Joint Press Conference with Israeli PM Sharon on Economy & the Middle East
(April 11, 2005)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to my
home. Appreciate you coming. I appreciate our meeting. I'm looking forward
to serving you some good food for lunch. Most importantly, I'm looking
forward to driving you around the ranch - I want you to see my place.
I know you love the land. The Prime Minister was telling me he's really
a farmer at heart, and I look forward to sharing with my friend what
life is like here in Central Texas. So, welcome. He invited me to his
place one day, in Israel, and it's something that I look forward to
doing, as well.
The United States and the state of Israel have a deep
and lasting friendship based on our shared values and aspirations for
a peaceful world. The United States is committed to Israel's security
and well being as a Jewish state, including secure and defensible borders.
We're committed to preserving and strengthening Israel's capability
to deter its enemies and to defend itself.
Today, we discussed ways to expand cooperation of our
economies. The Prime Minister believes that developing Negev and the
Galilee regions is vital to ensuring a vibrant economic future for Israel.
I support that goal and we will work together to make his plans a reality.
Prime Minister Sharon is showing strong visionary leadership
by taking difficult steps to improve the lives of people across the
Middle East -- and I want to thank you for your leadership. I strongly
support his courageous initiative to disengage from Gaza and part of
the West Bank. The Prime Minister is willing to coordinate the implementation
of the disengagement plan with the Palestinians. I urge the Palestinian
leadership to accept his offer. By working together, Israelis and Palestinians
can lay the groundwork for a peaceful transition.
The Prime Minister and I discussed the important and
encouraging changes taking place in the region, including a Palestinian
election. We discussed the need for Israel to work with the Palestinian
leadership to improve the daily lives of Palestinians, especially their
humanitarian situation, so that Israelis and Palestinians can realize
a peaceful future together.
I reiterated that the United States supports the establishment
of a Palestinian state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent.
The United States will continue working with the international community
to help Palestinians develop democratic political institutions, build
security institutions dedicated to maintaining law and order, and dismantling
terrorist organizations, reconstruct civic institutions, and promote
a free and prosperous economy.
I remain strongly committed to the vision of two democratic
states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
The Prime Minister and I reaffirmed our commitment to that vision and
to the road map as the only way forward to realize it. The road map
has been accepted and endorsed by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority,
along with virtually the entire international community. The Prime Minister
and I share a desire to see the disengagement from Gaza and part of
the West Bank serve to re-energize progress along the road map.
The United States is working with Palestinians and
Israelis to improve security on the ground. We are cooperating with
the Palestinians to help them fulfill all their obligations under the
road map, especially sustained, effective operations to stop terrorism
and dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. Building true
security for Israelis and Palestinians demands an immediate, strong
and sustained effort to combat terrorism in all its forms.
I told the Prime Minister of my concern that Israel
not undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or
prejudice final status negotiations. Therefore, Israel should remove
unauthorized outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements
in the West Bank.
As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have
secure and recognized borders. These should emerge from negotiations
between the parties in accordance with United Nations Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338. As I said last April, new realities on the
ground make it unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status
negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines
of 1949. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will
be achieved only on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect
these realities. That's the American view. While the United States will
not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations, those changes
on the ground, including existing major Israeli population centers,
must be taken into account in any final status negotiations.
I'm grateful to the Prime Minister for his friendship;
I'm impressed by his leadership. I want to thank you for coming, sir,
and I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Thank you, Mr. President, for
this important meeting and for your generous hospitality. It was a pleasure
to be invited to your home here at the ranch. On behalf of the state
of Israel, I wish to thank you, your administration and the American
people for your warm and steadfast friendship. Of course, I would be
very glad, Mr. President, to have you as a guest on our farm, not only
because we are short of labor. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: You're desperate for labor if you're
counting on me. (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: The people of Israel dream of
a peaceful life for themselves and for all the peoples of the Middle
East. We are encouraged by many of the positive changes that we see
taking place in our region. We call upon our Palestinian neighbors to
choose the path of democracy and law and order, so that they can establish
an independent and viable state.
This is an opportunity for us to break from the continuous
past of violence and bloodshed, which has been forced upon us, particularly,
over the past four-and-a-half years. I told the Palestinian Authority
Chairman, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, that this is the year of great opportunity
to start building a better future for our children and grandchildren
and that both our peoples must make sure that this opportunity is not
missed. But we must act now. The ongoing violence and terror must not
prevail. We should make all a commitment not to accept any temporary
solutions regarding terror, but to act decisively to dismantle terrorist
infrastructure and to eliminate terrorism once and for all.
