September 12, 2001
Excerpts from Interviews with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

1. Israel Television - September 11, 2001
FM Peres: President Bush defined it as an American tragedy. I would describe it as a tragedy for mankind. Every decent person in the world finds this heartbreaking and deeply painful. Clearly, it requires a more serious, concerted and comprehensive response against terrorism in every country

We must be uncompromising against terrorism. We know of many countries that are centers of terrorism. We must not allow them to play with the lives of innocent people. We are in a situation in which we have traditional armies deployed against the type of enemy that no longer exists, and our modern armies are unable to cope with the new dangers emerging around the globe. We must formulate a totally new strategy.

We know of states that give sanctuary to terrorists. These states must be told that if they do not eliminate the terrorist infrastructure, they will be declared as states that sponsor terrorism, with all that this entails.

Q: In other words, you are saying that the free world under the leadership of the United States must take action against states that sponsor terrorism.

FM Peres: Exactly. In addition to the United States, we must enlist the help of Europe, Russia, India, China and all responsible countries, since this is a danger that threatens the entire globe.

2. CNN - September 11, 2001
FM Peres: I am sure that as bitter and painful the event is, the only one that can save humanity from this terrible danger is the United States of America. It was not an attack only upon America, but an attack upon civilization, an attempt to introduce the wolves of the jungle into our lives, not to permit people to fly freely, to walk safely, to be assured at the places they live. It is like a declaration of war, or an introduction of a terrible weapon, and we have draw all the conclusions fully, uncompromisingly and right away. Only evil people can arrive at such sophistication. And the measures must be radical as the evil itself.

Today each of us feels American, like an American, with all the seriousness, all the pain, and all the determination.

We have to bring an end to conflict in the Middle East, but there were already acts of terror in the United States disconnected from the Middle East, and terrorism exists also in many other places. We have to put an end to terror, because it is a danger to every person and every country, no matter where it is. The attraction to use terror in order to kill, in order to threaten, exists everywhere. It is not connected to a specific case or specific place.

3. IDF Radio - 11 September 2001
FM Peres: We have to grapple with the issue of terrorism, and tackle this problem on a comprehensive basis. Now the world is facing dangers that cannot be eliminated militarily. I am certain that we can deal with this issue in the appropriate manner, on both a strategic and a tactical level.

Terror knows no borders. It can strike at any place. Terrorism is elusive and deceptive as we all know. It has no mercy. Terrorism aims to strike indiscriminately at women and children.

This is the most loathsome terrorist attack that mankind has known. This murderous outrage was planned and orchestrated by masterminds, with financial assistance and a terrorist infrastructure. We know which states and people sponsor terrorism. We must tell each state that if it does not eliminate the terrorism root and branch, it will be declared a terrorist state.

The new war against international terrorism must monitor every step of the terrorists. It must follow the fund raising process, the place the terrorists come from, the weapons, the locations, their hiding places and all other kinds of information. There is a considerable amount of work involved, and it can be examined. It is also possible to intercept the terrorists. The problem with these people is that they are crazed fanatics who are prepared to commit suicide. We cannot stop the terrorists by shooting at them, since they are not afraid to die. They are also ready to kill as many people as possible. Therefore, we have to act against them the minute they are identified.