Jewish Public Affairs Arm Urges President, Congress to Reassess Ties With Arafat, PA

NEW YORK, Aug. 9 – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs today called on President Bush and the Congress to reassess U.S. relations with the Palestinian Authority and its chairman Yasser Arafat in the wake of today's terrorist attack in Jerusalem.

“It is not enough to express outrage and offer condolences to the families and friends of those killed and to wish a speedy recovery to those injured in today's attack,” said Leonard A. Cole, chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

“This terrible and shameful act, like so many others perpetrated by Palestinian extremists this past year, was aimed at killing innocent people, including children and babies. The Palestinian Authority and its chairman Yasser Arafat must be held accountable.”

JCPA, the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 123 local agencies, urges President Bush and the U.S. Congress to immediately reassess American relations with the Palestinian Authority.

“Members of Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and other Palestinian terrorists proudly take credit for heinous attacks such as the one that took place today. It is long overdue for the international community to condemn Arafat and the Palestinian Authority for permitting these terrorists to roam freely. They should be arrested immediately,” Cole said.

The JCPA is encouraging people in communities throughout the United States to urge their Senators to cosponsor an amendment to the Senate version of the 2002 foreign aid bill that will be considered when Congress returns from its August recess. The legislation requires that sanctions be imposed on the Palestinian Authority if President Bush cannot certify that its leaders are meeting their commitments to fight terrorism and end their use of violence. Today's attack should also serve as a call to American Jews and other people of good will to stand in solidarity with Israel in these trying times.

“We must raise our voices in solidarity with Israel. Everyone who is able should attend the September 23^rd solidarity rally in New York City. And we should be joining in solidarity missions to Israel that are being run by the United Jewish Communities and other groups,” Cole said.

JCPA is the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community that serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 123 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.

# # #