Remarks Previewing Israel-Palestinian Road Map
(March 14, 2003)
Good morning. We have reached a hopeful moment for
progress toward the vision of Middle Eastern peace that I outlined last June.
I spoke of a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side
by side in peace and security. I called upon all parties in the Middle
East to abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibilities for peace.
A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful
and democratic state that abandons forever the use of terror.
The government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed
and security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence
of a viable and credible Palestinian state and to work as quickly as
possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is made toward
peace, settlement activity
in the occupied territories must end.
And the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support
the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine and state clearly
that they will live in peace with Israel.
This moment offers a new opportunity to meet these
objectives. After its recent elections, the nation of Israel has a new
government, and the Palestinian Authority has created the new position
of prime minister.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments
in the region now have a chance to move forward with determination and
with good faith.
To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian
prime minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that
such a Palestinian prime minister will be confirmed soon.
Immediately upon confirmation, the road map for peace
will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis. This road map will
set forth a sequence of steps toward the goals I set out on June 24,
2002, goals shared by all the parties.
The United States has developed this plan over the
last several months in close cooperation with Russia, the European Union
and the United Nations.
Once this road map is delivered, we will expect and
welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document
that will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the road
map with one another.
The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions
and to take concrete actions to achieve peace.
America is committed, and I am personally committed,
to implementing our road map toward peace.
Our efforts are guided by clear principles: We believe
that all people in the Middle East, Arab and Israeli alike, deserve
to live in dignity, under free and honest governments. We believe that
people who live in freedom are more likely to reject bitterness, blind
hatred, and terror, and are far more likely to turn their energy toward
reconciliation, reform and development.
There can be no peace for either side in the Middle
East unless there is freedom for both. Reaching that destination will
not be easy, but we can see the way forward. Now the parties must take
that way step by step, and America will be the active partner of every
party that seeks true peace.
Thank you very much.
Sources: The White House |