News Conference With Israeli Prime Minister Peres
(December 11, 1995)
The President. Please be seated.
Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister
Peres back to the White House. For as along as there has been a prospect
of peace in the Middle East, Shimon Peres has stood at the forefront,
striving to bring a new day of security and harmony to the people of
Israel and to all the people of the region.
From his early years as one of the architects of Israel's
defense, he has devoted himself to ensuring the security of his Nation.
And from his first term as Prime Minister in the mid-1980's, through
the negotiations that led to the signing here of the Declaration of
Principles with the Palestinians, to the peace of the Araba with Jordan,
to the interim accord ceremony just 2? months ago, Shimon Peres has
been a visionary for peace. He has seen the way. He has been a leader
on the path to peace. And time and again he has been proven right.
One of the very last things Yitzhak Rabin said was
that Shimon Peres was his full partner in forging peace. With those
words and the memory of my friend in mind, let me renew now the pledge
I first made to Prime Minister Rabin at the beginning of my Presidency.
Mr. Prime Minister, as Israel continues to take risks
for a lasting and comprehensive peace, the United States will stand
with you to minimize those risks and to ensure your success. And I pledge
to you personally, Shimon, that I will be your partner in peace.
Until an assassin's bullet cut short his life, Prime
Minister Rabin rose time and again to the challenges of peace. The United
States knows that, just as he has in the past, Prime Minister Peres
will do so as well. It is a measure of how much has changed in the Middle
East that on his journey here the Prime Minister met with King Hussein,
President Mubarak, and Chairman Arafat, and that on his trip home he
will visit with King Hussein of Morocco.
I have been especially encouraged to hear the Prime
Minister talk about the progress in redeploying Israeli forces. He reviewed
for me his meeting with Chairman Arafat, who reaffirmed his commitment
to building upon and implementing the Declaration of Principles and
the interim agreement.
The key to a lasting settlement in the Middle East
is achieving peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon.
Today, Prime Minister Peres and I agreed to redouble our efforts to
achieve these goals. We agree that to close the circle of peace it will
take more intensive and more practical negotiations. Each side will
need to make a greater effort to take account of the others concerns.
The United States stands ready to help to bring the parties together
and to work with them in the negotiations. Peace is our mission. And
the Prime Minister and I are determined that nothing—nothing—will
deter us from this task in the weeks and the months ahead.
Today, I have also spoken with President Asad of Syria
about our talks here in Washington. President Asad told me he was committed
to do his best to move the peace process forward and to reach an early
agreement between Syria and Israel. He also agree to my proposal that
Secretary Christopher travel to the region next week to consult with
him on the next steps we will take together.
We, of course, recognize that the differences will
not disappear immediately.
Great hurdles must be overcome. But an Israel-Syria
settlement is worth our every effort. It would end the Arab-Israeli
conflict. It would establish a comprehensive peace. It could transform
the face of the entire Middle East and the lives of all its inhabitants.
That was Yitzhak Rabin's dream. Here at the White House,
that soldier of peace said, "enough of blood and tears." The
United States is heartened that Shimon Peres will carry on. And together,
we will work to fulfill Yitzhak Rabin's legacy.
Mr. Prime Minister, as you go forward, the United States
will go with you and proudly.
Prime Minister Peres. Mr. President, Mr. Vice President,
Mr. Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen. Let me say from my heart
that we are so moved by the American participation in our great sadness
when Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. Mr. President, you have
led a most unusual delegation that moved our heart. The President himself,
two former Presidents, the Secretary of State, two former Secretaries,
the leaders of the Senate, of the House of Representatives, and important—of
journalists, of leaders. There was greatness in the sadness as Prime
Minister Rabin was assassinated because he was right, not because he
was wrong.
And may I say, ladies and gentlemen, that President
Clinton did something most unusual. He has added an expression to the
Israeli dictionary: Shalom, chaver. It is a very unusual combination.
And for ones who don't understand Hebrew, let me say, the Russians are
saying, "a comrade," which I don't know exactly what it is;
the Americans are saying "a friend," which I understand what
it is; but the Israelis are saying "chaver," which means togetherness.
And since the President has used this word, we feel more together. We
feel that we have an enriched dictionary among ourselves and between
the United States of America and us. Believe me, I speak on behalf of
all the Israelis for this enrichment of expression and feelings.
