Expressing our profound condolences to those Israelis, most of whom were teenagers, who lost their lives in the terrorist bombing in front of a Tel Aviv beach front night club on June 1, 2001, and reaffirming the call of the Mitchell Commission for the Palestinian Authority to take all measures to prevent terrorist operations and to punish perpetrators, and for both Israelis and Palestinians to act swiftly and decisively to halt the violence.

WHEREAS, The Cities of Philadelphia and Tel Aviv are sister cities and the citizens of our two cities have long bonds of friendship and cooperation; and

WHEREAS, On Friday night, June 1, 2001, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated the explosives strapped to his body. The explosion was reported to have been heard in Givatayim, some six kilometers from the scene. Sixteen young Israelis and two foreign tourists, along with the club's security guard, were killed in the attack and more than 120 were injured. The carnage was especially devastating because the terrorist's explosive device contained bits of metal, nails, screws and pellets, intended to maim those the bomb did not immediately kill; and

WHEREAS, Last month former Senator George J. Mitchell released the report of the Fact-Finding Committee appointed by the U.S. President charged with determining the causes of the current violence between Israelis and Palestinians and how to prevent its recurrence. The recommendations of the Mitchell Committee report have been favorably received by both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and

WHEREAS, The Mitchell Report further stated in part that "fear, hate, anger, and frustration have risen on both sides . . . the culture of peace, nurtured over the past decade is being shattered. In its place, there is a growing sense of futility and despair, and a growing resort to violence." The Committee called on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to "act swiftly and decisively to halt the violence. Their immediate objectives should be to rebuild confidence and resume negotiations." The Committee also called on the parties to "reaffirm their mutual commitments" to previously signed agreements”; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council expresses our profound condolences to the families of the teenagers who were killed or injured in this barbarous terrorist bombing.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That Council reaffirms the calls of the Mitchell Committee that the Palestinian Authority must take all measures to prevent terrorist operations and to punish perpetrators and that both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority must act swiftly and decisively to halt this horrific cycle of violence.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a certified copy of this Resolution shall be presented to the Honorable Giora Becher, Consul General for the State of Israel.

End