Condemning the terrorist attacks on Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003, expressing condolences to the families of the individuals murdered and expressing sympathies to the individuals injured in the terrorist attacks, and expressing solidarity with Turkey and the United Kingdom in the fight against terrorism.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 453 Engrossed in House (EH)]

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

November 21, 2003.
Whereas in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, two explosions, set off
minutes apart during Sabbath morning services, devastated Neve Shalom,
the city's largest synagogue, and the Beth Israel synagogue, about three
miles away;
Whereas more than 20 people, both Muslims and Jews, were killed, and more than
300 people, both Muslims and Jews, were wounded, in the bombing attacks
on the synagogues;
Whereas on November 20, 2003, two bombs exploded at the Consulate of the United
Kingdom in Istanbul and at the HSBC Bank;
Whereas among the more than 25 killed and 450 wounded in the November 20 bombing
attacks on the consulate general and commercial buildings were Muslims
and Christians--Turks, British diplomats, and visitors to the Turkish
Republic;
Whereas the United Kingdom is an ally of the United States and Turkey in the
global war on terrorism;
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20, 2003, in Istanbul,
Turkey, were cowardly and brutal manifestations of international
terrorism;
Whereas the Government of Turkey immediately condemned the terrorist attacks in
the strongest possible terms and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to
justice at all costs;
Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey equally abhor and
denounce these hateful, repugnant, and loathsome acts of terrorism;
Whereas with anti-Semitic activities escalating the safety and security of
Jewish people throughout the world is a matter of serious concern;
Whereas since Turkey cherishes its traditions of hospitality and religious
tolerance and in particular its history of more than five hundred years
of good Jewish-Muslim relations, the attacks on synagogues and consular
premises came as a special shock to the Turkish people and to their
friends throughout the world;
Whereas the United States and Turkey are allied by shared values and a common
interest in building a stable, peaceful, and prosperous world;
Whereas Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation with a seculargovernment, has
close relations with Israel and is also the only predominantly Muslim
member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20,2003 show again that
terrorism respects neither boundaries nor borders: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks
in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003;
(2) expresses its condolences to the families of the individuals
murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses its sympathies to the
individuals injured in the attacks, and conveys its hope for the rapid
and complete recovery of all such injured individuals;
(3) expresses its condolences to the people and government of the
Turkish Republic and of the United Kingdom over the losses they have
suffered; and
(4) expresses its solidarity with the United Kingdom, the Turkish
Republic, and all other countries which stand united against terrorism
and which work together to bring to justice the perpetrators of these
and other terrorist attacks.
Attest:

Clerk.