Calls on World Leaders to Condemn Terrorism
The President's Ranch
Crawford, Texas
March 30, 2002
12:40 P.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: This morning I made a series of phone calls to world leaders to express my concern. I listened to their concerns about the escalating violence in the Middle East.

We are at this point because there has not been enough done to fight off terror. All the leaders in the world must stand up against terror, must do everything in their power to cut off the funding to terrorist organizations, to prevent terrorist organizations from finding safe haven.

And that especially applies to Chairman Arafat. I believe he can do a lot more to prevent attacks, such as the one that just occurred in Tel Aviv.

I am deeply concerned about the loss of innocent lives. It breaks my heart when children, innocent women and innocent men lose their life. I fully understand Israel's need to defend herself; I respect that. It's a country that has seen a wave of suicide bombers coming into the hearts of their cities and killing innocent people. That country has a right to defend herself.

And as she does so, I urge that their government, the Israeli government, make sure that there is a path to peace as she secures her homeland. But they've got to keep in mind the need that there's got to be a peaceful solution at some point. I've been assured by the Israeli government that -- about the well-being of Chairman Arafat, that he won't be harmed.

I have heard him say that, well, he's confined, he can't do anything to secure -- to help them secure the region. I know he's got a lot of forces, he's got a lot of people that listen to him still. And he has got to speak out clearly. He's got to make it absolutely clear that the Palestinian Authority does not support these terrorist activities, and use the security forces to prevent them from happening.

I've asked that General Zinni stay in the region. I think it's very important for our country to provide an opportunity for discussions, an opportunity for people to come together. So Zinni will stay there. He will stay there to continue to push for a process that will ultimately get us into Mitchell, and Mitchell is the best hope for peace. It has been agreed to by the parties as an opportunity for those who love peace to have a framework for peace.

Last night the administration supported a U.N. Security Council resolution that urges there to be a cease-fire, start a process that will end this cycle of violence. Here we are on one of holiest of holidays and we're worried about people needlessly losing their lives. And our prayers and thoughts go to the families of the victims. And I pray for peace. And I urge all parties to recognize that there are terrorists in this world who can't stand the thought of peace and all of us -- all of us -- must work together to condemn, find and stop terrorist activities.

I'll be glad to answer a few questions.

QUESTION: Mr. President, with this latest terrorist attack on a Tel Aviv cafe tonight, with many apparent casualties, does Chairman Arafat in your opinion really have any control over these suicide bombers?

THE PRESIDENT: I think Chairman Arafat can do a lot more. I truly believe that. I believe he needs to stand up and condemn, in Arabic, these attacks. He's got a security force that admittedly is somewhat on the defensive right now. But, nevertheless, there is a security force, there is a security apparatus. We've been dealing with the leaders of the security apparatus.

And they have got to do a much better job of preventing people from coming into Israel to blow up innocent people. The leaders in the region must do the same thing. Again, I was pleased that Crown Prince Abdullah spoke out so forcefully for what he called normalization. We support that.

But there is no normalcy when, day after day, killers destroy innocent lives. All the leaders must join with governments such as ours to strongly condemn and stop terrorist activities.

I spoke Jose Maria Aznar, he's the head of the EU now, and he told me, he said, you know, the world must fight off these terrorists, and the region can do more, in my judgment. The Iranians must step up and stop sponsoring terrorism. The Syrians must participate. If people want peace in the region, there has got to be a united effort against terror, and I do believe Mr. Arafat can do more.

QUESTION: Mr. President, you made a lot of phone calls today, but not to Sharon, not to Arafat. Why not and what is the next U.S. step?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, my administration has made a lot of phone calls into the region on a daily basis. Secretary of State Powell will be speaking to Prime Minister Sharon again.

QUESTION: Today?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, today; soon, as I understand it. Unless this current -- this recent bombing has put the Prime Minister into a Cabinet meeting and, therefore, won't be able to take a phone call. But he was supposed to have made a call, like, right now.

Nevertheless, we're in constant touch with these governments and the next step is to continue our call and our efforts and our push to fight off terror.

It appears to me these aren't just isolated incidents. I mean, there's a pattern, a routine, and a constancy. And so we will continue to lead, to talk and urge world leaders, particularly those in the region, to do everything they can to shut off the capacity of people to come and bomb.

QUESTION: Why wasn't Arafat called by Powell today?

THE PRESIDENT: He may be doing that, I just don't know. Mr. Arafat, he doesn't need a phone call from me. All he's got to do is watch what I just said. And that message will be delivered to him.

QUESTION: Mr. President, have we reached a point where there needs to be a more aggressive and more visible and public U.S. effort to quell the violence? And will that include greater outreach to the nations in the region?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you may recall the Vice President has just returned from the region, which is a significant outreach. We're spending a great deal of time in our capacity as the leader of a coalition against the war on terror to continue not only our war in Afghanistan and elsewhere, but also continuing to fight terror in this region.

