Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, after learning this morning about the latest violence in Israel. News reports indicate that two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed in the West Bank town of Ramallah. The Israeli soldiers were detained by the Palestinian police after they inadvertently made a wrong turn down a street, and were taken to a police station. Apparently a mob of Palestinians broke into the police station, slaughtered the Israeli soldiers, and paraded their bodies through the streets.

I call on Mr. Arafat to live up to his obligations under the Oslo Accords, and to maintain public order and calm in the West Bank through a vigorous use of the Palestinian police force. Let us remember that the Palestinians now fully control over 40% of the West Bank and Gaza, with over 95% of the Palestinian population under the civil administration of the Palestinian Authority. As the Palestinians gain greater authority and control over their domestic affairs, they also must shoulder the additional security responsibilities that come hand-in-hand with territorial control. The Palestinians must ensure the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians within their areas of control.

Mr. Arafat has personally assumed responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure the maintenance of peace, law, and order in the West Bank. Just a few days ago Mr. Arafat allowed a Palestinian mob to destroy Joseph's Tomb, a Jewish holy site in the West Bank, just hours after Israeli troops withdrew and allowed the Palestinian police to take control.

Mr. Speaker, each of us prays for peace in the Middle East. The only way to achieve peace is for the Palestinian leaders to not only condemn but to take steps to stop terrorism and violence.