President Bill Clinton
SEC. ALBRIGHT: Mr. President, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman Arafat,
Vice President Gore, King Hussein, diplomatic colleagues, distinguished
guests, and friends of the Middle East. We meet this afternoon to mark not
a conclusion but rather a new chapter in the pursuit of permanent peace
with security and justice in the Middle East.
I begin by expressing my admiration for the effort to reach an agreement
that was made by both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders and their
delegations. The issues considered this week were difficult and complex,
but in the end, both sides made the hard choices required to move the
process forward. In so doing, they demonstrated leadership, courage and
vision.
I express my heartfelt appreciation for the contributions made by His
Majesty King Hussein of Jordan. His passion for peace inspired us all to
believe that with sufficient faith and unyielding will, the seemingly
unattainable would prove within our grasp.
I would like to thank the vice president for his most helpful
participation in our discussions and the CIA director, George Tenet, for
his critical assistance at a number of key points. And most of all, I
congratulate President Clinton, who has given new meaning to the term
"shuttle diplomacy." This agreement would not have been reached without
his incredible persistence and determination. From the outset, he put
America squarely on the side of peace and cleared the path so that both
sides could join us there.
Today's ceremony culminates almost a year and a half of efforts to restore
confidence and forward movement to the peace process. It ends a dangerous
impasse that has eroded trust and stalled progress towards a broader
peace. The United States hopes that the implementation of this agreement
will spur forward movement on the other tracks of the peace process and
lead to improved relations between Israel and all her Arab neighbors.
Today's agreement is an important way station on the upward path towards
peace. It proves again that progress is the product of negotiation, while
the alternatives of extremism and violence yield only more stalemate,
suffering, and grief.
If we're to continue forward, the parties must rise to the challenge of
implementing their commitments. They must work together to resolve
differences and prevent new misunderstandings. And they must act in the
spirit of peace embodied so vividly at Wye this week by the courage of
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat, the persuasiveness of
President Clinton, the wisdom of King Hussein, the good sense and good
nature of Sandy Berger, and the patience and skill of Dennis Ross, Martin
Indyk, Aaron Miller, Gemal Halal (sp), Toni Verstandig, and Jonathan
Schwartz.
And now I am pleased to introduce someone who has had a passion for Middle
East peace and security for a long time, and will for a long time in the
future. He has been a major contributor to today's success -- the vice
president of the United States, Al Gore.
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. Secretary Albright,
thank you for your very generous introduction and for your tireless work
in pursuit of peace, your constant travel to the region, your dedication
to the result that is announced today. At Wye Plantation, everyone saw
again how your earnest efforts have won you the trust and respect of the
parties involved, and you relied on that trust to keep these peace talks
on track through many a tense moment. Your country and the world are
honored by your service.
I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Sandy
Berger, our courageous and rock-steady national security advisor, whose
commitment and counsel have been so vital to the efforts in pursuit of
peace. And also, a diplomat of endless endurance, Dennis Ross, who has
served the cause of peace through several administrations, and has defied
fatigue in his constant shuttling to points and between points in the
Middle East.
I want to join the secretary in acknowledging the work of George Tenet and
others that deserve credit. To those who will be speaking and to those who
have labored without sleep for nine days now, the world is extremely
grateful. I would also like to acknowledge Her Majesty, Queen Noor, and
Mrs. Sarah Netanyahu, the members of the Palestinian delegation and the
Israeli delegation, members of President Clinton's cabinet, members of the
House and Senate, including Senator Kennedy and Senator Biden, Senator
Lautenberg, Senator Robb, and Congressman Wexler.
A great deal of credit for today's announcement belongs to still another
man now in the room, a great statesman of the Middle East, who you will
also hear from, a man who himself made peace with Israel here at the White
House four years ago, a man long devoted to the cause of peace, and whose
personal stature as a peacemaker and dramatic appearance and presentation
at a key moment inspired the progress and the success of these talks --
His Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
We're grateful to you, Your Majesty, for your courage in being here.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat are heroes today. What they
have done has taken genuine courage. But it often happens that even the
deepest commitment to peace cannot overcome all obstacles without the
strong and active encouragement of an outside party, an honest broker, a
peacemaker who shares their passion for peace and can help both sides
clarify their positions, understand their options and overcome their
doubts.