Defeating terror is the only way to build peace. The
Israeli people have no intention of missing this opportunity. That is
why we are acting quickly and with determination to improve the conditions
for the Palestinian population. We have released hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners, we are preparing to release more as the security situation
allows. We have removed many roadblocks in the West Bank to allow greater
mobility for the Palestinians. We have conferred the cities of Jericho
and Tulkrm to the security control of the Palestinian Authority. And
we will confer more in the coming period as the security situation allows.
Mr. President, as I said in Aqaba two years ago, it
is not in our interest to govern over the Palestinians. We would like
the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state, a democratic
state with territorial contiguity in Judea and Samaria, living side
by side with Israel in peace and security. We seek to rebuild trust
and respect, the dignity and human rights of all people.
Regarding the unauthorized outposts, I wish to reiterate
that Israel is a society governed by the rule of law. As such, I will
fulfill my commitment to you, Mr. President, to remove unauthorized
outposts. As for settlements, Israel will also meet all its obligations
under the road map, as I said also in Aqaba. We accept the principle
that no unilateral actions by any party can prejudge the outcome of
bilateral negotiations between us and the Palestinians.
The position of Israel is that in any final status
agreement the major Israeli population centers in Judea and Samaria
will be part of the state of the Israel. We seek a genuine and honest
dialogue with the Palestinians so that we can transform these initial
steps into a sound basis for our relations with them in the future.
I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for the support
of the disengagement plan which I initiated. The plan is not a political
one. It was a unilateral decision driven by a need to reduce terror
as much as possible and grant Israeli citizens maximum security. The
process of this disengagement will strengthen Israel, improve the quality
of life for Israeli citizens, reduce the friction between us and the
Palestinians, and can pave the way for the implementation of the road
map.
In light of the changes in the Palestinian Authority,
what began as a unilateral initiative does not have to remain so. I
call upon the Palestinians to work together with us and to coordinate
the implementation of the disengagement plan.
I also want to thank you, Mr. President, for your intention
to support Israel's effort to develop the Negev and the Galilee. It
is important for Israel's national interest, economic strength and social
development.
I look forward to the beginning of work by our teams.
I have stated in the past and I will say today, the road map based on
your June 2002 speech, adopted by my government and approved by the
Palestinians and the majority of the international community, will be
the only way forward to realizing your vision. Only full implementation
of the road map can lead toward security and true peace.
I wish to thank you again, Mr. President, for your
hospitality and for your friendship in support of the state of Israel.
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Prime Minister.
We'll take two questions a side, starting with Mr.
Raum, Thomas Raum.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, given the
continuing settlement activity on the West Bank, are you satisfied that
Israel will do enough, once they pull out of Gaza, to meet the terms
of the road map and put it back on track?
And, Mr. Prime Minister, did you get the support you
were looking for today, or do you sometimes hear contradictory signals
from the administration?
PRESIDENT BUSH: If he listens to what I say, he won't
hear anything contradictory. I've been very clear about Israel has an
obligation under the road map. That's no expansion of settlements. I
look forward to continuing to work and dialogue with Israel on this
subject. We've got -- this is an ongoing process. This is a process
that's going to take a lot of work to get a democracy stood up on Israel's
border. And we look forward to working with Israel.
The thing that I want people to understand is that
the Prime Minister of Israel has made a commitment toward the vision
of two states living side by side in peace.
And I appreciate that commitment, Mr. Prime Minister,
and we look forward to continuing to work with you on it.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Thank you.
Q Mr. Prime Minister, did you get the support you were
looking for today, or do you sometimes hear contradictory messages coming
from the White House?
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: No, I think it was a very good
meeting, beside the fact it was, as usual, a very friendly meeting.
And I think that we discussed many issues that we agreed upon and, no
doubt, that we will continue to work together, as we are doing in recent
years.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Do you want to call on somebody from
the Israeli press?
Q Thank you to you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT BUSH: You're welcome.
Q Thank you. Regarding your quid pro quo letter to
Prime Minister Sharon and the statement you just stated now, do you
see Ariel and Ma'aleh Adumim as part of the major population centers
-- and I want to emphasize, as they are now, as they exist now, without
any extensions?
PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I --
Q -- or do you see them as an obstacle to the contiguity
of a future Palestinian state?
And for Prime Minister Sharon, please (asked in Hebrew.)
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I don't get the second part of the
question.
