Rice Condemns July 12 Suicide Bombing in Netanya, Israel
"Terror will not be tolerated," secretary of state says
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has condemned the July 12 suicide bombing in Netanya, Israel, that killed four Israeli citizens, and she expressed the United States’ “deepest sympathy for the victims of this heinous attack.”
Two 16-year-old girls, a 31-year-old woman and a 50-year-old woman were killed, and another 70 people were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a shopping mall in Netanya. The terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is based in Damascus, Syria, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bombing shook a five-month-old truce between Israelis and Palestinians, and Israeli forces have reoccupied the nearby West Bank city of Tulkarem in response to the attacks.
Rice said, “This terrorist attack is indeed an attack against the Israeli people. It is also a direct attack against the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
She added that Syria must stop harboring and supporting terrorist groups, such as the one responsible for this attack.
Rice said that the United States has spoken with the Palestinian government, which has also expressed condemnation for the bombing. “Now we must see actions that send a message that terror will not be tolerated,” she added.
Following is the text of Rice’s statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 12, 2005
Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Bombing in Netanya
I condemn in the strongest possible terms today's murderous bombing in Netanya, for which the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad has assumed responsibility.
Our deepest sympathy goes to the victims of this heinous attack, their families, and the Israeli people. We have been in contact with Israeli officials to express our condolences and to reiterate our stand with Israel against terrorism.
This terrorist attack is indeed an attack against the Israeli people. It is also a direct attack against the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
We have been in touch with the Palestinian leadership and made clear that they must take immediate steps to find those responsible and bring them to justice. The Palestinian leadership has been clear in condemning the attack and now we must see actions that send a message that terror will not be tolerated.
It is also essential that the Syrian government end its support for terrorist organizations, particularly those which are headquartered and harbored in Damascus such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Syria should immediately stop letting its territory be used for insurgent activities and for activities which frustrate the aspirations of the Lebanese, Iraqi, and Palestinian people.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
