Bush seeks harsh action for Hamas

President Bush said yesterday that the international community must deal strongly with the Islamic terrorist group Hamas while a key Republican lawmaker suggested that U.S. military intervention might be necessary in Israel’s war with Palestinian terrorists.

“It is clear that the free world, those who love freedom and peace, must deal harshly with Hamas and the killers. And that’s just the way it is in the Middle East,” Mr. Bush said after attending services at First Congregational Church in Kennebunkport, Maine.

He said his objective as president is to move forward the peace process, which he started at a June 4 summit in Jordan that involved Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

He repeated yesterday that his intention is a “peaceful Palestinian state living side by side with the Israelis,” a goal the summit set for 2005.

“The message is clear: Prime Minister Abbas wants peace; Prime Minister Sharon wants peace; America wants peace; the European Union wants peace. But there are clearly killers who don’t,” Mr. Bush said.

“And for those of us who are interested in moving the process forward, we must combine our efforts to cut off all money, support for anybody who tries to sabotage the peace process. For those of us who want peace to go forward, we must combine our efforts to prevent people like Hamas from sabotaging peace,” Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Bush declined to answer whether the United States would provide money or arms to the Palestinian authorities to help quash Hamas, which sponsors suicide bombings, has rejected Palestinian Authority calls for a cease-fire with Israel and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

However, Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Indiana Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested on “Fox News Sunday” that U.S. and international forces pursue Hamas and other terrorist groups.

Mr. Lugar said the use of American military forces, whether joined with NATO or the United Nations, should not be considered until all Israeli-Palestinian talks have successfully concluded and the situation on the ground is calm.

“But clearly, if force is required ultimately to rout terrorism, it is possible that there will be an American participation,” Mr. Lugar said.

He added that the Palestinian Authority under Mr. Abbas “simply does not have security forces that are adequate to take on Hamas, quite apart from even the territories being suggested for his security now.”

Asked by host Tony Snow whether that meant “international forces ought to be going after Hamas,” Mr. Lugar said: “That may be the conclusion.

“It may not be just Hamas, but clearly Hamas is right in the gun sights,” said Mr. Lugar, who will lead a congressional delegation to Jordan and Iraq next week.

Besides Hamas, such Palestinian groups as Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade have been involved in the recent wave of suicide bombings, which have killed dozens of Israelis since Mr. Bush’s peace summit.

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