H. Res. 453
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 21, 2003.
Whereas in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, two ex-
plosions, set off minutes apart during Sabbath morning
services, devastated Neve Shalom, the city’s largest syna-
gogue, and the Beth Israel synagogue, about three miles
away;
Whereas more than 20 people, both Muslims and Jews, were
killed, and more than 300 people, both Muslims and
Jews, were wounded, in the bombing attacks on the syna-
gogues;
Whereas on November 20, 2003, two bombs exploded at the
Consulate of the United Kingdom in Istanbul and at the
HSBC Bank;
Whereas among the more than 25 killed and 450 wounded
in the November 20 bombing attacks on the consulate
general and commercial buildings were Muslims and
Christians—Turks, British diplomats, and visitors to the
Turkish Republic;
Whereas the United Kingdom is an ally of the United States
and Turkey in the global war on terrorism;
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and
20, 2003, in Istanbul, Turkey, were cowardly and brutal
manifestations of international terrorism;
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Whereas the Government of Turkey immediately condemned
the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms and
has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice at all costs;
Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey
equally abhor and denounce these hateful, repugnant,
and loathsome acts of terrorism;
Whereas with anti-Semitic activities escalating the safety and
security of Jewish people throughout the world is a mat-
ter of serious concern;
Whereas since Turkey cherishes its traditions of hospitality
and religious tolerance and in particular its history of
more than five hundred years of good Jewish-Muslim re-
lations, the attacks on synagogues and consular premises
came as a special shock to the Turkish people and to
their friends throughout the world;
Whereas the United States and Turkey are allied by shared
values and a common interest in building a stable, peace-
ful, and prosperous world;
Whereas Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation with a
seculargovernment, has close relations with Israel and is
also the only predominantly Muslim member of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and
20,2003 show again that terrorism respects neither
boundaries nor borders: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the
terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15
and 20, 2003;
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(2) expresses its condolences to the families of the
individuals murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses
its sympathies to the individuals injured in the attacks,
and conveys its hope for the rapid and complete recovery
of all such injured individuals;
(3) expresses its condolences to the people and gov-
ernment of the Turkish Republic and of the United
Kingdom over the losses they have suffered; and
(4) expresses its solidarity with the United King-
dom, the Turkish Republic, and all other countries which
stand united against terrorism and which work together
to bring to justice the perpetrators of these and other
terrorist attacks.
Attest:
Clerk.