The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish synagogue organization, praises President Bush for signing the Syria Accountability Act. Thanks to the dedication and leadership of Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), Syria will be subject to sanctions for its support of international terrorist groups and its development of weapons of mass destruction.

We praise President Bush for his determination and leadership in the war against global terrorism and for his resolve to hold Syria, a state sponsor of terrorism, accountable for its support for terrorism. The legislation signed by the President marks a milestone in the US-led war against terrorism and calls on Syria to remove its troops from Lebanon, cease development of weapons of mass destruction and the methods with which to deliver them and cease its support for terrorist organizations such as Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Unless Syria complies with these measures, the President may impose sanctions on the Syrian government. We applaud President Bush for sending a clear message to the Syrian regime that it must no longer support terrorism or else suffer the consequences. We thank President Bush for continuing to strengthen America’s resolve in the fight against global terrorism that will bring stability not only to the Middle East but to the whole world.