Thank you very much.
Q. Mr. President——
Prime Minister Peres: No, I—[laughter]. Don't
discriminate the Israeli part. [Laughter]
So I should really start by saying, Shalom, chaver.
These, your farewell words to Prime Minister Rabin echoed throughout
our land. The people of Israel will never forget your moving demonstration
of solidarity in a moment of grief, of shock, of disbelief and determination.
For us, you're a leader; you're a friend.
I stand beside you, Mr. President, in the footsteps
of my partner, a great captain of peace, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Together with you—and I know how much he trusted you—we
scaled the trail from the depths of hostility to the highlands of promising
peace. Indeed, together, we shall stay the course and, with firm resolve,
reach a destiny of lasting and a secure peace. A peace for the whole
of the Middle East—Arabs and Jews, Jews and Arabs—this was
Yitzhak Rabin's quest. It is my commitment.
Your leadership and devotion to the cause of peace
are manifestly clear to Israel and to its neighbors as well. This is
a constant direction, not a point of passing. May I say that as Bosnia
reeled in agony, you offered a compass and a lamp to a confused situation,
ending blood, offering hope, like in the Middle East. It is time to
put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. With you, Mr. President, in
the forefront, by our side, it may become possible, as it did in the
past, bringing thereby peace, security, and prosperity to all people.
Prophecy may meet reality again and again.
Since your Presidency and through our partnership,
the Middle East has already undergone an unbelievable change. Here at
the White House on September 13, 1993, we came to grips with the heart
of the problem. The Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles created
a roadmap by means of which the Palestinians, alongside Israel, are
becoming masters of their destinies. Palestinian elections are a new
promise that reflects the interaction between peace and democracy. Nothing
is a better guarantee for peace than democracy.
Israel and Jordan are displaying its fruits day-in
and day-out. A barren, rift valley is pregnant with new prospects. Peace
with Egypt remains a cornerstone of the peace process for, by it, regional
war is no longer the justification of policies that leaves lands deserted
rather than flourishing.
Today we seek an opening of a new, maybe a final, chapter:
the end of war in the Middle East in its totality. Peace between Syria,
and between Lebanon and Israel will leave no reason whatsoever for the
continuation of belligerency. Syria, together with us, stands in a unique
position to contribute to a peaceful Middle East. The conflict between
us has been bitter, complicated. The land that gave birth to prophecy
can now give birth to yet a new vision.
President Asad and myself can, with the assistance
of your leadership, Mr. President, and the assistance of your administration
and Congress, build a new equation of genuine peace and security to
end terror, to begin a market economy. I speak of boundaries of permanent
peace. I speak of lands of new and great opportunity. Peace between
us must indeed put an end to the conflict that has mired our region
for so long. The President, the Secretary of State, and their peace
team will continue to create with us the architecture for peace in the
region. We welcome you.
Today I discussed the possible new opportunity with
President Clinton. I find a warmth and an openness in our discussion,
and I am very grateful. Mr. President, we are proud to be partners with
you in working to make this prospect become a reality. It is my hope
that President Asad will join us soon on this historic journey.
To my fellow Israelis, I can say we have in you, Mr.
President, a true friend and a true partner. There is no time now for
political vacation. We don't intend to rest. We intend to continue the
momentum, full-speed ahead, in the name of all Israelis. And I think
all Israelis, they'll tell you, Mr. President, toda, chaver, thank you,
chaver.
Israel-U.S. Space-Based Experiments
The President. Thank you.
Let me make one brief comment, and then I will take
questions, as will the Prime Minister.
As part of our effort to support Israel's advances
in science and technology, I have today agreed with Prime Minister Peres
to proceed with space-based experiments in sustainable water use and
environmental protection. These experiments will take place in unmanned
space vehicles, in the shuttle program and in the international space
station. And as a part of this effort, we will also train Israeli astronauts
to participate in these programs. We look forward to working out the
arrangements for this cooperation, and we are absolutely certain that
it will benefit Israel's high-tech development as well as our own.
Middle East Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
and Jordan are critical to the Middle East peace process. Yet none of
these are true democracies, and all of them are now showing serious
signs of internal dissent, even violent dissent. At what point does
the firm U.S. backing of such non-democratic governments become counterproductive?
