Director of Communications on U.N. Security Council
Action on the Hebron Massacre
(March 18, 1994)
The United Nations Security Council has today adopted
a resolution condemning the Hebron mosque massacre and calling for measures
to safeguard the security of the Palestinians.
President Clinton expressed the horror of the American
people at the time of the tragic Hebron murders. The President said,
"The enemies of peace must not be allowed to triumph. Prompt resumption
of negotiations to begin implementation of the Israel-Palestinian Declaration
of Principles is the only answer to extremist violence on both sides."
The President's decision to allow passage of the resolution
was made in the context of the agreement today by Syria, Jordan, and
Lebanon to return to negotiations in April and the high-level contacts
between Israel and the PLO that will take place in coming days.
The President endorses the call made by the Security
Council today for Israel and the PLO to redouble their efforts to realize
this goal as soon as possible. The United States stands ready to do
all it can to help the parties, but with passage of this resolution
it is time for them to return to the negotiating table.
The United States abstained on two paragraphs in the
preamble to the resolution because of our strong objections to references
made there to "occupied Palestinian territory" and to Jerusalem.
The President said that his position on these matters has not changed.
As Israel and the PLO have agreed, these are issues which can be decided
only in negotiations on the final status of the territories. He does
not believe references which could prejudice the outcome of these negotiations
are helpful. The parties alone must make the decisions necessary to
realize the promise of peace
Sources: Public Papers of the President |