Senator John McCain Sharply Critical of Palestinian Leadership

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 9 May 2002

Senator John McCain today delivered an impassioned speech of support for Israel and sharp criticism of both Palestinian leadership and the Arab governments that continue to rhetorically and materially support Palestinian terrorism.

"No moral nation, neither Israel nor America, can allow terrorists to chart the political course of its people. No freedom-loving nation can tolerate a terrorist state on its border," said Senator McCain. "We will defeat terrorism against America, and we will stand with Israel as she fights the same enemy."

Senator McCain spoke today before the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee. AJC presented him with its prestigious Congressional Leadership Award.

Senator McCain said that Arab rhetorical and material support for the Palestinian intifada serves only to perpetuate the conflict.

"Telethons and poems glorifying suicide bombers are not steps toward peace. Cash payments to the families of suicide bombers are not steps toward peace. Communiqués glorifying the murder of innocents are not steps toward peace," said Senator McCain. "All of this is evil, pure and simple."

No political solution to the conflict with the Palestinians is "possible as long as Palestinian terrorism has a place at the negotiating table," said Senator McCain, adding that it is "unmistakably clear to Americans" that Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership "destroyed the peace process begun in Oslo" by rejecting the settlement offered by former Israeli Prime Minister Barak at Camp David.

Expressing support for President Bush's campaign against terrorism worldwide, Senator McCain singled out Iraq as the next target. "A terrorist resides in Baghdad, with the resources of an entire state at his disposal," Senator McCain said of Saddam Hussein, whose development of nuclear and biological weapons goes unchecked.

"For deterrence to work it must be accompanied by a concerted campaign to transform the internal character of regimes whose policies threaten us," said Senator McCain. "American policy tools must include the use of military force when we have no other choice and our vital interests are threatened, as in Iraq. They must also include programs and policies that support freedom and opportunity throughout the Arab world."

"Thirty-nine Iraqi missiles fell on Israel during the Gulf War," he said. "These missiles had only conventional warheads. The 40th missile may not. This is my nightmare."

He continued: "Failure to act against this regime while we still have the freedom to do so would be morally wrong. Europe slept in the 1930s. We must not."

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