The President. Well, first of all, those countries
have to work out their internal affairs for themselves. But as long
as they are responsible actors on the international stage and as long
as they are contributing to the peace process in the Middle East, we
will consider them our partners for peace in the Middle East. That's
the first and most important thing: How do they conduct themselves,
and are they supportive of the peace process?
Q. Mr. President, you have just managed to successfully
bring three sides together in Dayton, Ohio. Is it the time to use Camp
David—model in the Middle East and bring President Asad and Prime
Minister Peres together to this country? And if not, did you hear any
new ideas from Prime Minister Shimon Peres? Thank you.
The President. Well, yes, Prime Minister Peres had
some very good ideas which we shared together and which I think will
form the basis of further action. At some point, I think the leaders
of countries that are interested in peace have to meet—leaders
have to meet and work together and work their problems out. But I think
that will come in time.
Keep in mind, we worked quite a long time on peace
in the Middle East—I mean, in Bosnia—before the parties
came together at Dayton. So that will come, I think.
Balkan Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, on the Bosnia issue, since the accord,
Bosnian Croats have reportedly burned a village, two French pilots are
still captive, a number of cease-fire violations have occurred. It remains
so unstable there. Why should the American people have any confidence
that our troops will be safe there?
The President. First of all, I don't think it remains
so unstable there. I think, basically, you—in some ways you made
the case. It has not been a perfect observation of the agreement, but
basically the agreement they made has been observed. There has not been
a resumption of hostilities.
There are some rough edges there, which is why NATO
and others who are cooperating with us were asked to come in and help
to separate the forces—supervise the separation of the forces—the
transfer of land, the redeployment of forces out of land which they
no longer are responsible for, and then to maintain a secure environment
while the agreement is implemented.
And I see no reason to believe, based on the evidence
so far, that all the parties who signed the agreement are not fully
committed to implementing it. In fact, over the weekend we received
some more encouraging comments from some of the Serb leaders about being
committed to the end of the war and the implementation of the agreement.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, do you feel——
Prime Minister Peres. You know, gentleman, Bosnia is
Muslim, and Israel is Jewish. Yet, this is not the right distinction
when it comes to politics in my eyes. The distinction is between aggressors
and defenders. And I salute the United States of America to try to put
an end to aggression and really help the people that were attacked to
survive and not to suffer any longer.
Thank you.
Middle East Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, do you feel now that the chances
for peace between Israel and Syria are better than they were one month
or two months ago?
The President. Yes.
Q. And is this the impression that you informed today
to Mr. Peres?
The President. That is the impression I have today,
yes.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, did you review to President
Clinton your readiness to withdraw from Golan Heights as part of the
peace agreement with Syria?
Prime Minister Peres. You cannot pin on a single issue.
We are talking about the Syrian-Israeli peace process in its totality,
and I have revealed the totality.
Q. Yes, but as one of the——
Prime Minister Peres. I understand what you—the
answer you are seeking, and that's the answer I am having. [Laughter]
Q. Mr. President, do you know the price that Israel
is ready to pay for peace with Syria? Are you going to transfer this
information to President Asad? And are you maybe considering a visit
in the Middle East, in Damascus and Jerusalem?
The President. Well, first of all, the Secretary of
State will communicate to President Asad the essential elements of my
meeting with the Prime Minister, as agreed upon between the Prime Minister
and myself.
But I would just reiterate something that he said.
I think the most important thing is not what any particular issue is,
but I think that the atmosphere is better than it was before—as
the previous questioner asked—and very frankly, as sad as it is
to say, I think the Syrian leader and the Syrian people now see the
exceptional price that former Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister
Peres have been willing to pay in their search for peace.
I think that is the fundamental new reality here. I
don't think any of the details matter nearly as much as that fundamental
new reality, because, in the end, in any peace agreement, the parties
have to have two things. One is, a certain level of trust that the people
actually, on either side, intend to go forward with the agreements they
have made because it's in their interest and because they can be believed.
And the second is a certain system of observing the implementation of
that trust. That's more important than all the details. So that is,
I think, the central new reality.
Balkan Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, you've talked about Bosnia a little
bit. You still have not gotten the congressional approval you expect.
You are about to head off to Paris to sign a commitment. Are you going
to send U.S. troops if you don't get that approval from Congress in
regards to the timetable you want for sending the troops over there?
