Fed: Downer offers condolences to family of Israel attack victim

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2001
Fed: Downer offers condolences to family of Israel attack victim

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today directed the Australian
Embassy in Tel Aviv to provide what help it could to the family of a Melbourne girl killed
in a terrorist attack in Israel.

Mr Downer said he was horrified by the attack and that there could be no justification
for such an act.

"Terrorism in all its forms must be condemned," he said in a statement.

"I wish to convey personally, and on behalf of the Australian Government, my sincere
condolences to the families of the killed and injured, particularly the family of 15-year-old
Malki Roth, originally from Melbourne.

"I have directed the Embassy in Tel Aviv to provide whatever support they can in this
dreadful situation."

Mr Downer said he agreed with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan that attacks
against civilians violated international and humanitarian law.

"The use of violence can only result in further acts of violence, creating a spiral
that can only exacerbate the suffering of innocent civilians on all sides," Mr Downer
said.

"I recognise that President Arafat of the Palestinian Authority has denounced this
cowardly attack.

"We call on the Palestinian Authority to exert all efforts to stop such attacks and
to bring to justice the perpetrators."

AAP kjp/cjh/sb

KEYWORD: MIDEAST BLAST DOWNER

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