Jerusalem, 16 August 2001
Pres Bush calls PM Sharon to express condolences
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday, August 16, 2001,
received a telephone call from US President George W. Bush
expressing his sincere condolences on the attack in Jerusalem and
his shock over the murder of innocent people including American
citizens by the Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up in
a restaurant filled with children in the heart of Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Sharon told the President that Israel will not
escalate the situation or lead the region to war. Having said
that, the Prime Minister clarified that Israel has a commitment
to protect the well-being and safety of its citizens.
The Prime Minister further explained to the President that the
actions taken at the Orient House were an enforcement of Israeli
law in Jerusalem, laws that were systematically broken by the
Palestinians. The Prime Minister said that weapons and explosives
were found at the Orient House and Abu Dis, and that activities
at these locations included kidnapping, torture, murder,
extortion, threats and surveillance by the Palestinian Authority
against the population of eastern Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Sharon clarified that he is working to ease the
situation for residents of the PA territories who are not
involved in terrorist activities. To this end, he requested that
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres work with the Palestinians on this
issue. However, the Prime Minister said that Israel will continue
to take preventative actions against those who intend on
planning, aiding and carrying out terrorist actions in Israel.
Prime Minister Sharon thanked President Bush for the pressure he
put on Arafat in an effort to end the terror and incitement as
well as for the US support of Israel in the international arena.