The President. First of all, I believe that we will
secure that approval. I believe that Congress will support the troops.
I had a good talk yesterday with Senator Dole and with Speaker Gingrich,
and I know that we have these congressional delegations that have been
to Bosnia that are coming back; I think two more are coming back. And
I believe when it is all debated and all said and done in the next few
days that the Congress will find a way to express their support for
our troops. That's what I believe will happen.
Q. Will you send them anyway, sir?
Middle East Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, if you could tell us, do you see
in the context of a peace agreement with Syria the need for a formal
defense alliance with Israel, an upgrading of security—of the
secure relationship. To follow up on that, also, if something would
go wrong on Bosnia, do you see how that could affect this whole idea
of U.S. troops on the Golan Heights? Thank you very much.
The President. Well, first let me say that the United
States has not been asked in any negotiations by either party to put
troops on the Golan as of this time. We have not been asked.
Secondly, if one thing should be clear to the entire
world in the history of the last several years, it is that the security
of Israel is terribly important to the United States. We have made an
explicit policy commitment which has been carried through under Presidents
of both parties to maintain the qualitative and technological edge that
Israel needs to guarantee its security in an atmosphere that has been
far more hostile than it is even today.
And so I think you can, as we go forward here, you
can be assured that the security of Israel in going to be one of the
main pillars of America's defense commitments and one of the main things
we will be concerned about as we move through the peace process.
Captured French Pilots and the Jonathan Pollard Espionage
Case
Q. Mr. President, one question directed specifically
towards you. Can you update us on the possible release of the two French
pilots in, presumably in Serbian control, and whether or not that issue
could derail the peace agreement signing on Thursday in Paris? And question
to both of you on, unrelated, did you have a chance to discuss the Jonathan
Pollard spy case now that he has been granted Israeli citizenship, and
did the Prime Minister ask you to release Pollard?
The President. You got a lot in there in a little time.
[Laughter]
Very briefly, I wish I could tell you more about the
French pilots. I can tell you this, that we are in very close touch
with the French. They are working very, very hard on this. I have no
factual update for you. They are working it very hard, and they expect
the peace signing to go forward on time.
With regard to Mr. Pollard, the Prime Minister mentioned
it to me and gave me a letter setting forth his position on it. As you
know, Mr. Pollard came up once before, I think in early 1994. If he
requests executive clemency, I will, of course, review that request,
as I would anyone who requested it. But he has to make a request, and
it has to come through the ordinary channels before I can do that.
Middle East Peace Process
Q. Mr. President, the Palestinian Authority is holding
elections next month. I would like to ask you, how do you assess the
performance of the Palestinian Authority and the performance of Yasser
Arafat leading to the Palestinian elections? And when are you planning
to visit the Palestinian Authority as well as the rest of the Middle
East? I asked you this before; I would like to know if you are going
to make another trip?
And for Mr. Prime Minister, I just want to—[laughter].
The President. You went to the Wolf Blitzer [Cable
News Network] school of journalism, I think. [Laughter] No, go ahead,
please.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I just want to wish you the
great success in your performing your duties in this very crucial time
in Israel and the Middle East. While I'm wishing you this, I would like
very much to ask you, Mr. Prime Minister, to release the Palestinian——
Prime Minister Peres. Be careful with your timing.
Q.—to release the Palestinian prisoners as soon
as possible so they will go back to their families and we will really
have peace in the region, especially in the Authority. Thank you.
The President. Let me say, first of all, about the
elections, I expect them to go forward; I expect them to be successful;
I expect them to be held in a way that is generally applauded for their
integrity. And I expect to go back to the Middle East at an appropriate
time, but I don't have a trip scheduled. I think I'd like it to be in
the context of another advance for the cause of peace. And that's where
we are.
Prime Minister Peres. Before Christmas, 450 villages
in the West Bank and all the major cities, as well as Gaza and Jericho,
will be under the rule of the Palestinians for the first time in history.
Israel has implemented one of our greatest moral promises: not to rule
another people. Believe me, it makes us content and complete by doing
so.
Part of the agreement was to release another thousand
prisoners before the elections. I hope we shall release a little bit
more than that but for the people that have blood stains on their hands.
Until now, we kept every promise, every word. We were ahead of time.
And I thought the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin puts an extra
responsibility upon me to really do everything true to the commitment.
The President. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |