June 18, 2002

WASHINGTON - House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R- Texas) today took strong exception to CNN founder Ted Turner`s reported comments in which Turner attempted to establish moral equivalence between homicide bombings directed against Israel and the Jewish state`s right to self-defense.

"Ted Turner has been wrong about a lot of things before, but his twisted attempt to justify terrorism against Israel by establishing moral equivalence descends to new depths," said DeLay. "Turner`s thoughts on the Middle East are the rant of a man with a defective moral compass."

Turner, 63, was quoted as saying by London's Guardian newspaper as saying, "Aren't the Israelis and the Palestinians both terrorizing each other?"

"When Israel fights back against the group that killed 19 people this morning it will be self-defense," said DeLay. "In less than two years, terrorists have committed 70 homicide bombings in Israeli cities. Our friends in Israel must be allowed to defend themselves.

"The latest homicide bombing is another example of why there needs to be new leadership before meaningful discussion of a Palestinian state," DeLay said. "President Bush’s National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, got it exactly right when she said the Palestinian Authority is corrupt and cavorts with terror and that it is not the basis for a Palestinian state."

DeLay is one of Israel’s strongest allies in Congress. In April, DeLay delivered the Green Lecture, a prestigious foreign policy address, in support of Israel, freedom, and democracy. He also addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In May, a DeLay-sponsored resolution expressing solidarity with Israel passed the House overwhelmingly.