Send Page to a Friend Jewish Community Relations Council Outraged by Latest Middle East Atrocities (Boston - December 2, 2001) Nancy K. Kaufman, Executive Director and Geoffrey H. Lewis, President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, issued the following statement in response to suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa and the shooting in Gush Katif: "We are horrified and saddened to learn of the vicious and evil terror attacks that took place in Jerusalem and Haifa yesterday. As President Bush has stated, these acts of murder must be condemned as actions "...that no person of conscience can tolerate and no cause can ever justify." We join all decent people in extending our deepest sympathies and condolences to families and friends of the victims and to all the people of Israel. These attacks, which killed 30 and injured over 200 civilians, underscore the urgency of a crackdown against terrorist groups operating freely within Palestinian controlled territory.  There is no rationale or justification for these wanton acts of cruelty.  The Palestinian Authority, if it is to be a credible partner must aggressively take concrete and immediate action to stop violence and acts of terror.  Since the arrival of Ret. General Zinni, Palestinian extremists have used all means at their disposal: shootings, suicide bombings, ambushes and outright attacks to undermine any chance of a ceasefire and a peaceful return to the negotiating table.  We only pray that after such an outrageous carnage, Chairman Arafat will finally get the message and act swiftly and decisively against those responsible for these hideous murders and to prevent further acts of this nature." "We call on Americans from all walks of life to join us today in denouncing these vicious acts of terror and in urging the Palestinian Authority to act swiftly and decisively against those responsible for the continuing escalation of violence in Israel."