DATE=04/12/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09819

TITLE=EDITORIAL: MORE AQSA BRIGADES TERRORISM

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: On April 12th, Israelis were the target of yet another murderous act of terrorism. A suicide bomber, reportedly a young Palestinian woman, killed at least six people and wounded scores of others near a crowded market in Jerusalem. The terrorist group known as the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades comprises an unknown number of small cells affiliated with Fatah. In recent months, al-Aqsa has carried out many terrorist attacks in Israel. In March, an al-Aqsa suicide bomber killed ten people, including an infant, near a Jerusalem synagogue. In January, six people in Hadera were killed and thirty wounded when an al-Aqsa gunman opened fire at a bat mitzvah, a young Jewish woman's coming-of-age celebration. At least five United States citizens have been killed in al-Aqsa attacks.

The U.S. has formally designated the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades a foreign terrorist organization. It is on a list of more than thirty terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and al-Qaida. All are prohibited from obtaining funds or material support from American citizens or within U.S. jurisdiction. U.S. financial institutions are required to block funds intended for al-Aqsa or other terrorist groups.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Israel. He condemned the April 12th suicide bombing. The U.S. understands "what terrorism is," said Mr. Powell. "And as we have responded to terrorism, we know that Israel has a right to respond to terrorism. The question is how do we get beyond just a response."

In Washington, Ari Fleischer, spokesman for President George W. Bush, called on Yasser Arafat, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, "to come out and publicly condemn [the April 12th] attack. This is terrorism. This is murder," said Mr. Fleischer. "And Yasser Arafat needs to denounce it soon."

As President Bush has said, "the Palestinian Authority and our friends in the Arab world [should] join us in delivering a clear message to terrorists: blowing yourself up does not help the Palestinian cause. To the contrary, suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.