Speech on Arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel
(March 13, 1996)
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, members
of the Israeli Government, representatives of the people of Israel.
I am honored to be here today, again, to stand with you in a time of
pain and mourning and challenge. We grieve with you in the loss of innocent
lives; we pray with you for the scores who lie wounded; we stand with
you in the unceasing battle against those who commit these awful crimes.
Your journey is our journey, and America will be with you every step
of the way.
The attacks we mourn claimed Israeli lives, although
others, including Americans, died as well. But these attacks were aimed
at all who yearn for a better day for this region, for all who believe
that peace is better than war. The enemies of peace have grown desperate
and more vicious as the reality of peace has moved closer. But we must
not let the acts of the wicked few destroy the dreams of the many. Together
we must restore the security that building peace requires. Those who
practice terror must not succeed. We must root them out, and we will
not let them kill the peace.
In this time you are not alone. I have flown here with
the Prime Minister, as he said, from Sharm al-Sheikh, from a summit
of peacemakers that is unprecedented in the history of the Middle East.
At the urging of many who were once Israel's sworn enemies—Egypt,
Jordan, the Palestinians—29 leaders came together, 13 of them
from Arab countries. There were Israel neighbors, there were other Arab
nations, nations from Europe, North America, and Asia. All have long
labored for peace. All are now united against the terror aimed at Israel.
They came to support with deeds as well as words the
peace process and the restoration of security and new efforts against
terrorism. Only a few years ago, such a meeting would have been inconceivable.
Only a few weeks ago, such a meeting would have been hard to imagine.
Just a few days ago, this remarkable meeting was put together.
The leaders of this area have met only a handful of
times, and then always to celebrate events on the road to peace. But
today they met in common cause to take action to confront the urgent
threat of terrorism, to show that Hamas, Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad
will not succeed in killing the peace.
Now many of Israel's neighbors in the region have demonstrated
that they share your desire for peace, and they understand that extremist
violence is also their enemy. The nations that met in Sharm al-Sheikh
sowed the seeds for a new cooperation, to build peace and to confront
those who would destroy it. The Middle East is changing; we must not,
we will not let terror reverse history.
Sharm al-Sheikh was a beginning. Tomorrow we will press
forward when I and senior administration officials meet with the Prime
Minister and his key security advisers. We will discuss concrete steps
the United States can take to help the IDF and the Israeli police defeat
those who would murder and maim. No one takes greater personal risks
on behalf of peace than the brave men and women of Israel's security
forces, like those who are standing here. America is determined to support
them in every way and to provide them with the means they need to prevail
against extremism and violence.
I have visited this beautiful and holy land before.
I have celebrated the great event on the road to peace. I have mourned
Prime Minister Rabin. Today I come again in sorrow but also in determination
with this message from the American people: The United States stands
more strongly than ever, shoulder-to-shoulder, with Israel. We will
work with you as you strive for a secure peace. We will stand by your
side until Israelis come to know that peace with security within this
land is a reality, "until," in the words of the prophet, "the
voice of joy and the voice of gladness are heard again in the cities
and the hills of Israel."
Thank you very much.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |