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NH
Reps: attacks in Palestine appropriate
By
Cathleen Genova
WASHINGTON - New Hampshire's representatives in Congress say that President Bush's response to recent terrorist attacks in Palestine has been appropriate and that Israel is justified in taking action to defend itself.
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-NH, said peace takes work and compromise, and he doesn't see that happening soon in Israel.
"I think we have to continue to make it clear to [Yasser] Arafat and the people in the alleged legitimate government in Palestine that terrorism isn't acceptable, and they either get control over the terrorists or Israel has a right to defend itself,"
Gregg said. "You can't have a one-way dialogue. There has to be a sincere effort on both sides, and right now I don't sense that the Palestinians, the more radical groups, have any interest at all in the peace process." Gregg said, "It's a strange culture, obviously, and one which is difficult for us in the United States to appreciate."
"These folks seem to view the world as one where if they tear it down, they make progress, and they're willing to use violence against innocent civilians to tear it down," he said. "I don't sense that we can foresee any significant positive movement toward peace in Israel, and that part of the Middle East, in the near future without the Palestinian leadership taking control of the terrorists."
Rep. John E. Sununu, R-NH, said that "the reaction of President Bush and Secretary of State [Colin L.] Powell has been strong" and that those involved in the suicide bombings on Israel's streets need to be found and stopped.
"Palestine needs to take immediate action," Sununu said. "Action also needs to be taken to dismember or eliminate the infrastructure terrorists are relying upon. Only by stopping this violence can Israel and Palestine move forward with peace."
Sununu said the problems with Palestine have involved a "long and difficult process," and the current rash of terrorism there "needs to be pursued no matter the success or events in Afghanistan."
Sen. Bob Smith, R-NH, said: "Israel has a right to protect [itself]. I don't think we should dictate to them what they should or should not do for the same reason they didn't dictate to us when we were attacked on Sept. 11. I think that's been the policy the last few days by the administration, and I think that's the right thing to do."
"We should understand that Israel is a sovereign nation, and that Israel has every right to respond in any way that they feel appropriate to protect themselves," Smith said. "These are terrible, violent, insidious acts of killing innocent people. The same thing happened here in America. So I support Israel's right to defend itself, to attack, to do anything they have to do to stop this."
Rep. Charles Bass, R-NH, said "Congress shouldn't be managing foreign policy" and thinks President Bush has support across the globe and has handled the situation well.
"I believe the President is taking the right approach by being firm and maintaining significant distance from Yasser Arafat," Bass said. "Yasser Arafat has to believe the Israelis are not going to stutter along the way they have the last six to eight years."
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