Pledging to "combat the merchants of hatred with every means at our command," President Clinton was leaving for the multination summit in Egypt Tuesday to search for ways to restore a bomb-shattered peace in Israel.
"We must not let the terrorists in the Middle East have the victory they seek: the death of the very hope for peace," he said in New York Monday. "I ask for your prayers."He spoke about the Mideast summit even as he was being honored as the "Irish American of the Year" for his peacemaking efforts in Northern Ireland - a peace that also was shaken by recent bombings in London.
"The solidarity of peacemakers in this world today must be stronger than bullets or bombs," Clinton said.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said Monday the president's trip to the Middle East is the first step toward a strategic anti-terrorism and intelligence agreement between the United States and Israel.
The agreement would be announced in April during a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.