Jewish Community Welcomes President’s Call For Broad, Sustained Palestinian Reform
JCRC: Bush Right: Arafat is Obstacle to Peace, New Leadership Needed
(BOSTON — June 25, 2002) The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston today praised President Bush for his strong condemnation of terrorism against Israeli civilians and his call for extensive and sustained reform of Palestinian leadership.
JCRC President Geoffrey H. Lewis and JCRC Executive Director Nancy K. Kaufman, issued the following statement in reaction to President Bush's speech:
"President Bush made it clear that the Palestinian people would get a state through reform and not through terrorism.
The president is correct that there can be no reward for those who use violence and terrorism in an attempt to advance a political agenda, and for recognizing that Yasser Arafat has become a clear obstacle to peace who must be replaced. We agree that a Palestinian state cannot be considered until there is a 'sustained' fight against the terrorists and the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure.
The president was right on target when he declared that Palestinian statehood can only become a possibility after the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors. This reform, he stressed, must not be cosmetic or a 'veiled attempt to preserve the status quo.'
'Nations are either with us or against us,' President Bush said. We urge Syria, Lebanon and others who continue to facilitate the arming of terrorists to heed the president's call and stop the flow of arms and support peace.
Time and again Israel has expressed its willingness to negotiate a permanent political agreement with the Palestinians but not while the Palestinian leadership stands idly by and even encourages the murder of innocent Israelis.
Some two years ago, before the start of the wave of terrorism orchestrated by Arafat, an Israeli government was prepared to make far-reaching compromises for the sake of peace. Israel and the American Jewish community remain dedicated to a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. If the Palestinian people seize President Bush's call for fundamental and sustained reform a negotiated settlement is in sight. We will continue to support the efforts of the Bush administration to make this a reality."
