Letter to President Bush Outlining Disengagement Plan
(April 14, 2004)
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President,
The vision that you articulated in your 24
June 2002 address constitutes one of the most significant contributions
toward ensuring a bright future for the Middle East. Accordingly, the
State of Israel has accepted the Roadmap, as adopted by our government.
For the first time, a practical and just formula was presented for the
achievement of peace, opening a genuine window of opportunity for progress
toward a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, involving two
states living side-by-side in peace and security.
This formula sets forth the correct sequence and principles
for the attainment of peace. Its full implementation represents the
sole means to make genuine progress. As you have stated, a Palestinian
state will never be created by terror, and Palestinians must engage
in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure.
Moreover, there must be serious efforts to institute true reform and
real democracy and liberty, including new leaders not compromised by
terror. We are committed to this formula as the only avenue through
which an agreement can be reached. We believe that this formula is the
only viable one.
The Palestinian Authority under its current leadership
has taken no action to meet its responsibilities under the Roadmap.
Terror has not ceased, reform of the Palestinian security services has
not been undertaken, and real institutional reforms have not taken place.
The State of Israel continues to pay the heavy cost of constant terror.
Israel must preserve its capability to protect itself and deter its
enemies, and we thus retain our right to defend ourselves against terrorism
and to take actions against terrorist organizations.
Having reached the conclusion that, for the time being,
there exists no Palestinian partner with whom to advance peacefully
toward a settlement and since the current impasse is unhelpful to the
achievement of our shared goals, I have decided to initiate a process
of gradual disengagement with the hope of reducing friction between
Israelis and Palestinians. The Disengagement Plan is designed to improve
security for Israel and stabilize our political and economic situation.
It will enable us to deploy our forces more effectively until such time
that conditions in the Palestinian Authority allow for the full implementation
of the Roadmap to resume.
I attach, for your review, the main principles of
the Disengagement Plan. This initiative, which we are not undertaking
under the roadmap, represents an independent Israeli plan, yet is not
inconsistent with the roadmap. According to this plan, the State of
Israel intends to relocate military installations and all Israeli villages
and towns in the Gaza Strip,
as well as other military installations and a small number of villages
in Samaria.
In this context, we also plan to accelerate construction
of the Security Fence,
whose completion is essential in order to ensure the security of the
citizens of Israel. The fence is a security rather than political barrier, temporary rather than permanent,
and therefore will not prejudice any final status issues including final
borders. The route of the Fence, as approved by our Government's decisions,
will take into account, consistent with security needs, its impact on
Palestinians not engaged in terrorist activities.
Upon my return from Washington, I expect to submit
this Plan for the approval of the Cabinet and the Knesset, and I firmly
believe that it will win such approval.
The Disengagement Plan will create a new and better
reality for the State of Israel, enhance its security and economy, and
strengthen the fortitude of its people. In this context, I believe it
is important to bring new opportunities to the Negev and the Galilee.
Additionally, the Plan will entail a series of measures with the inherent
potential to improve the lot of the Palestinian Authority, providing
that it demonstrates the wisdom to take advantage of this opportunity.
The execution of the Disengagement Plan holds the prospect of stimulating
positive changes within the Palestinian Authority that might create
the necessary conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations.
We view the achievement of a settlement between Israel
and the Palestinians as our central focus and are committed to realizing
this objective. Progress toward this goal must be anchored exclusively
in the Roadmap and we will oppose any other plan.
In this regard, we are fully aware of the responsibilities
facing the State of Israel. These include limitations on the growth
of settlements; removal of unauthorized outposts; and steps to increase,
to the extent permitted by security needs, freedom of movement for Palestinians
not engaged in terrorism. Under separate cover we are sending to you
a full description of the steps the State of Israel is taking to meet
all its responsibilities.
The government of Israel supports the United States
efforts to reform the Palestinian security services to meet their roadmap
obligations to fight terror. Israel also supports the American's efforts,
working with the International Community, to promote the reform process,
build institutions and improve the economy of the Palestinian
Authority and to enhance the welfare of its people, in the hope
that a new Palestinian leadership will prove able to fulfill its obligations
under the roadmap.
I want to again express my appreciation for your courageous
leadership in the war against global terror, your important initiative
to revitalize the Middle East as a more fitting home for its people
and, primarily, your personal friendship and profound support for the
State of Israel.
Sincerely,
Ariel
Sharon
Sources: Ministry
of Foreign Affairs |