Bush Discusses Middle East at Press Conference
(December 20, 2004)
Q Mr. President, I want to kick forward to the elections
in Gaza in a few weeks if
I could, please. As you know, Presidents back to Carter have searched
for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Your dad worked
hard for it. Your predecessor said once it was like going to the dentist
without getting your gums numbed. I'm wondering what great --
THE PRESIDENT: Guy had a way with words. (Laughter.)
Q I'm wondering, sir, what lesson you draw, though,
from their efforts, how you think the war in Iraq may, at this point,
have improved prospects for a Mideast peace? And whether you think you
might sit in that diplomatic dental chair yourself this year?
THE PRESIDENT: I've been in the diplomatic dental chair
for four years. This is an issue we talk about a lot, but it became
apparent to me that peace would never happen so long as the -- the interlocutor
in the peace process was not really dedicated to peace, or dedicated
to state.
I was at — look, I gave the speech June
24, 2002, in the Rose Garden that laid out the vision about how
to achieve — at least from my point of view, how to achieve a
peaceful solution, and something that I hope happens. But I'm realistic
about how to achieve peace. And it starts with, my understanding, that
there will never be peace until a true democratic state emerges in the
Palestinian territory. And I'm hopeful right now because the Palestinians
will begin to have elections, have — will have elections, which
is the beginning of the process toward the development of a state. It
is not the sign that democracy has arrived. It is the beginning of a
process.
And we look forward to working with Israel to uphold her obligations to enable a Palestinian state to emerge. But
we've got a good chance to get it done. And I just want the people —
and I know the world is wondering whether or not this is just empty
rhetoric or does — do I really believe that now is the time to
move the process forward. And the answer is: Now is the time to move
the process forward. But we cannot shortcut the process by saying —
you know, well, the Palestinians can't self-govern; they're not suitable
for a democracy. I subscribe to this theory that the only way to achieve
peace is for there to be democracies living side-by-side. Democracies
don't fight each other. And the last system didn't work, which was the
hope that a Palestinian authority, run by a singular head, who on some
days would say we're for peace and some days would say now is the time
to attack; hope that everything would be fine. It just didn't work.
So I look forward to working with the world, the new
Secretary of State, to work with the Palestinians to develop the structures
necessary for a democracy to emerge. And I appreciate the fact that
Prime Minister Tony Blair is willing to help that process by holding
a conference with Palestinians that will help develop the state. And
if the free world focuses on helping the Palestinians develop a state,
and there is leadership willing to accept the help, it's possible to
achieve peace. And there are responsibilities for all parties; the Palestinians
have responsibilities, the Israelis have responsibilities, the Americans
have responsibilities, the EU has responsibilities. But we all have
got to keep the big vision in mind in order to achieve the objective.
Sources: The White House |