Zionist Organization of America News Release, September 18, 2002
NEW YORK – Secretary of State Powell has pledged to bring about the creation
of a Palestinian Arab state in Judea-Samaria and Gaza in the year 2003, even
though the Palestinian Arabs have not fulfilled any of the conditions he spelled
out in President Bush’s June 24 speech.
For a free copy of the ZOA’s new report on Palestinian Arab violations of the
Bush plan, titled Two Months Since the Bush Middle East Speech, please call
the ZOA at 212-481-1500.
The major findings of the report are:
* No crackdown on terror: While the Bush plan requires the Palestinian Arabs to
“fight terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure,” they have not arrested
terrorists, extradited any terrorists to Israel, outlawed or disarmed any terrorist
groups, shut down any bomb factories, or punished any PLO factions involved
in terror. During the two-month period since the Bush speech, there were 226
Palestinian Arab terrorist attacks, in which 45 people were killed and 309
wounded.
* No end to promoting murder and hatred: Official Palestinian Authority
television, radio, and newspapers are still filled each day with anti-Israel and
anti-American incitement and support for violence.
* No new leadership: While President Bush insisted that the Palestinian Arabs
elect new leaders, PA spokesmen defiantly rejected that call and said they will
elect whomever they want.
* No meaningful reforms: There was no meaningful effort to fulfill the Bush
plan’s requirement for total reform of Palestinian Arab governing agencies and
the dismissal of all officials involved in terrorism or corruption. As part of an
internal power struggle, Yasir Arafat fired several officials but then offered them
alternative positions within the PA; he also hired a veteran terrorist as his new
national security adviser.
Morton A. Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America
(ZOA), said: “The Palestinian Arabs have not fulfilled any of the conditions set
by President Bush’s June 24 speech and their terrorist war against Israel
continues, yet the Bush administration is promising to give them a state
nevertheless.
This rewards terrorism and sends a message to the Palestinian Arabs
that they can continue their terrorism against Israel without suffering any
consequences. This makes a mockery of President Bush’s conditions for U.S.
support for creating a Palestinian Arab state. The Bush administration should be
working to end terrorist states — as President Bush vowed to do — rather than
creating a new one.”
