Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Vice President
to Reconsider Offer to Meet with Arafat
March 22, 2002

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), along with 51 of her Senate colleagues, has called upon Vice President Richard Cheney to reconsider his offer to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in light of the recent suicide bombings.

The following is a letter sent to President Bush by Senator Feinstein and 51 of her colleagues:

March 21, 2002

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20500-0003

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our profound concern and dismay at the news of yet another suicide bombing in Jerusalem -- killing three and wounding more than 50 -- even as General Zinni is on the ground in the region trying to bring both parties together for cease-fire negotiations.

Chairman Arafat made a commitment at Oslo to settle all differences between Palestinians and Israelis peacefully and to renounce the use of terrorism and other acts of violence. Yet even today the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Mr. Arafat's own Fatah movement, are engaged in acts of violence and terrorism.

It is especially disappointing to us that this bombing -- the second in two days -- comes just at a time that Vice President Cheney had offered to meet with Mr. Arafat and that General Zinni had returned to the region to seek to bring both sides together to implement the Tenet Plan. Yet there is no evidence, on the ground, that Mr. Arafat is willing to do what is necessary to help bring peace to Israel and his people. Mr. Arafat must live up to his pledge at Oslo and demonstrate that he is a genuine partner for peace.

We strongly believe that Chairman Arafat must take decisive and concerted action to rein in the terrorists and put and end to their brutal campaign -- and must demonstrate, on the ground, that he is willing to take the steps necessary to bring the violence to an end. Until Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority demonstrate a commitment, in word and deed, to control the violence and do everything they can to stop it, we believe that Israel, a democratic state and a staunch friend and ally of the United States, is strongly within its rights to take necessary and appropriate measures to assure the security of its people.

Until Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority demonstrate their commitment to end the violence we would urge that the Vice President reconsider his offer to meet with Mr. Arafat. And although we believe that it is critical that General Zinni remain in the region, we hope that he makes clear that the United States will not deal with those who do not live up to their commitments.

We look forward to your thoughts on this matter, and to working with you on this critical issue.

With warmest personal regards.

Sincerely,