This is a memorial service for victims of terror. Before we look at the significance of these offensives against the State of Israel, against its citizens and against the efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, let us remember the people, the persons, the individuals who are victims.

60 is an awfully large number. It must not blur the individual identity of each man, woman and child who lost their lives this past week.

Jewish tradition says that every person is a universe unto himself, whether it is the full life of an old person or the young life, full of promise, cut short by an assassin's bomb.

These individual universes are lost.

As a state and as a society, we must cope with the challenges to the very foundation of ordinary life and public order. As a government, our first duty is to provide basic, collective and individual security to our citizens. When we accomplish this, we will address ourselves to the political and diplomatic agenda that has been reshaped by this offensive.

We expect our partners in the Middle East peace process to perform their duties in these trying times. The Palestinian Authority must cope with this terrorist onslaught that is as much a challenge to it as it is to us. The other Arab partners must realize that they have their own task to perform, and they must provide political support to the Palestinian Authority. Without such support, it will be hard-put to perform its duties. But while we have expectations from our Arab partners, we remember vividly that it is the leadership and the government of Israel that the citizens of Israel and Jewish people look up to as the principle actor who can steer the country out of the present crisis, and we will.

In coping with this immense challenge, we know that we are joined by two principle allies:

- the Jewish people
- and our friend, America.

Both are represented here tonight in the most telling fashion.

The president has already taken a series of substantive measures to deal with the crisis at hand. His statement here and to the Israeli people have conveyed a genuine sense of friendship and empathy. His telephone conversations with Prime Minister Peres have been a source of encouragement at a difficult time. The prime minister has asked me to thank President Clinton, the administration and the American people for these unusual manifestations of friendship and support.

No one can convey the sense of friendship and commitment of our great friend the United States of America more forcefully than the president of the United States. Let me call upon President Clinton to address us.