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Skriven 2007-07-16 23:31:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0707167) for Mon, 2007 Jul 16
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President Bush Discusses the Middle East
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 16, 2007

President Bush Discusses the Middle East Cross Hall

˙ /news/releases/2007/07/20070716-7.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio


1:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. In recent weeks, debate in our country has
rightly focused on the situation in Iraq -- yet Iraq is not the only
pivotal matter in the Middle East. More than five years ago, I became the
first American President to call for the creation of a Palestinian state.
In the Rose Garden, I said that Palestinians should not have to live in
poverty and occupation. I said that the Israelis should not have to live in
terror and violence. And I laid out a new vision for the future -- two
democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and
security.

Since then, many changes have come -- some hopeful, some dispiriting.
Israel has taken difficult actions, including withdrawal from Gaza and
parts of the West Bank. Palestinians have held free elections, and chosen a
president committed to peace. Arab states have put forward a plan that
recognizes Israel's place in the Middle East. And all these parties, along
with most of the international community, now share the goal of a peaceful,
democratic Palestinian state -- a level of consensus never before seen on
this crucial issue.

The past five years have also brought developments far too familiar in the
recent history of the region. Confronted with the prospect of peace,
extremists have responded with acts of aggression and terror. In Gaza,
Hamas radicals betrayed the Palestinian people with a lawless and violent
takeover. By its actions, Hamas has demonstrated beyond all doubt that it
is [more] devoted to extremism and murder than to serving the Palestinian
people.

This is a moment of clarity for all Palestinians. And now comes a moment of
choice. The alternatives before the Palestinian people are stark. There is
the vision of Hamas, which the world saw in Gaza -- with murderers in black
masks, and summary executions, and men thrown to their death from rooftops.
By following this path, the Palestinian people would guarantee chaos, and
suffering, and the endless perpetuation of grievance. They would surrender
their future to Hamas's foreign sponsors in Syria and Iran. And they would
crush the possibility of any -- of a Palestinian state.

There's another option, and that's a hopeful option. It is the vision of
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad; it's the vision of their
government; it's the vision of a peaceful state called Palestine as a
homeland for the Palestinian people. To realize this vision, these leaders
are striving to build the institutions of a modern democracy. They're
working to strengthen the Palestinian security services, so they can
confront the terrorists and protect the innocent. They're acting to set up
competent ministries that deliver services without corruption. They're
taking steps to improve the economy and unleash the natural enterprise of
the Palestinian people. And they're ensuring that Palestinian society
operates under the rule of law. By following this path, Palestinians can
reclaim their dignity and their future -- and establish a state of their
own.

Only the Palestinians can decide which of these courses to pursue. Yet all
responsible nations have a duty to help clarify the way forward. By
supporting the reforms of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, we can
help them show the world what a Palestinian state would look like -- and
act like. We can help them prove to the world, the region, and Israel that
a Palestinian state would be a partner -- not a danger. We can help them
make clear to all Palestinians that rejecting violence is the surest path
to security and a better life. And we can help them demonstrate to the
extremists once and for all that terror will have no place in a Palestinian
state.

So in consultation with our partners in the Quartet -- the European Union,
Russia, and the United Nations -- the United States is taking a series of
steps to strengthen the forces of moderation and peace among the
Palestinian people.

First, we are strengthening our financial commitment. Immediately after
President Abbas expelled Hamas from the Palestinian government, the United
States lifted financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority that we
had imposed. This year, we will provide the Palestinians with more than
$190 million in American assistance -- including funds for humanitarian
relief in Gaza. To build on this support, I recently authorized the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation to join in a program that will help
generate $228 million in lending to Palestinian businesses. Today, I
announce our intention to make a direct contribution of $80 million to help
Palestinians reform their security services -- a vital effort they're
undertaking with the guidance of American General Keith Dayton. We will
work with Congress and partners around the world to provide additional
resources once a plan to build Palestinian institutions is in place. With
all of this assistance, we are showing the Palestinian people that a
commitment to peace leads to the generous support of the United States.

Second, we're strengthening our political and diplomatic commitment. Again
today, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert sat down together to
discuss priorities and resolve issues. Secretary Rice and I have strongly
supported these meetings, and she has worked with both parties to sketch
out a "political horizon" for a Palestinian state. Now we will intensify
these efforts, with the goal of increasing the confidence of all parties in
a two-state solution. And we will continue to deliver a firm message to
Hamas: You must stop Gaza from being a safe haven for attacks against
Israel. You must accept the legitimate Palestinian government, permit
humanitarian aid in Gaza, and dismantle militias. And you must reject
violence, and recognize Israel's right to exist, and commit to all previous
agreements between the parties. As I said in the Rose Garden five years
ago, a Palestinian state will never be created by terror.

Third, we're strengthening our commitment to helping build the institutions
of a Palestinian state. Last month, former Prime Minister -- British Prime
Minister Tony Blair agreed to take on a new role as Quartet representative.
In this post, he will coordinate international efforts to help the
Palestinians establish the institutions of a strong and lasting free
society -- including effective governing structures, a sound financial
system, and the rule of law. He will encourage young Palestinians to
participate in the political process. And America will strongly support his
work to help Palestinian leaders answer their people's desire to live in
peace.

