NEW YORK – The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has strongly praised the five Members of Congress who canceled a planned meeting with Yasir Arafat, because of Arafat’s sponsorship of the “ship of terror” and because of the latest Palestinian Arab terrorist attack in which four Israelis were murdered.

The five Congressmembers are Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Peter Deutsch (D-FL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Barney Frank (D-Mass).

According to the New York Times (Jan.10,2002), they canceled the meeting after receiving “an American intelligence briefing that they said proved Mr. Arafat was personally responsible for the attempt to smuggle [80 tons of] munitions aboard the freighter Karine A.” Congressman Ackerman said of the PA’s role in the ship: “These guys are nailed. Let me tell you the level it rises to: 100 percent certainty that Arafat was personally involved in the ordering of the procurement of the ship and the weapons, 100 percent certainty that it was intended for the Palestinian Authority.”

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said that the cancelation was also “in memory of the four Israeli soldiers killed.” She said that “During the meeting, I had planned to tell Mr. Arafat that he was, is, and continues to be a terrorist, violator of human rights and a disgrace as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.” Congressman Nadler said: “Yasser Arafat has made himself an international pariah through is own actions.” (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jan.10, 2002)

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “We strongly commend these five Members of Congress for their courageous and principled stand. A terrorist leader such as Arafat does not deserve the honor of a meeting with Congressmembers, nor should he be permitted to gain credibility by having such a meeting. We urge all Members of Congress to follow the lead of Representatives Ackerman, Ros-Lehtinen, Deutsch, Nadler and Frank.”