Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister correctly characterized the terrorist assaults on Israel this past weekend as a “monstrous taking of innocent life”.
Indeed, they are a clear violation of United Nations international law principles that terrorism, from whatever quarter, for whatever purpose, is unacceptable and that it is prohibited to facilitate, support or perpetrate acts of terrorism. On the contrary, it is the responsibility of governments to bring terrorists to justice.
Accordingly, whether Arafat is a partner for peace or a participant in terror will be determined by his own response to the following verification measures for counterterrorism.
Will Arafat and the Palestinian Authority: first, cease and desist from government sanctioned incitement to terror and violence against civilians?; second, disarm and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure that enjoys base and sanctuary within the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority itself?; third, cease and desist from aiding and abetting acts of terror?; fourth, declare Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, organizations that publicly seek Israel's destruction and commit terrorist acts to that end, to be terrorist organizations?; and finally, will Arafat and the Palestinian Authority bring to justice--