Posted on 08/20/2003 1:54:07 PM PDT by yonif
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Israel's leaders a telegram Wednesday expressing sympathy over the Jerusalem suicide bombing that killed 20 people, calling it a "villainous act of terrorism" but urging restraint and expressing confidence it won't stop the Mideast peace process.
Putin, whose country is fighting separatists in Chechnya and has been hit by a series of suicide attacks officials blame on Chechens, said Russians understand Israel's pain.
"In Russia, whose citizens know not by hearsay about manifestations of the barbarous nature o terrorism, people take the pain and outrage of Israelis particularly sharply and close to the heart," the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying in the telegram to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Moshe Katsav.
Putin said terrorists "will not succeed in undermining the positive dynamic of the Mideast peace process or breaking the courage of the Israeli people and their aspiration to peace."
He also said he is certain Israel will show "the necessary restraint and political wisdom in such tragic circumstances," a warning against a lopsided response to the attack.
In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry called Tuesday's bombing a "monstrous crime" and praised Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas for denouncing the attack.
It said "the fact that the Palestinian government led by Mahmoud Abbas immediately and decisively denounced this terrorist act and gave an order to find the culprits once again shows that terror has nothing in common with the struggle for the lawful rights of the Palestinian people."
The Foreign Ministry also warned against a violent response, saying that the "best answer to terrorism" is to strengthen security measures and to "continue dialogue and move forward the settlement process in accordance with the 'road map,"' - the Mideast peace plan co-sponsored by Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.
The terrorist strike on a bus in Jerusalem was "an attack on all the forces working for peace" in the Middle East, the European Commission said Wednesday.
The EU executive urged "the Palestinian Authority to do everything in its powers to prevent such unacceptable and unjustified" acts of violence.
It also called on the Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government to pursue their dialogue and efforts toward peace.
The Israeli government has frozen all contacts with the Palestinian Authority and canceled the planned handover of two West Bank towns to Palestinian control, a move that had been expected later this week. The Israeli army also closed border crossings to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Tuesday night's blast on a bus packed with Jewish families returning from the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest shrine, was the deadliest Palestinian attack since the "road map" for peace was unveiled three months ago by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Yeah Russia, we can really see your restraint against Chechen terrorists when they do the same in your country.
I am SO SICK of everyone else telling Israel to have restraint. It's like gun control on a large scale...the same as telling me that I shouldn't own a weapon but should trust the police to protect me. Don't get me wrong, I support police officers. But at 2 am if my husband's gone and I'm home alone with the kids when a bad guy breaks in, I'm shooting first and asking questions later. I think we should give Isreal freedom to protect themselves. In the words of Pres. Bush "Bring it on!" By by God, let these people take care of this themselves!! Pacifism IS NOT WORKING!!!
**off soapbox, donning flameproof suit**
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