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I congratulate the organizers of this
conference for the important and interesting gathering which you have held
here. During the past three days, you have been discussing Israel's
situation. I, as prime minister, am responsible for the planning and
implementation of the measures which will shape Israel's
character during the next few years.
We are all entrusted with the duty of shaping the face of the
Jewish and democratic State of Israel - a state where there is an equal
distribution of the burden, as well as the acceptance of rights and
shouldering of duties by all sectors, through different forms of national
service. A state where there is a good and efficient education system which
educates a young generation imbued with values and national pride, which is
capable of confronting the challenges of the modern world. A country whose
economy is adapted to the advanced global market of the 21st century, where
the product per capita crosses the $20,000 line and is equal to that of most
developed European countries.
An immigrant-absorbing state which constitutes a national and
spiritual center for all Jews of the world and is a source of attraction for
thousands of immigrants each year. Aliyah is the
central goal of the State of Israel.
This is the country we wish to shape. This is the country
where our children will want to live.
I know that there is sometimes a tendency to narrow all of Israel's
problems down to the political sphere, believing that once a solution is
found to Israel's problems with its neighbors, particularly the Palestinians, the
other issues on the agenda will miraculously resolve themselves. I do not
believe so.
We are facing additional challenges which must be addressed -
the economy, educating the young generation, immigrant absorption,
enhancement of social cohesion and the improvement of relations between Arabs
and Jews in Israel.
Like all Israeli citizens, I yearn for peace. I attach
supreme importance to taking all steps which will enable progress toward
resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians. However, in light of the
other challenges we are faced with, if the Palestinians do not make a similar
effort toward a solution of the conflict - I do not intend to wait for them
indefinitely.
Seven months ago, my government approved the road map to
peace, based on President George Bush's June 2002 speech. This is a balanced
program for phased progress toward peace, to which both Israel
and the Palestinians committed themselves. A full and genuine implementation
of the program is the best way to achieve true peace.
The road map is the only political plan accepted by Israel,
the Palestinians, the Americans and a majority of the international
community. We are willing to proceed toward its implementation: two states - Israel
and a Palestinian State - living side by side in tranquility, security and peace.
The road map is a clear and reasonable plan, and it is
therefore possible and imperative to implement it. The concept behind this
plan is that only security will lead to peace. And in that sequence. Without
the achievement of full security - within the framework of which terror
organizations will be dismantled - it will not be possible to achieve genuine
peace, a peace for generations. This is the essence of the road map.
The opposite perception, according to which the very signing
of a peace agreement will produce security out of thin air, has already been
tried in the past and failed miserably. And such will be the fate of any
other plan which promotes this concept. These plans deceive the public and
create false hope. There will be no peace before the eradication of terror.
The government under my leadership will not compromise on the
realization of all phases of the road map. It is incumbent upon the
Palestinians to uproot the terrorist groups and to create a law-abiding
society which fights against violence and incitement. Peace and terror cannot
coexist.
The world is currently united in its unequivocal demand from
the Palestinians to act toward the cessation of terrorism and the
implementation of reforms. Only a transformation of the Palestinian Authority
into a different authority will enable progress in the political process. The
Palestinians must fulfill their obligations. A full and complete
implementation will - at the end of the process - lead to peace and
tranquility.
We began the implementation of the road map at Aqaba, but the terrorist organizations joined with Yasser
Arafat and sabotaged the process with a series of the most brutal terror
attacks we have ever known.
Concurrent with the demand from the Palestinians to eliminate
the terror organizations, Israel is taking - and will continue to take -
steps to significantly improve the living conditions of the Palestinian
population:
Israel will remove closures and curfews and reduce the number
of roadblocks; we will improve freedom of movement for the Palestinian
population, including the passage of people and goods; we will increase the
hours of operation at international border crossings; we will enable a large
number of Palestinian merchants to conduct regular and normal economic and
trade relations with their Israeli counterparts, etc.
All these measures are aimed at enabling better and freer
movement for the Palestinian population not involved in terror.
In addition, subject to security coordination, we will
transfer Palestinian towns to Palestinian security responsibility.
Israel will make every effort to assist the Palestinians and to advance
the process.
Israel will fulfill the commitments taken upon itself.
I have committed to the president of the United States that Israel will dismantle unauthorized outposts. It is my intention to
implement this commitment.
The State of Israel is governed by law, and the issue of the
outposts is no exception. I understand the sensitivity; we will try to do
this in the least painful way possible, but the unauthorized outposts will be
dismantled. Period.
Israel will meet all its obligations with regard to construction in the
settlements. There will be no construction beyond the existing construction
line, no expropriation of land for construction, no special economic
incentives and no construction of new settlements.
I take this opportunity to appeal to the Palestinians and
repeat, as I said at Aqaba: it is not in our
interest to govern you. We would like you to govern yourselves in your own
country. A democratic Palestinian state with territorial contiguity in Judea and Samaria and
economic viability, which would conduct normal relations of tranquility,
security and peace with Israel.
Abandon the path of terror and let us together stop the bloodshed. Let us
move forward together towards peace.
