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International Security | Response to Terrorism
04 December 2001
Hyde Introduces Resolution on Terror Attacks Against Israel
H. Con. Res. 280 demands Palestinian Authority end terror
The chairman of the House International Relations Committee and the ranking minority member of that panel joined forces December 4 to introduce a resolution that condemns Palestinian terror attacks against Israel and calls on the Palestinian Authority to "destroy the infrastructure of Palestinian terrorist groups."
Representative Henry Hyde (Republican of Illinois) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 280 (H. Con. Res. 280) to the House of Representatives, where it was referred to the House International Relations Committee.
Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California), one of 54 co-sponsors of the proposed resolution, spoke up for H. Con. Res. 280 and said the Palestinian Authority bears "full responsibility" for the terror attacks on Israel of December 1 and 2.
"The United States is currently targeting regimes that harbor terrorists, as well as terrorists themselves," said Lantos, the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.
Israel, he went on, "must also target the terrorists' protectors."
The Palestinian Authority, Lantos said, "bears full responsibility for the attacks of December 1 and 2, just as the Taliban bears full responsibility for the attacks of September 11."
H. Con. Res. 280 urges President Bush "to insist that all countries harboring, materially supporting, or acquiescing in the private support of Palestinian terrorist groups end all such support, dismantle the infrastructure of such groups, and bring all terrorists within their borders to justice."
The proposed resolution, according to its sponsors, "expresses the solidarity of the United States with Israel in our common struggle against the scourge of terrorism."
Following are the texts of Lantos' speech and H. Con. Res. 280:
Terrorist Attacks Against Israel
House of Representatives
December 04, 2001
Mr. Lantos. Mr. Speaker, today the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, and I will introduce a resolution that categorically condemns this week's outrageous terrorist strikes against the State of Israel and Israeli people.
@In the attacks of September 11, our Nation suffered the loss of over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children.Since that fateful day, our ally Israel has suffered a comparable loss. With 6 million citizens compared to our 280 million, Israel's 60 victims since September equates to over 2,700 American victims. Nearly half this number perished in a span of just 14 hours this past weekend.@
Mr. Speaker, the United States is currently targeting regimes that harbor terrorists, as well as terrorists themselves. Israel must also target the terrorists' protectors. The Palestinian Authority bears full responsibility for the attacks of December 1 and 2, just as the Taliban bears full responsibility for the attacks of September 11.
I urge all of our colleagues to join the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and me in this resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Israel.
Expressing solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism.
(Introduced in the House)
HCON 280 IH
107th Congress
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 280
Expressing solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism.
In The House Of Representatives
December 4, 2001
Mr. Hyde (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Watts of Oklahoma, Mr. Wynn, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Deutsch, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Berman, Mr. Engel, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Ros-lehtinen, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Flake, Mr. LeacH, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. King, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Grucci, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Souder, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Horn, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Wilson, Ms. Harman, Mr. Bass, Mr. Dan Miller of Florida, Mr. Filner, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Deal of Georgia, Mr. Cox, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania, Mr. Rangel, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Diaz-balart, Mr. Foley, and Mr. Frelinghuysen) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
Concurrent Resolution
Expressing solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism.
Whereas 26 innocent people in Israel were murdered in cold blood and at least 175 wounded by Palestinian terrorists, all within 14 hours, during the weekend of December 1-2, 2001;
Whereas this is the equivalent, on a proportional basis, of 1,200 American deaths and 8,000 wounded;
Whereas United States Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni has labeled the terrorism of December 1-2, 2001, `the deepest evil one can imagine';
Whereas this bloody weekend is part of an ongoing terror campaign often targeted at youth and families and perpetrated by the Islamic fundamentalist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian terrorist groups;
Whereas President Bush declared at a joint session of Congress on September 20, 2001, that 'Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime'; and
Whereas President Bush declared on December 2, 2001, that `Chairman Arafat must do everything in his power to find those who murdered innocent Israelis and bring them to justice': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--
condemns the vicious terrorist attacks resulting in the death of 26 and the wounding of at least 175 innocent people in Israel within 14 hours during December 1-2, 2001, and extends its deepest sympathies to the Israeli nation and to the families of the victims;
expresses outrage at the ongoing Palestinian terrorist campaign and insists that the Palestinian Authority take all steps necessary to end it;
demands, specifically, that the Palestinian Authority take action immediately to--
(A) destroy the infrastructure of Palestinian terrorist groups;
(B) pursue and arrest terrorists whose incarceration has been called for by Israel; and
(C) either--
(i) prosecute such terrorists, provide convicted terrorists with the stiffest possible punishment, and ensure that those convicted remain in custody for the full duration of their sentences; or
(ii) render all arrested terrorists to the Government of Israel for prosecution;
urges the President to take any and all necessary steps to ensure that the Palestinian Authority takes the actions described in paragraph (3), including, if necessary, suspending all relations with Yasir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority;
further urges the President to insist that all countries harboring, materially supporting, or acquiescing in the private support of Palestinian terrorist groups end all such support, dismantle the infrastructure of such groups, and bring all terrorists within their borders to justice;
commends the President for his strong leadership against international terrorism, his forthright response to this most recent outrage, and his swift action to freeze additional sources of terrorist funds; and
xpresses the solidarity of the United States with Israel in our common struggle against the scourge of terrorism.
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