*EPF302 02/14/01
White House Report on the Mideast, February 14, 2001
(Bush condemns cycle of violence in Mideast) (180)

BUSH CITES, PARTICULARLY, THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE THIS WEEK

As he departed the South Lawn for a day trip to visit the Air Reserves at Yaeger Field in West Virginia early February 14, President Bush told reporters early February 14, "I strongly condemn the terrible act of violence in Israel this morning. I have called Prime Minister Barak to express my condolences to the families of the people killed and to all the Israeli people.

"As I told the Prime Minister," the President said, "the tragic cycle of violent action and reaction between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly the escalation this week, needs to stop. I'm urging all parties to do their utmost to end the violence.

"We will continue to work with all parties to try to restore calm to the region," said Bush.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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