Benjamin Gilman: “the past 2 weeks, tension in the Middle East has spiraled out of control as PLO Chairman Mr. Arafat attempts to dictate…”

“the past 2 weeks, tension in the Middle East has spiraled out of control as PLO Chairman Mr. Arafat attempts to dictate Israeli concessions at the negotiating table through the unbridled use of violence and, most appallingly, through the manipulation of young children as ``martyrs in training.'' This massive, fundamental violation of the Oslo Accords is intentional, as underscored when the leader of the Tanzim paramilitary forces in the West Bank said yesterday that his organization would escalate the confrontations with Israel and not try to calm the situation. Marwan Barghuti said, and I quote, ``This blessed Intifada is looking ahead and mass activity is moving forward.'' Mr. Speaker, in today's latest outrage, a Palestinian mob killed two Israeli soldiers and dumped their bloody bodies in the streets after the pair were captured with two other servicemen earlier today in the Palestinian city of Ramallah. That is why I am appalled that the administration abstained during the recent U.N. Security Council condemnation of Israel. The administration must understand, as must the Palestinians, that you cannot have it both ways. Today, I will be introducing a resolution along with the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) of the Committee on International Relations condemning the Palestinian violence. I invite our colleagues to join us in cosponsorship.”