American Jewish Committee Condemns Terror Attack in Binyamina

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 16 July 2001

"Today's Palestinian suicide bombing attack at an Israeli train station demonstrates that not only have Palestinian Authority leaders failed to curb terrorism, but by their inaction they are in effect condoning attacks deep inside Israel," said Harold Tanner, president of the American Jewish Committee.

"Coming just a day after Israeli Foreign Minster Shimon Peres met in Cairo with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the terror attack in Binyamina makes clear that the Palestinian leadership is continuing its unconscionable policy of seeking to resume negotiations with Israel while continuing to implement a campaign of violence and terror that the Palestinians launched last September," said Mr. Tanner, who is leading an American Jewish Committee international leadership delegation to Israel later this week.

Shulamit Bahat, acting executive director of the American Jewish Committee, added: "The Palestinian leadership launched the nearly yearlong campaign of violence and terror after they inexplicably rejected last summer Israel's historic offer to achieve real peace, with far-reaching compromises on every major issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Israel's hand for peace is still outstretched, as demonstrated by the Sharon Government's policy of restraint, and by Foreign Minister Peres meeting with Arafat as well as that of other Israeli emissaries," said Ms. Bahat. "The Palestinian leadership should immediately end the campaign of violence and terror, grab Israel's hand and join Israelis in the quest for peace."

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