Statement Following Discussions With Israeli PM
Ariel Sharon
(June 10, 2002)
President Bush. It's my honor to welcome back Israel's
Prime Minister to the Oval Office. Every time the Prime Minister comes,
we have a very frank and good exchange. Today we talked about how to
achieve peace in the Middle East. I reiterated my strong view that we
need to work toward two states living side by side in peace. And we
talked about how to achieve this - how to achieve security and peace
and economic hope for all people in the region.
I appreciate so very much the Prime Minister's coming
and willingness to share his views about his country's future. Every
time he comes, I learn a lot. And I want to thank you for coming, Mr.
Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you.
President Bush. Do you want to say a few things?
Prime Minister Sharon. Yes. I would like to thank you,
Mr. President, for having me again here. I think it was a very interesting
and fruitful talks about reaching a peace in the Middle East. Israel
is a peace-seeking country. We believe in peace; we are committed to
peace.
Of course, in order to achieve peace in the Middle
East, first of all we have to have security; it should be a full cessation
of terror hostilities and incitement. And of course, we must have a
partner for negotiations. At the present time, we don't see yet a partner.
We hope it'll be a partner there with whom we'll be able to move forward,
first to achieve a doable peace in the area and second, of course, to
provide security to the citizens of our countries.
And of course, one of the most important things is
how really to take on the necessary steps to make the life of the Palestinians
and other nations in the region better than they are now. These are,
I would say, were the main subject of our talks today.
Again, thank you so much.
President Bush. You bet.
Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press].
Q. Yes, sir.
President Bush. And then we'll alternate. Israeli Position
on Resumption of the Peace Process
Q. I have a question to you, sir.
President Bush. That's good. That's a - that's a reform.
Q. Is Israel hurting the peace process with repeated
incursions and by ruling out, even as you're trying to jump-start the
peace process, a withdrawal to the country's 1967 borders?
President Bush. There are people in the Middle East
who want to use terror as a way to disrail - derail any peace process.
And we've got to work together to create the conditions that prevent
a few from stopping what most people in the region want, which is peace.
Israel has a right to defend herself. And at the same
time, as Israel does so, the Prime Minister is willing to discuss the
conditions necessary to achieve what we want, which is a secure region
and a hopeful region. And that's why we discussed reforms necessary
for the - that would enable a Palestinian Authority to emerge, which
could give great confidence to two people, the Israelis and, as important,
the Palestinians. And that's important.
And so we're going to continue to work together, along
with other Arab - along with some of the Arab leaders, to fight off
terror, to prevent the few from dictating against the will of the many
in the region. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority
Q. [Inaudible] - of Israel Channel Two. Mr. President,
there's a wide concern within the Israel Government that, after the
next terror bombs, there should be an expelling of Arafat from the region.
What do you think about it? Do you think it's fruitful - a fruitful
move that will, as you said, would merge the terrorists and the Palestinian
side? Or it's a destructive move that will hurt the peace process?
President Bush. I don't think Mr. Arafat is the issue.
Q. He is the issue - -
President Bush. Excuse me for a minute. Let me start
over. I don't think Mr. Arafat is the issue. I think the issue is the
Palestinian people. And as I have expressed, myself, I am disappointed
that he has not led in such a way that the Palestinian people have hope
and confidence. And so, therefore, what we've got to do is work to put
institutions in place which will allow for a government to develop which
will bring confidence not only to Israelis but the Palestinians.
Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters]. Arrest of Abdullah
al Muhajir
Q. Mr. President, sir, what can you tell us about this
dirty-bomb plot? Is there still a threat? And if this had happened,
was Washington, DC, the target?
President Bush. I can tell you that we have a man detained
who is a threat to the country and that, thanks to the vigilance of
our intelligence gathering and law enforcement, he is now off the streets,
where he should be. And I'll let the Defense Department, Justice Department
comment on the specifics. Regional Ministerial Peace Summit
Q. [Inaudible] - Radio. Mr. President, I would like
to hear your view about the regional summit we all discussed. Do you
think that this regional summit should be based on the Security Council
Number 1397, calling to establish a Palestinian state, which you mention
in your vision? Or do you think it just should be based on the 242 and
338 Resolution that we all know about?
President Bush. Look, I think - here's the thing: I
think that we need to have a - well, first of all, let's get the summit
in context. You're talking about the proposed summit this summer, a
ministerial summit of people that come together to work toward the conditions
necessary to establish a peace. See, the conditions aren't even there
yet - that's because no one has confidence in the emerging Palestinian
government.
And so, first things first, and that is, what institutions
are necessary to give the Palestinian people hope and to give the Israelis
confidence that the emerging government will be someone with whom they
can deal? And that's going to require security steps, transparency when
it comes to economic matters, anticorruption devices, rule of law enforced
by a court system.
Now, it is very important for people to understand
that as these steps are taken, as this - people work together to achieve
the institutions necessary for peace, that there is a political process
on the horizon as well. But the ministerial meetings that the Secretary
of State, Colin Powell, suggested are all aimed at achieving - working
toward the foundation necessary for there to be confidence and eventual
peace.
Thank you all.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |