President Bush has great sympathy for what Israel is going through because he personally understands how terrorism tears at the heart of a country. But, the President believes that we are at a pivotal point, and it is time for the Israelis and Palestinians to stop the violence and work towards a cease-fire with an eventual resumption of the peace process.

President Bush expects Israel to begin withdrawal without delay. But, we must understand that it cannot be too rushed and chaotic. The President also expects other parties to live up to their responsibilities. In a speech he gave April 4th, the President talked about what Israel has to do, the importance of stopping terrorism and the role the Arab states must play in bringing about short-term and long-term peace in the Middle East.

It is important for Chairman Arafat to renounce terrorism to the Arab world, in Arabic, which he has not done to date. The suicide bombings of innocent Israeli civilians must stop immediately. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aksa Brigade are known terrorist organizations and are on the list of official terrorist organizations. These groups are headquartered in the very area, the West Bank, where the current conflict is centered and these organizations need to be eliminated.

Secretary of State Colin Powell will be in Israel to promote Resolution 1402 of the United Nations. Hopefully, this will get the region back on the road to peace. It will be a difficult mission, but Secretary Powell has broad latitude to meet with any and all parties to accomplish this objective. This is not just about the steps Israel needs to take, but also the actions the Arab states and the Palestinian leadership need to take as well. It is my hope that Secretary Powell’s trip to Israel will be the beginning of reconciliation and peace.

Terrorism around the world must be eliminated. Events like September 11th and suicide bombings in cafes cannot be tolerated. I support President Bush in his efforts to root out terrorism to make this world a better place for our children and us.