We wish to speedily advance implementation of the road map
towards quiet and a genuine peace. We hope that the Palestinian Authority
will carry out its part. However, if in a few months the Palestinians still
continue to disregard their part in implementing the road map - then Israel
will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the
Palestinians.
The purpose of the "Disengagement Plan" is to
reduce terror as much as possible, and grant Israeli citizens the maximum
level of security. The process of disengagement will lead to an improvement
in the quality of life, and will help strengthen the Israeli economy. The
unilateral steps which Israel will take in the framework of the "Disengagement Plan"
will be fully coordinated with the United States. We must not harm our strategic coordination with the United States. These steps will increase security for the residents of Israel
and relieve the pressure on the IDF and security forces in fulfilling the
difficult tasks they are faced with. The "Disengagement Plan" is
meant to grant maximum security and minimize friction between Israelis and
Palestinians.
We are interested in conducting direct negotiations, but do
not intend to hold Israeli society hostage in the hands of the Palestinians.
I have already said - we will not wait for them indefinitely.
The "Disengagement Plan" will include the
redeployment of IDF forces along new security lines and a change in the
deployment of settlements, which will reduce as much as possible the number
of Israelis located in the heart of the Palestinian population. We will draw
provisional security lines and the IDF will be deployed along them. Security
will be provided by IDF deployment, the security fence and other physical
obstacles. The "Disengagement Plan" will reduce friction between us
and the Palestinians.
This reduction of friction will require the extremely
difficult step of changing the deployment of some of the settlements. I would
like to repeat what I have said in the past: In the framework of a future
agreement, Israel will not remain in all the places where it is today. The
relocation of settlements will be made, first and foremost, in order to draw
the most efficient security line possible, thereby creating this
disengagement between Israel and the Palestinians.
This security line will not constitute the permanent border
of the State of Israel, however, as long as implementation of the road map is
not resumed, the IDF will be deployed along that line.
Settlements which will be relocated are those which will not
be included in the territory of the State of Israel in the framework of any
possible future permanent agreement. At the same time, in the framework of
the "Disengagement Plan," Israel
will strengthen its control over those same areas in the Land of Israel which
will constitute an inseparable part of the State of Israel in any future
agreement. I know you would like to hear names, but we should leave something
for later.
Israel will greatly accelerate the construction of the security fence.
Today we can already see it taking shape. The rapid completion of the
security fence will enable the IDF to remove roadblocks and ease the daily
lives of the Palestinian population not involved in terror.
In order to enable the Palestinians to develop their economic
and trade sectors, and to ensure that they will not be exclusively dependent
on Israel, we will consider, in the framework of the "Disengagement
Plan", enabling - in coordination with Jordan
and Egypt - the freer passage of people and goods through international
border crossings, while taking the necessary security precautions.
I would like to emphasize: the "Disengagement Plan"
is a security measure and not a political one. The steps which will be taken
will not change the political reality between Israel
and the Palestinians, and will not prevent the possibility of returning to
the implementation of the road map and reaching an agreed settlement.
The "Disengagement Plan" does not prevent the implementation
of the road map. Rather, it is a step Israel
will take in the absence of any other option, in order to improve its
security. The "Disengagement Plan" will be realized only in the
event that the Palestinians continue to drag their feet and postpone
implementation of the road map.
Obviously, through the "Disengagement Plan" the
Palestinians will receive much less than they would have received through
direct negotiations as set out in the road map.
According to circumstances, it is possible that parts of the
"Disengagement Plan" that are supposed to provide maximum security
to the citizens of Israel will be undertaken while also attempting to implement the road
map.
Ladies and gentlemen, my life experience has taught me that
for peace, as well as for war, we must have broad consensus. We must preserve
our unity, even in the midst of a difficult, internal debate.
In the past three years, the Palestinian terrorist
organizations have put us to a difficult test. Their plan to break the spirit
of Israeli society has not succeeded. The citizens of Israel
have managed to step into the breach, support each other, lend a helping
hand, volunteer and contribute.
I believe that this path of unity must be continued today.
Whether we will be able to advance the road map, or will have to implement
the "Disengagement Plan," experience has taught us that, together,
through broad national consensus, we can do great things.
Let us not be led astray. Any path will be complicated,
strewn with obstacles, and obligate us to act with discretion and
responsibility. I am confident that, just as we have managed to overcome the
challenges of the past, we will stand together and succeed today.
We will always be guided by the words of Prime Minister David
Ben-Gurion, who said, on the day after the Declaration of Independence:
These days, our purpose is only to build the State of Israel
with love and faith, in Jewish brotherhood, and to defend it with all our
spirit, and as long as necessary. We are still in the midst of a difficult
battle, one that has two fronts: political and military.
Let us not embellish our deeds and, of course, our words,
with grandiose names. We must remain humble. We achieved what we have
achieved by standing on the shoulders of previous generations, and we
accomplished what we have accomplished by preserving our precious legacy, the
legacy of a small nation which has endured suffering and tribulations, but
which is, nevertheless, great and eternal in spirit, vision, faith and
virtue.
I am also a great believer in the resilience of this small,
brave nation which has endured suffering and tribulations. I am confident
that, united in the power of our faith, we will be able to succeed in any
path we choose.
Thank you very much, and happy Hannukah.
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