INTERPRETER: I wanted -- she wanted to ask -- she wanted
to ask --
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Mr. President, I will answer
the second part. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay. (Laughter.)
Q The second part was for the Prime Minister.
PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I got that part. (Laughter.) I
just didn't get the last part of the second part.
INTERPRETER: She wanted to know if you have any objections
to the continuity [sic] of the --
INTERPRETER: RESIDENT BUSH: Yes, the expansion, I got
that part. You asked the same question to both of us, then. No? Okay.
Can she repeat --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Never mind, that's enough. Go ahead
and answer it.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Thank you. I would like, first,
to answer about construction in the major blocs. It is the Israeli position
that the major Israeli population centers will remain in Israel's hands
under any future final status agreement with all related consequences.
Now, about the other question that you had, you asked
what would be the day after -- that was your question. So the road map
is the only plan which sets the political agenda between us and the
Palestinians. Only after the Palestinians fulfill their obligations,
primarily a real fight against terrorism and the dismantling of its
infrastructure, can we proceed toward negotiations based on the road
map.
I hope that this phase will arrive soon. Implementation
of the disengagement plan has the potential of paving the way toward
the road map.
Now I have to do something for all the Israelis at
home. (Speaks in Hebrew.)
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: (As translated.) The position
of Israel is that the construction of the blocs of settlements will
remain with Israel, and in all agreement with what will happen the day
after the disengagement. The road map is the only plan between us and
the Palestinians.
After the -- we will continue to fight the terror,
and after the continued commitment to fight terror, we will continue
with the negotiations -- only after the Palestinians agree to stop the
terror. I hope that this stage will happen and that we will only move
to the road map after this intervention by the Palestinians against
terror.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Israel has obligations under the road
map. The road map clearly says no expansion of settlements. And we'll
continue to work with Israel on their obligations, and the Palestinians
have got obligations. And it seems like an important role for the United
States is to remind people of the obligations, and to work with people
-- continue to work with people so that we can achieve the peace.
And we have a chance to achieve peace. The Prime Minister
made a very courageous decision to withdraw from Gaza, and now I would
hope, as I said in my statement, the Palestinians accept his proposal
to coordinate the withdrawal so that we can begin the stages necessary
for a viable democracy to emerge, one that will be peaceful, one that
will listen to the aspirations of the people. I'm convinced most Palestinians
want to live in peace, and they want hope, and they want a chance to
make a living, and they want to send their children to schools in a
peaceful way. And now we have an opportunity to try to achieve that
vision.
But there is a road map, there is a process, and we've
all agreed to it. And part of that process, no expansion of settlements.
Adam.
Q Thank you. Prime Minister, considering recent Palestinian
mortar fire at Jewish settlements, and what Israel sees as a lack of
cooperation on Gaza, is Israel considering taking military action against
militants if President Abbas doesn't act?
And, Mr. President, do you see a lack of progress by
Abbas? Do you expect more before you meet with him at the White House?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Want me to go first, or do you want
to go first?
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Please.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Want me to go first? All right.
This is a very complicated, difficult part of the world.
And I believe President Abbas wants there to be a state that will live
in peace with Israel. Remember, we met with him in Aqaba, Jordan, and
he had a very strong statement. I tend to take people for their word,
Adam, just like I trust the Prime Minister in his word. He's a man of
his word.
And the Prime Minister of -- President Abbas is, I'm
told, in touch with the Prime Minister; that's positive. I appreciate
the fact that they've taken some action on security. We want to continue
to work with them on consolidating security forces. That's why we sent
a general to the region to work with the Palestinians. I hope that he
-- "he," the President, responds to the Prime Minister's offer
to coordinate the withdrawal from Gaza. To me, that's where the attention
of the world ought to be, on Gaza.
This is the opportunity for the world to help the Palestinians
stand up a peaceful society and a hopeful society. The Prime Minister
has said, I'm withdrawing. He said that, I want to coordinate the withdrawal
with the Palestinians. But he's going to withdraw -- coordination or
no coordination. And I believe it's incumbent upon the world which is
desirous of peace to then step up and say to the Palestinians, we want
to help you. I think President Abbas wants that help. I know he needs
that help. He needs the help to not only help coordinate security forces
and train security forces, but the help necessary to put to infrastructure
in place so a peaceful democracy can grow, and that there can be an
economy which provides hope for the Palestinian people.
