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TEXT
For too long, the citizens of the Middle East have lived in
the midst of death and fear. The hatred of a few holds the hopes
of many hostage. The forces of extremism and terror are attempting
to kill progress and peace by killing the innocent. And this casts
a dark shadow over an entire region. For the sake of all humanity,
things must change in the Middle East.
It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is
untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation. And
the current situation offers no prospect that life will improve.
Israeli citizens will continue to be victimized by terrorists, and
so Israel will continue to defend herself.
In the situation the Palestinian people will grow more and more
miserable. My vision is two states, living side by side in peace
and security. There is simply no way to achieve that peace until
all parties fight terror. Yet, at this critical moment, if all
parties will break with the past and set out on a new path, we can
overcome the darkness with the light of hope. Peace requires a new
and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state
can be born.
I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders
not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing
democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian
people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will
actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet
these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and
Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for
independence.
And when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new
institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors,
the United States of America will support the creation of a
Palestinian state whose borders and certain aspects of its
sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of a final
settlement in the Middle East.
In the work ahead, we all have responsibilities. The
Palestinian people are gifted and capable, and I am confident they
can achieve a new birth for their nation. A Palestinian state will
never be created by terror -- it will be built through reform. And
reform must be more than cosmetic change, or veiled attempt to
preserve the status quo. True reform will require entirely new
political and economic institutions, based on democracy, market
economics and action against terrorism.
Today, the elected Palestinian legislature has no authority,
and power is concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few. A
Palestinian state can only serve its citizens with a new
constitution which separates the powers of government. The
Palestinian parliament should have the full authority of a
legislative body. Local officials and government ministers need
authority of their own and the independence to govern effectively.
The United States, along with the European Union and Arab
states, will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new
constitutional framework, and a working democracy for the
Palestinian people. And the United States, along with others in
the international community will help the Palestinians organize
and monitor fair, multi-party local elections by the end of the
year, with national elections to follow.
Today, the Palestinian people live in economic stagnation, made
worse by official corruption. A Palestinian state will require a
vibrant economy, where honest enterprise is encouraged by honest
government. The United States, the international donor community
and the World Bank stand ready to work with Palestinians on a
major project of economic reform and development. The United
States, the EU, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund
are willing to oversee reforms in Palestinian finances,
encouraging transparency and independent auditing.
And the United States, along with our partners in the developed
world, will increase our humanitarian assistance to relieve
Palestinian suffering. Today, the Palestinian people lack
effective courts of law and have no means to defend and vindicate
their rights. A Palestinian state will require a system of
reliable justice to punish those who prey on the innocent. The
United States and members of the international community stand
ready to work with Palestinian leaders to establish finance --
establish finance and monitor a truly independent judiciary.
Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing,
terrorism. This is unacceptable. And the United States will not
support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders
engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle
their infrastructure. This will require an externally supervised
effort to rebuild and reform the Palestinian security services.
The security system must have clear lines of authority and
accountability and a unified chain of command.
America is pursuing this reform along with key regional states.
The world is prepared to help, yet ultimately these steps toward
statehood depend on the Palestinian people and their leaders. If
they energetically take the path of reform, the rewards can come
quickly. If Palestinians embrace democracy, confront corruption
and firmly reject terror, they can count on American support for
the creation of a provisional state of Palestine.
With a dedicated effort, this state could rise rapidly, as it
comes to terms with Israel, Egypt and Jordan on practical issues,
such as security. The final borders, the capital and other aspects
of this state's sovereignty will be negotiated between the
parties, as part of a final settlement. Arab states have offered
their help in this process, and their help is needed.
I've said in the past that nations are either with us or
against us in the war on terror. To be counted on the side of
peace, nations must act. Every leader actually committed to peace
will end incitement to violence in official media, and publicly
denounce homicide bombings. Every nation actually committed to
peace will stop the flow of money, equipment and recruits to
terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel -- including
Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Every nation actually
committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to
these groups, and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq.
And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by
closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations.
Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show
by their deeds an undivided support for peace. And as we move
toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build
closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full
normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab
world.
Israel also has a large stake in the success of a democratic
Palestine. Permanent occupation threatens Israel's identity and
democracy. A stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to
achieve the security that Israel longs for. So I challenge Israel
to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable,
credible Palestinian state.
As we make progress towards security, Israel forces need to
withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28, 2000.
And consistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee,
Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop.
The Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violence
subsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting
innocent Palestinians to resume work and normal life. Palestinian
legislators and officials, humanitarian and international workers,
must be allowed to go about the business of building a better
future. And Israel should release frozen Palestinian revenues into
honest, accountable hands.
I've asked Secretary Powell to work intensively with Middle
Eastern and international leaders to realize the vision of a
Palestinian state, focusing them on a comprehensive plan to
support Palestinian reform and institution-building.
Ultimately, Israelis and Palestinians must address the core
issues that divide them if there is to be a real peace, resolving
all claims and ending the conflict between them. This means that
the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a
settlement negotiated between the parties, based on U.N.
Resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli withdrawal to secure and
recognize borders.
We must also resolve questions concerning Jerusalem, the plight
and future of Palestinian refugees, and a final peace between
Israel and Lebanon, and Israel and a Syria that supports peace and
fights terror.
All who are familiar with the history of the Middle East
realize that there may be setbacks in this process. Trained and
determined killers, as we have seen, want to stop it. Yet the
Egyptian and Jordanian peace treaties with Israel remind us that
with determined and responsible leadership progress can come
quickly.
As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge,
demonstrating real performance on security and reform, I expect
Israel to respond and work toward a final status agreement. With
intensive effort by all, this agreement could be reached within
three years from now. And I and my country will actively lead
toward that goal.
I can understand the deep anger and anguish of the Israeli
people. You've lived too long with fear and funerals, having to
avoid markets and public transportation, and forced to put armed
guards in kindergarten classrooms. The Palestinian Authority has
rejected your offer at hand, and trafficked with terrorists. You
have a right to a normal life; you have a right to security; and I
deeply believe that you need a reformed, responsible Palestinian
partner to achieve that security.
I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinian
people. For decades you've been treated as pawns in the Middle
East conflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a
comprehensive peace agreement that never seems to come, as your
lives get worse year by year. You deserve democracy and the rule
of law. You deserve an open society and a thriving economy. You
deserve a life of hope for your children. An end to occupation and
a peaceful democratic Palestinian state may seem distant, but
America and our partners throughout the world stand ready to help,
help you make them possible as soon as possible.
If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank and
Gaza, it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe
who are equally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled
to the benefits of democratic government.
I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your
commitments to morality, and learning, and tolerance led to great
historical achievements. And those values are alive in the Islamic
world today. You have a rich culture, and you share the
aspirations of men and women in every culture. Prosperity and
freedom and dignity are not just American hopes, or Western hopes.
They are universal, human hopes. And even in the violence and
turmoil of the Middle East, America believes those hopes have the
power to transform lives and nations.
This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties
in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for
future peace; a test to show who is serious about peace and who is
not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I
have set before you life and death; therefore, choose life."
The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose
peace, and hope, and life.
Thank you very much. |