IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 146
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the terrorist bombing in
Jerusalem on September 4, 1997.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 5, 1997
Mr. GILMAN (for himself, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. LANTOS, Mr.
HAYWORTH, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr.
LAZIO of New York, Mr. WELLER, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. PITTS, Mr.
WELDON of Florida, Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado, Mr. COOK, Mr.
RYUN, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. PORTER, Mr. FORBES, Mr. OXLEY, Mr.
NADLER, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. FOLEY) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Re-
lations
SEPTEMBER 5, 1997
The Committee on International Relations discharged; considered and agreed
to
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the terrorist
bombing in Jerusalem on September 4, 1997.
Whereas on September 4, 1997, three terrorist bombs ex-
ploded almost simultaneously on the Ben Yehuda Street
pedestrian mall in Jerusalem, killing at least four inno-
cent people and wounding over 190 others;
Whereas Hamas claimed responsibility for this bombing;
HCON 146 ATH
Whereas despite a clear United States call that Palestinian
commitment to fight terror must be constant and abso-
lute, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat convened a national
unity conference on August 20, 1997, in which he em-
braced leaders of the Hamas and Islamic Holy War
movements;
Whereas in the four years that the Oslo process has been in
effect, it is clear that the leaders of the Palestinian Au-
thority have yet to implement in any sustained manner
the specific pledges they made in numerous agreements
to: (1) prevent incitement and hostile propaganda; (2)
combat terrorist organizations and their infrastructure
systematically and effectively; (3) apprehend and punish
terrorists; and (4) confiscate illegal firearms: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) expresses its outrage at this latest attack on
civilian Israelis, extends the deepest sympathies of
the Congress and the American people to the fami-
lies of the victims and to the people and government
of Israel at this tragic loss of innocent human life,
and expresses the commitment of the American peo-
ple to remain dedicated to Israel’s security in the
face of this brutal and heinous act of terrorism;
(2) demands that Chairman Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority systematically and comprehen-
sively eliminate the terrorist infrastructure and com-
HCON 146 ATH
bat terrorist activities of members of all terror
groups operating in areas under its control, and ful-
fill the commitments the PLO made to Israel, the
United States, and the world;
(3) informs PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and
the leaders of the Palestinian Authority in the
strongest possible terms that choices must now be
made: either they do what they solemnly pledged to
do as part of the Oslo process to fight terror and the
terrorist infrastructure in a consistent, serious and
sustained manner, or the entire peace process, rela-
tions with America, and the hopes of the Palestinian
people for a better future will be seriously jeopard-
ized;
(4) urges Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
to underscore to the Palestinians one distinct mes-
sage: the Palestinian Authority must fulfill its most
important single obligation of fighting terrorism re-
lentlessly with all the means at its disposal; and
(5) believes that all United States assistance to
the Palestinian Authority, whether direct or indirect,
should be suspended until such time as substantive
compliance with its commitments under the Oslo
agreements is achieved.
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