peacemaking – including transferring to Palestinian control all major towns in Gaza and the West Bank, and 98 percent of the Palestinian population – resulted from direct, face to face, negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, not from violence.

"Israel's hand for peace is still outstretched. The Palestinian leadership should grab it and join Israelis in the quest for peace."

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