74 Statement by Prime Minister Rabin on Israel Radio following terrorist attack on a Jerusalem bus

On 21 August, a powerful explosion ripped through a packed Jerusalem bus during the morning rush hour, killing five and wounding more than 100. This was another suicide bombing. Closure was reimposed. Two days later Israeli security officials announced that they broke up and arrested members of a terrorist network that were responsible for the latest outrage. In his statement, the prime minister reiterated his policy of hunting the terrorists while continuing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Text:

Israelis, tourists and others, innocent citizens who were on the bus, were attacked by a male or female suicide terrorist, with the objective of murdering Israelis, solely because they are Israelis, especially in Jerusalem, the united capital of the State of Israel. There was an announcement on Radio El-Quds from Damascus taking responsibility for carrying out the attack at the Elite Junction in Ramat Gan on a #20 bus, which emphasized that the goal of their war from now until the elections, was against the government led by the Labor Party, which is headed by - whom they referred to as - the terrorist Yitzhak Rabin. They are emphasizing their commitment to continue the attacks in order to torpedo the peace process. In their statement, they attack the Palestinian Authority over its action in Gaza and the foiling of a car-bomb attack by the Palestinian police in Gaza on Saturday.

We are facing a difficult war against terrorist Hamas elements - these criminal murderers - and Islamic Jihad. Since January 1, 1994, more than two-thirds of both the Israelis in uniform and civilians, that have been killed and murdered, have been killed in suicide attacks carried out by insane religious fanatics who are not capable of anything but murdering men, women and children. We will continue our activity, activity which led to the Gaza police - as well as the Judea and Samaria police, although not recently - frustrating suicide attacks. However the reality is a complete mixing of Palestinians and Israelis and it is difficult to completely prevent an insane person who is willing to die, from committing suicide and attacking Israelis.

A closure was placed on Palestinian residents of Judea and Samaria entering Israel. Steps are being taken to implement this closure, especially in the Jerusalem area, but not only in Jerusalem. We will determine what must be done in other areas and I truly hope that the Israeli public, including those who oppose the government's policies, will enable the police and the security forces, to first of all, fight terrorism and not have to waste energy and not divert forces, from the war against terrorism, to other problems. We are a democratic nation, with the right to express one's views, to demonstrate lawfully. However, you must not interfere with the security forces, with the IDF and the police in the territories and with the police within Israel, in performing their duty to protect the residents of Israel and Israelis in the territories, through activities which do not contribute to the security of the State of Israel. It was a difficult day, a painful day. I send my condolences to the families which have lost their loved ones and I wish the injured a quick recovery. This is a war against the enemies of Israel and the enemies of the peace. It is a war which we are waging today, to some extent, together with the Palestinian Authority, whose enemies they are also. The time has come to determine who among the Palestinians, are the murderers and who wish to find a political solution. If those who wish a political solution will cooperate, following the funerals, the talks will be renewed. We will fight with all of our strength, within the limits of the law which applies to the security forces of Israel, against those and only those, who murder Israelis, with the intention of killing the peace.

This is a hard and painful day, but we are determined to fight Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorism and to continue building the peace with the Palestinians who wish peace with us.