The focus of the President's remarks was the continued American commitment to Israel's security and well-being and the need to work together to counter Soviet aggression in the Middle East. Mr. Begin also spoke of the community of interests that link Israel and the United States. Text:
President Reagan: The Prime Minister and I have had two days of friendly and useful and productive talks. I am greatly encouraged by the common purpose I've sensed throughout our discussions, and especially pleased by the friendship and complete candor that has developed between us from the very outset of our meetings. Your views, Mr. Prime Minister, have been invaluable, and your grasp of issues that concern us is truly impressive. We've made progress in charting a course that well be following in the peace process in the months ahead. Well work together to maintain the peace that was concluded between Israel and Egypt, and to build on that peace and broaden it. The United States stands ready to help advance the peace process in any way that is useful to the parties concerned.
In our discussions about the strategic situation in the Middle East, it's only natural that we found much common ground. As friends, and as partners in peace, we share a determination to oppose all forces that threaten the peace and integrity of our nations. The United States will remain committed to Israel's security and wellbeing. We'll work together with you and with our other friends in the region to counter Soviet aggression and to strengthen the security of all the countries in the area.
Mr. Prime Minister, this is the first of what I know will be many warm and productive meetings between us. I'm delighted to have had this opportunity to come to know you, and to discuss the partnership between our two countries. Through our conversations, I believe that we've created new bonds of understanding between the United States and Israel, renewed and strengthened our very special friendship.
I wish you a very pleasant continued stay in the United States, and above all, a very safe return to Israel.
Prime Minister Begin: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the press, I subscribe without any qualification to the appreciation of the talks we had in Washington with the President and his advisors. The American delegation and the Israeli delegation spoke with candor, in detail, all of us made their homework, we were prepared and therefore the results could be what we considered unanimously, by both the President and his advisors and my colleagues and myself, as very fruitful. We draw a distinction, a clear distinction, between problems of defending our country when it becomes necessary, and the community of moral values and of direct interests between the United States and Israel, as far as the threat to freedom of many nations, in the Middle East and elsewhere, is concerned. As far as the defense of Israel is concerned, it is our problem, we will never ask any nation to send its soldiers to defend us. Our army will do its duty. We hate war, we hate bloodshed, we want peace, we gave great sacrifices for the sake of peace, we hope to achieve that peace with other neighbors - but if it should come at any moment, when we will have to defend our independence and our liberty and our land, then our young people will do so, as they did in the past, in the spirit of self-sacrifice and, I don't hesitate to say, heroism. But, there is another problem in our time. A clear community of interests vis a vis a clear and present danger to every free nation, by a totalitarian and expansionist regime. On this issue, we will work together, we will plan together, we will execute those plans together, in agreement, to the benefit both of the United States and Israel, and the Free World at large.
Mr. President, we are all grateful to you for the wonderful hospitality you accorded to us...we will be awaiting your visit to our country and to Jerusalem ... we shall give you the heartiest reception by a people who have got so great respect for you ... I say ... au revoir in Jerusalem.