Thomas Daschle: “I come to the floor and rise in strong support of the resolution submitted by the distinguished assistant Democratic…”

“I come to the floor and rise in strong support of the resolution submitted by the distinguished assistant Democratic leader, Senator Reid, this afternoon. It was 3 years ago that we had an opportunity to bring real peace to the region. In September of 2000 there was a great deal of optimism, a great deal of hope, a great promise that after months and months of negotiation we could have finally found a peaceful resolution and move to the next step in the peaceful coexistence of people in the Middle East. For reasons still unclear, Yasser Arafat walked away from that agreement, disappointing, disillusioning, and, in so many ways, undermining the peace process. Over the course of the last 3 years, 800 Israelis have been killed, 2,400 Palestinians have died. Where he has had an opportunity to renounce violence, he has condoned it. Where he has had an opportunity to embrace peace, he has repelled it. At virtually every turn, regardless of circumstance, Mr. Arafat sends the wrong message about leadership, about commitment, about the spirit that was so alive just 3 years ago.”