In Bosnia, in Haiti, in Northern Ireland, and now again in the Middle
East, President Bill Clinton has demonstrated his uncompromising personal
commitment to bringing peace to some of the world's most troubled regions,
regions that have had too much of war and are now seeking a path to
peace.
In introducing the president, I would just like to say to any person who
thinks for one moment that the outcome about to be signed here was somehow
foreordained, somehow prearranged, expected, I assure you this was not the
case.
Far, far from it. No one in the president's administration, in the Israeli
delegation, in the Palestinian delegation had any idea of whether or not
this might really succeed to the extent that it has.
There is no question that the personal commitment and perseverance and
stamina and determination and sheer will of President Clinton was the key
ingredient in keeping these talks going beyond the point where it was time
to go to bed and get some sleep, beyond the point where people were
willing to give up and up to the point where it was possible to make
peace.
As a result of that commitment and the courageous decisions of Prime
Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat, there is greater hope today than
yesterday that children born tomorrow will know only peace in the Middle
East. We know that the road to permanent peace lies out long before us,
but today we are several steps closer to that goal.
And, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride that I present the
individual who has been the person responsible for these forward steps
today. On behalf of the American people and the world community, I would
like to say thank you, Mr. President.
President Bill Clinton.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President, Madame
Secretary, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman Arafat, to the
Israeli and Palestinian delegations, the members of Congress and the
Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps, my fellow Americans who are
here. It's a great honor for me to welcome you here. I only wish the first
lady were here as well. She is in Chicago. We talked a few moments ago and
she sends her great happiness and best wishes, especially to Queen Noor
and Mrs. Netanyahu.
After some very difficult negotiations, very long, dare I say quite
sleepless, the Israelis and Palestinians here have reached an agreement on
issues over which they have been divided for more than 17 months. This
agreement is designed to rebuild trust and renew hope for peace between
the parties. Now both sides must build on that hope, carry out their
commitments, begin the difficult but urgent journey toward a permanent
settlement.
Over the last nine days, I have witnessed extraordinary efforts on behalf
of peace. I thank our team, beginning with its head, the secretary of
State, who showed remarkable creativity, strength and patience. I thank
the vice president for his interventions. I thank my good friend Sandy
Berger; our Director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, who had an
unusual, almost unprecedented role to play because of the security
considerations; our special Middle East coordinator, Dennis Ross, who was
a young man with no gray hair when all this began.
I thank all the other outstanding members of our delegation.
I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu, who stood so firmly for the security of
his citizens and of his country, and of the impressive members of his
cabinet and administration.
I thank Chairman Arafat, who tenaciously defended the interests of his
people, and the very impressive members of his team as well.
In the end, after all the twists and turns and ups and downs, all their
late and ultimately sleepless nights, both reaffirmed their commitment to
the path of peace. And for that, the world can be grateful.
And finally, let me thank His Majesty, King Hussein, whose courage,
commitment, wisdom, and, frankly, stern instruction at appropriate times
were at the heart of this success. Your Majesty, we are all profoundly in
your debt.
This agreement is good for Israel's security. The commitments made by the
Palestinians were very strong, as strong as any we have ever seen. They
include continuous security cooperation with Israel and a comprehensive
plan against terrorism and its support infrastructure.
This agreement is good for the political and economic well-being of
Palestinians. It significantly expands areas under Palestinian authority
to some 40 percent of the West Bank. It also offers the Palestinian people
new economic opportunities. With an airport, an industrial zone, soon safe
passage between Gaza and the West Bank, and, in time, a seaport, the
Palestinian people will be able to breathe a little easier and benefit
from the fruits of peace.
Most importantly, perhaps, this agreement is actually good for the peace
process itself. For 18 months it has been paralyzed, a victim of mistrust,
misunderstanding and fear. Now, ordinary Israelis and Palestinians once
again can become partners for peace.
