Sen. Jon Kyl declined yesterday to sign a student senate resolution opposing terrorism, though he expressed support for pro-Israel causes during a meeting with leaders of a campus Israeli activist group.
The resolution, which ASUA Sen. Ben Weiss will introduce at tomorrow's senate meeting, condemns terrorist actions against innocent civilians and urges the UA community to respect all people regardless of background.
The resolution makes no outward statements supporting Israel or denouncing Palestinians, and describes the Iraqi, Palestinian and Israeli peoples as "peace-loving."
Kyl, a Republican, spent about 20 minutes discussing Israeli security with a group of about 40 students, many of whom were members of the advocacy group.
After he finished, Alison Orologio, the group's president, asked him to sign the resolution.
Kyl declined, but Orologio said he told her he supported the concept.
"He respects the idea and what we're trying to do," she said.
Kyl didn't publicly comment on the resolution.
If it passes, the ASUA senate will send it to a variety of public officials, including President Bush and leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Weiss acknowledged the officials probably won't read it, but said a statement was all the senate could do to support anti-terror causes.
"Since we represent the student body, we feel we can take a stand on the issue," Weiss said. "Hopefully they'll take it to heart."
Speaking to the students, Kyl said Israel won't be able to make peace until it is able to defend itself and the United States can eliminate terrorism throughout the region, including in Saudi Arabia.
Kyl said Palestinians are suffering under their current leadership, and said their plight would continue until moderates have a "fair fight to take over."
He has visited with the Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, and characterized him yesterday as little more than a lackey to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Throughout his years in Congress, Kyl has taken interest in security issues, and he said yesterday that U.S. and Israeli security interests share many common bonds.
"You can't talk about U.S. security without talking about the relationship between Israel and the United States," he said. "When it comes to national security there isn't a lot of difference in terms of policy."