Bush Strongly Condemns Jerusalem Suicide Bombing

Bush Strongly Condemns Suicide Bus Bombing in Jerusalem

(Says some in Middle East kill in order to keep peace process from succeeding)

President Bush condemned the June 11 suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem that reports say killed 16 and injured many others.

"I strongly condemn the killings, and I urge and call upon all of the free world, nations which love peace, to not only condemn the killings, but to use every ounce of their power to prevent them from happening in the future," Bush told reporters in Chicago June 11.

"It is clear there are people in the Middle East who hate peace; people who want to kill in order to make sure that the desires of Israel to live in secure and peace don't happen; who kill to make sure the desires of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and others of a peaceful state, living side-by-side with Israel, do not happen."

Bush made his comments before an Israeli helicopter gunship fired on a car in Gaza killing six Palestinians, according to media reports.

Following is a transcript of the president's remarks:

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Chicago, Illinois) June 11, 2003

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE PRESS POOL

Grant Park Chicago, Illinois

11:40 A.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Today there was a terrible bombing in Jerusalem. I send my heartfelt condolences to those who suffered and lost life.

It is clear there are people in the Middle East who hate peace; people who want to kill in order to make sure that the desires of Israel to live in secure and peace don't happen; who kill to make sure the desires of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and others of a peaceful state, living side-by-side with Israel, do not happen.

To the people in the world who want to see peace in the Middle East, I strongly urge all of you to fight off terror, to cut off money to organizations such as Hamas, to isolate those who hate so much that they're willing to kill to stop peace from going forward. I strongly condemn the killings, and I urge and call upon all of the free world, nations which love peace, to not only condemn the killings, but to use every ounce of their power to prevent them from happening in the future.

Thank you.

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