All the steps I've outlined are designed to lay the foundation for a
successful Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza -- a nation with
functioning political institutions and capable security forces, and leaders
who reject terror and violence. With the proper foundation, we can soon
begin serious negotiations toward the creation of a Palestinian state.

These negotiations must resolve difficult questions and uphold clear
principles. They must ensure that Israel is secure. They must guarantee
that a Palestinian state is viable and contiguous. And they must lead to a
territorial settlement, with mutually agreed borders reflecting previous
lines and current realities, and mutually agreed adjustments. America is
prepared to lead discussions to address these issues, but they must be
resolved by Palestinians and Israelis, themselves. Resolving these issues
would help show Palestinians a clear way forward. And ultimately, it could
lead to a final peace in the Middle East -- a permanent end to the
conflict, and an agreement on all the issues, including refugees and
Jerusalem.

To make this prospect a reality, the Palestinian people must decide that
they want a future of decency and hope -- not a future of terror and death.
They must match their words denouncing terror with action to combat terror.
The Palestinian government must arrest terrorists, dismantle their
infrastructure, and confiscate illegal weapons -- as the road map requires.
They must work to stop attacks on Israel, and to free the Israeli soldier
held hostage by extremists. And they must enforce the law without
corruption, so they can earn the trust of their people, and of the world.
Taking these steps will enable the Palestinians to have a state of their
own. And there's only way to end the conflict, and nothing less is
acceptable.

Israel has a clear path. Prime Minister Olmert must continue to release
Palestinian tax revenues to the government of Prime Minster Fayyad. Prime
Minister Olmert has also made clear that Israel's future lies in developing
areas like the Negev and Galilee -- not in continuing occupation of the
West Bank. This is a reality that Prime Minister Sharon recognized, as
well. So unauthorized outposts should be removed and settlement expansion
ended. At the same time, Israelis should find other practical ways to
reduce their footprint without reducing their security -- so they can help
President Abbas improve economic and humanitarian conditions. They should
be confident that the United States will never abandon its commitment to
the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish
people.

The international community must rise to the moment, and provide decisive
support to responsible Palestinian leaders working for peace. One forum to
deliver that support is the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee -- a group chaired by
Norway that includes the United States and Japan, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund, and Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
and Jordan. Today I call for a session of this committee to gather soon, so
that the world can back its words in real support for the new Palestinian
government.

The world can do more to build the conditions for peace. So I will call
together an international meeting this fall of representatives from nations
that support a two-state solution, reject violence, recognize Israel's
right to exist, and commit to all previous agreements between the parties.
The key participants in this meeting will be the Israelis, the
Palestinians, and their neighbors in the region. Secretary Rice will chair
the meeting. She and her counterparts will review the progress that has
been made toward building Palestinian institutions. They will look for
innovative and effective ways to support further reform. And they will
provide diplomatic support for the parties in their bilateral discussions
and negotiations, so that we can move forward on a successful path to a
Palestinian state.

Arab states have a pivotal role to play, as well. They should show strong
support for President Abbas's government and reject the violent extremism
of Hamas. They should use their resources to provide much-needed assistance
to the Palestinian people. Nations like Jordan and Egypt, which are natural
gateways for Palestinian exports, should open up trade to create
opportunities on both sides of the border.

Arab nations should also take an active part in promoting peace
negotiations. Re-launching the Arab League initiative was a welcome first
step. Now Arab nations should build on this initiative -- by ending the
fiction that Israel does not exist, stopping the incitement of hatred in
their official media, and sending cabinet-level visitors to Israel. With
all these steps, today's Arab leaders can show themselves to be the equals
of peacemakers like Anwar Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan.

The conflict in Gaza and the West Bank today is a struggle between
extremists and moderates. And these are not the only places where the
forces of radicalism and violence threaten freedom and peace. The struggle
between extremists and moderates is also playing out in Lebanon -- where
Hezbollah and Syria and Iran are trying to destabilize the popularly
elected government. The struggle is playing out in Afghanistan -- where the
Taliban and al Qaeda are trying to roll back democratic gains. And the
struggle is playing out in Iraq -- where al Qaeda, insurgents, and militia
are trying to defy the will of nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a
free future.

Ceding any of these struggles to extremists would have deadly consequences
for the region and the world. So in Gaza and the West Bank and beyond, the
international community must stand with the brave men and women who are
working for peace.

Recent days have brought a chapter of upheaval and uncertainty in the
Middle East. But the story does not have to end that way. After the wave of
killing by Hamas last month, a 16-year-old girl in Gaza City told a
reporter, "The gunmen want to destroy the culture of our fathers and
grandfathers. We will not allow them to do it." She went on, "I'm saying
it's enough killing. Enough."

That young woman speaks for millions -- in Gaza, the West Bank, in Israel,
in Arab nations, and in every nation. And now the world must answer her
call. We must show that in the face of extremism and violence, we stand on
the side of tolerance and decency. In the face of chaos and murder, we
stand on the side of law and justice. And in the face of terror and
cynicism and anger, we stand on the side of peace in the Holy Land.

Thank you.

END 1:26 P.M. EDT
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