And every phone call I make, I remind people that if you're interested in peace -- and the leaders I've talked to are interested in peace -- we have all got to come together to stop terror. Our role is very visible and our role is very active. And I firmly believe that we can achieve a peace in the region, but not until -- not until -- there is a concerted, united effort to rout terror out.

Because what we're seeing is -- we're seeing, for example, in South Carolina, I remember talking to you all and saying -- this was on Thursday, saying -- or Wednesday, saying that I was optimistic in getting a chance to get into Tenet. And by the time I got on the airplane and landed in Georgia, there had been this awful suicide bombing. And so it is a -- it's clear to me the more progress we make toward achieving a cease-fire or meaningful security discussions, the more a killer organization will try to disrupt the process.

And, therefore, the best way to make sure that we can get some meaningful dialogue going is to secure the -- is to help secure the region, in particular, Israel's homeland, by a united front against terror. It's essential that we lead -- meaning those who long for a peace -- and, again, I repeat to you every leader I've talked to said, we need peace. But there needs to be a focused, coalition effort in the region against peace -- I mean, against terror for peace.

QUESTION: You mentioned a moment ago that Iran and Syria need to do more.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I believe they do.

QUESTION: Can you identify other countries in the region who need to do more than they're doing now?

THE PRESIDENT: All the countries in the region must condemn terror, speak clearly about terror. I appreciate the fact that the Saudis have spoken about a vision for peace. I thought that was a very important statement. It recognized Israel's right to exist. And that's essential.

The corollary to that is in order for Israel to exist, terror must stop. I can understand why the Israeli government takes the actions they take. Their country is under attack. Every day, there has been a suicide bombing and every day the government sees the loss of innocent life.

On the other hand, I understand why some Palestinians feel so hopeless. There is a -- the loss of innocent life on the Palestinian side is too much. But the Palestinians, particularly those who long for a peaceful resolution, the independent statehood of the Palestinians -- as a part of that peaceful solution, they must do everything in their power to stop terrorist activity.

QUESTION: On Iran and Syria, do you have any evidence that those countries are directly involved in the latest series of bombings?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I do not have evidence. But I saw, for example, the Syrians once again walk out of the U.N., when there was a reasonable resolution put forward. That should say something.

And, secondly, I understand the relations between Hezbollah and Iran, and there has been no evidence -- I don't know who's claiming credit for this bombing. I haven't seen Hezbollah's name mentioned. But, nevertheless, that's terror, that's a terrorist organization, and -- but no, I have no direct evidence.

Nevertheless, I do know their influence in the region. And if they are interested in a peaceful resolution, they too need to be active about cutting off funds. And, as you may recall, there was a ship, that was intercepted by the Israelis, that came from Iran full of weapons.

And so my point is that there needs to be a focused international effort to condemn -- strongly condemn as well as rout out terrorist activities. Otherwise, we will have a difficult problem in getting to a peaceful accord.

There has been a framework laid out, and now the efforts will be focused, like they have been, to get into the framework. In the meantime, Israel will defend herself. And, again, I understand that.

You will recall, as I said in my statement, that I hope Israel keeps in mind that there needs to be a road for peace. It's in the Israeli's interests not only to defend herself, but to keep in mind that there has got to be a peaceful resolution in order for her people to be able to grow up in a secure and peaceful world.

QUESTION: Can I follow up on that point? Do you think that -- it seems as if, even if they're not trying to physically harm Arafat, they're trying to undermine him, undermine his leadership with the Palestinians. Do you think that serves any purpose?

THE PRESIDENT: I think Mr. Arafat could have done more three weeks ago and can do more today. I know I have been disappointed in his unwillingness to go a hundred percent toward fighting terror. That includes using security forces to help prevent suicide bombers from crossing certain lands. And that also means speaking out clearly, in his native tongue.

I fully understand the frustrations of the Israeli people. I sympathize. And I sympathize with the frustrations of the Palestinian people, those who long for normalcy, those who want to send their kids to school and go to work. There's got to be a much more concerted effort by Chairman Arafat and others to stop terror.

Terror is -- so long as there's this reign of terror, there will be no peace. So, therefore, stopping terror makes conditions ripe for peace.

QUESTION: Mr. President, did we know in advance about the invasion? And what's your position now? Should the Israelis get out of the compound? Should they continue the military action or quit?

THE PRESIDENT: Israel is a democratically elected government, and the government is responding to the will of the people for there to be more security. And Israel will make the decisions necessary to defend herself.

My point to the Israeli government is, as you do so, keep in mind there must be an avenue toward a peaceful settlement. As you defend yourself -- and you have the right to do so -- please keep in mind and work with the region to develop a strategy that will end up with a peaceful settlement.

Thank you all for coming.

END 12:57 P.M. CST