Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Media Release

M79

25 July 1995

Australia Condemns Bus Attack in Israel

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, today condemned yesterday's terrorist bomb attack on an Israeli bus in Ramat Gan on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

Senator Evans said that the killing of innocent people for political reasons was abhorrent. He was particularly saddened at this unjustified and tragic act as he had recently been in Israel and Gaza, when Palestinian and Israeli leaders, in their talks with him, had shown their strong commitment to the peace process.

He welcomed the assurances from Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat that the negotiations would continue.

Senator Evans said Australia believed that the opportunity to bring about a just and lasting solution should not be allowed to be sabotaged by extremists.

MELBOURNE