Bush Condemns Bombing at Israeli University(Says killers will not affect search for peace) (690) By Wendy S. Ross Washington File White House Correspondent Washington -- President Bush condemned the July 31 bomb attack at a crowded cafeteria at Hebrew University in Jerusalem that killed at least seven and wounded many others, but said the search for peace will continue. Speaking with reporters following a meeting with his Cabinet at the White House July 31, Bush said: "I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place in Israel. There are clearly killers who hate the thought of peace, and, therefore, are willing to take their hatred to all kinds of places, including a university. And this country condemns that kind of killing, and we send our deepest sympathy to the students and their families. "I also want to make it clear to the killers that it won't stop us from rallying the world to fight their kind of terror; nor will they stop us from having a vision of peace." He reiterated that the United States cares deeply about the plight of the Palestinian people, who he said, are living in squalor and are downtrodden. He said the United States wants to work with its friends to provide "a strong package" of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, but before doing so, anti-corruption reforms need to be put in place. Bush said he looks forward to continuing to work with all responsible parties in the region "to insist that they work with us" to stop this terror; to use all their power to stop organizations such as Hamas from taking innocent life. In addition, he said, "we must continue to work to put the institutions in place necessary for the evolution of a state which can live at peace with Israel." Bush is scheduled to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House August 1. Asked about a proposed Jordanian work plan for a Middle East peace accord, Bush characterized the plan as "interesting." "What's worth pursuing," he said, "is a detailed plan toward achieving these objectives: a security force that exists to fight terror, not keep certain officials who haven't been able to deliver on the war against terror in office; a security force that will cooperate with people who care about achieving peace, and will provide security not only for the Palestinians, but for the neighborhood. "Secondly, progress toward the writing of a constitution, which will enable a state to evolve ... that will be at peace with its neighbor." Institutions, he said, are very important because they last longer than a particular individual, "and so reform of these institutions are an incredible part of achieving what I believe His Majesty wants, which is two states living side by side in peace." Bush said, eventually "there will be a peace conference, but there needs to be steps leading up to the peace conference, where all of us do our jobs about putting those institutions in place that will lead to peace, so we all have confidence." Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, at his morning meeting with reporters, condemned the attack at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as "a horrific attack of terror." "Campuses around the world are places of learning, should be places of peace," Fleischer said. "This terrorist attack underscores again the need for the Palestinian people and Palestinian leadership to take action to halt terrorism so peace has a chance in the Middle East," Fleischer said. Fleischer told reporters the upcoming meeting with King Abdullah is part of a series on promoting peace in the area and on democratic reform of Palestinian institutions. "As I've indicated before, there are many people who agree with the president on the need for Palestinian institutions to be reformed so that there's a brighter humanitarian hope and future for the Palestinian people as well as there is for Israel to live in security," he said.
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