And so this is an opportunity that I intend to focus
my government's attention on, and we will work with our friends and
allies around the world to keep their attention focused on succeeding
in this -- in helping Gaza become peaceful and self-governing, part
of -- part of, eventually a Palestinian state.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Thank you. The Palestinian Chairman,
Abu Mazen, started by taking some steps against terror. By now, those
steps -- and we can see, as you mentioned in your questions, that terror
still continues. And, therefore, I believe that in order to move forward,
in order to be able later to move to the road map, the Palestinians
must take more steps, because it should be completely quiet. The situation
-- in order to move forward, must be full cessation of terror, hostilities
and incitement.
So some initial steps were taken. More steps should
be taken. And I hope that Abu Mazen wants peace, and the only thing
I expect now that he will take the right steps in order to bring the
situation that might enable us to move forward to the next step.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Final Israeli question, please. Or
final question from the Israeli side.
Q Mr. President, do you support the Prime Minister
position as he stated now that after the disengagement, there will be
no -- any other political steps until a final and complete dismantling
of terror organization, and only then we can proceed on the political
track?
And, Mr. Prime Minister, do you really fear a civil
war in Israel over the disengagement, as you stated in NBC interview?
What are you going to do to prevent it? And are you disappointed with
the President's declaration regarding the expansion of settlements?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First part of the again? Sorry.
Q The question was, do you support Israeli position
that there will be no -- any political steps after disengagement, until
the complete dismantling of Palestinian organization --
PRESIDENT BUSH: I got it. I got it. Yes, thanks. Sorry.
I think what is necessary to achieve the vision of
two states living side by side in peace is for there to be progress.
Look, there's a lack of confidence in the region. I can understand that.
There's been a lot of deaths; a lot of innocent people have lost their
lives. And there's just not a lot of confidence in either side.
And I think we have a chance to build confidence. The
Prime Minister is taking a bold step and a courageous step, and basically
he's saying that, you know, until he sees more progress, he doesn't
have confidence. And I suspect if we were to have a frank discussion
about it, the Palestinians would say, well, we don't have confidence
in Israel.
So what's needed is confidence. And I'm convinced the
place to earn -- to gain that confidence is to succeed in the Gaza.
And so we're kind of prejudging what is going to happen based upon a
rather pessimistic point of view. I'm an optimist. I believe that it
is possible to work to set up a self-governing entity in the Gaza. And
I believe a self-governing entity is one that is going to be peaceful,
because most people want there to be peace. And when that happens, then
all of a sudden, I think we'll have a different frame of mind.
I suspect that the tone of your question -- I'm not
being critical -- but I just suspect that if there is success in the
Gaza, in other words, if there's a state that's emerging, the Prime
Minister will have a different attitude about whether or not it makes
sense to continue the process. And I suspect that people will say, you
know, it is possible for democracy to take hold.
And so there's skepticism now about the process, because
as I said earlier, it's a complicated part of the world with a lot of
history. And so I want to focus the world's attention on getting it
right in the Gaza, and then all of a sudden, people will start to say,
gosh, well, that makes sense. The Palestinians will see it's a hopeful
-- there's a hopeful way forward. The Palestinian moms will say, well,
here's an opportunity for my child to grow up in a peaceful world. And
then I think the dialogue will shift. But in the meantime, there is
a process to go forward, and we're now ready to help the Palestinians
seize the moment that this Prime Minister has provided in the Gaza.
So that's where you'll see our attention focused.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: You asked -- I think one of
your two questions were, do I see a civil war in Israel? No, I said
that -- and I repeat it again -- the recent atmosphere of a civil war,
but I'm fully convinced that I'll make every effort to avoid that, and
I'm sure that we will be able to implement the disengagement plan, with
all its difficulties, quietly and peacefully. So what I really mentioned
was the atmosphere. But I hope it will be quiet and we will manage to
do it.
You had another question.
Q I asked if, are you disappointed with the President's
position regarding expansion of settlements, specifically about the
Jewish population center in Ma'aleh Adumim --
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: No, I'm not disappointed. We
think both of us are committed to the road map, and the road map says
-- and elaborates on this issue.
It's about Ma'aleh Adumim. Ma'aleh Adumim is one of
the blocs of Jewish population, and our position is that they should
be part of Israel -- I think I mentioned it before -- it will be part
of Israel. And of course, we are very much interested that it will be
contiguity between Ma'aleh Adumim and Jerusalem, but I think altogether,
we are too early because everything happens there really altogether
might take many years, and I believe that we will have enough opportunities
to come and continue our talks with the United States.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. Thank you all for coming.
PRIME MINISTER SHARON: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Sources: White House |