|
New York Officials Express Anti-Terror Support on "Solidarity" Trip to Israel
JERUSALEM, Dec. 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg and New York Governor George Pataki, voiced staunch U.S. support for Israel against Palestinian "terror" attacks during a solidarity visit to Israel Sunday, news agencies reported.
Their 13-hour trip raised cheers in the streets of West Jerusalem, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.
"Since September 11, the people of my city have come to understand better what you go through here in Israel; because of that we have become closer friends," Giuliani told Israeli President Moshe Katsav.
He used the language of U.S. President George W. Bush in describing the attacks, equating the situation of Israel with that of the United States.
"Freedom and democracy are under attack here in Jerusalem and in Haifa and all throughout Israel," said Guiliani. "That is exactly what has been put under attack on September 11 in New York City - freedom and democracy."
Israel has tried to justify its increased aggression against Palestinian resistance by equating it with the declared U.S. "war on terrorism". However, the U.S. has repeatedly stated that there is no place for Israel in the current war alliance.
The international community has voiced strong opinion that the resistance of the Palestinians against decades of occupation and brutality are not to be considered terrorism, and thus cannot be equated with the deadly attacks of September 11.
The outgoing mayor of New York described Israel as "the outpost of freedom and democracy in this part of the world."
"As an American you are furthering the policies of my country by establishing freedom and democracy," Guiliani told the Israeli president during a visit to his house.
Gov. Pataki said the visit to Israel was essential "to show the people of the world that our strength and resolve in standing with Israel has not been weakened," particularly after last weekend's deadly bomb attacks.
"There is absolutely no moral equivalency between the acts of Israel to try to protect its people and its civilians from the barbaric terrorist attacks and the acts of the evil terrorists," Pataki said, referring to armed Palestinian resistance against Israeli military occupation.
In a highly symbolic gesture, the U.S. officials started their visit in the Ben Yehuda pedestrian district of West Jerusalem where they planted a tree in memory Israelis killed in a December 1 attack.
A crowd of around 150 to 200 people cheered them and praised Giuliani's efforts to comfort New Yorkers after the September 11 attacks on the city's World Trade Center, which left thousands dead.
"Bravo Giuliani," the crowd shouted. "You are a beautiful man" and "We are together with New York under terror."
West Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert, who is hosting the high-profile trio, attended the planting ceremony, under heavy Israeli and U.S. security. Olmert called the visit a "source of inspiration" for his city.
Giuliani said New Yorkers stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the people of Israel against "fanatical people", he said.
The U.S. officials also visited a hospital where victims of the attacks were being treated and then had lunch with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. After meeting Katsav, they headed for talks with rightwing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Jerusalem renamed one of its main thoroughfares "New York Street" for a month after the deadly September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
The officials did not make remarks regarding the over 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli aggression in the 14 months since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against illegal Israeli occupation.
Israel has engaged in what some call "state-sponsored terrorism" with its internationally condemned policy of assassinations of Palestinian resistance activists and political officials, at least 70 of whom have been killed in the past 14 months.
|