To bolster this effort, Chairman Arafat will invite members of the
Palestinian National Council and other important political entities to
reaffirm his prior commitments and their support for the peace process. I
have agreed to address that meeting several weeks hence, and to underscore
the values of reconciliation, tolerance and respect and my support for
those commitments and this process.
People around the world should be heartened by this achievement today.
These leaders and those with whom they work have come a very long way. The
Israeli and Palestinian peoples, whose bitter rivalry in this century has
brought so much suffering to both sides, have moved yet another step
closer toward fulfilling the promise of the Oslo accords; closer to the
day when they can live peacefully, as true neighbors, with security,
prosperity, self-governance, cooperation and eventually, God willing,
genuine friendship.
No doubt, as peace gains momentum, forces of hate, no matter how isolated
and desperate, will once again lash out. They know this, the leaders, and
they are prepared to face it. Staying on the path of peace under these
circumstances will demand even greater leadership and courage. The work at
Wye River shows what can happen when the will for peace is strong, but let
me say once again to all the rest of you, everyone who is tempted to
handicap every little twist and turn over the last nine days, you need to
know one overwhelming thing.
The prime minister and the chairman and the members of their delegation
who supported this process, even when there were things about it they did
not agree with, are quite well aware that the enemies of peace will seek
to extract a price from both sides. They are quite well aware that in the
short run, they themselves may have put themselves at greater risk. But by
pledging themselves to the peaceful course for the future, to the same
values and ultimately to the same enemies, they have given both the
Israelis and Palestinians a chance to have the future we all want for our
children and our children's children.
Every effort will have to be exerted to ensure the faithful implementation
of this agreement, not because the parties do not want to do so, but
because the agreement covers many things, was developed over many days,
involved many discussions and sleepless nights. It will test whether the
Palestinian people are prepared to live in peace, recognizing Israel's
permanence, legitimacy and a common interest in security. It will tell us
whether Israelis want to help build a strong Palestinian entity that can
fulfill the aspirations of its people and provide both real security and
real partnership for Palestinians and Israelis.
The United States is determined to be of whatever help we can to both
sides in their endeavors. I will consult with Congress to design a package
of aid to help Israel meet the security costs of redeployment and help the
Palestinian Authority meet the economic costs of development.
I hope we will have support from Republicans and Democrats in that
endeavor.
With respect to Mr. Pollard, I have agreed to review this matter
seriously, at the prime minister's request. I have made no commitment as
to the outcome of the review.
Ultimately, the parties will have to translate the gains of Wye River into
renewed efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, for as big a step as
today is, and after 17 months it is a very large step indeed, it is just
another step along the way. Therefore, perhaps as important as any other
statement to be made today, let me say how grateful I am that the prime
minister and the chairman have agreed to begin permanent-status talks upon
ratification of this agreement. I have agreed to convene the two leaders
at an appropriate time to seek to complete these talks. We have all agreed
to try to do it under circumstances which permit more sleep at night.
Let me say that no agreement can wipe away decades of distrust. But I
think these last several days have helped each side to get a better
understanding of the other's hopes and fears, a better feel for all they
have in common, including on occasion, thank the Lord, a good sense of
humor.
The future can be bright for Israelis and Palestinians if they maintain
the will for peace. If we continue to work together, the next generation
will grow up without fear. Israel can have the genuine security and
recognition it has sought for so long. The Palestinian people can at long
last realize their aspirations to live free in safety, in charge of their
own destiny.
So on behalf of all the people of the United States, let me say to the
Israeli and Palestinian peoples, "Salaam," "Shalom," peace be with you in
the hard and hopeful days ahead.
We value our friendship, and we thank you for your trust, for giving us
the opportunity to walk this road with you.
Now it is my privilege to introduce Prime Minister Netanyahu. Let me say I
was once again extraordinarily impressed by the energy, the drive, the
determination, the will, the complete grasp of every detailed aspect of
every issue that this prime minister brought to these talks. He showed
himself willing to take political risks for peace, but not to risk the
security of his people, and as a result, this agreement embodies an
enormous increase in the security of the people of Israel.
Mr. Prime Minister, the microphone is yours.
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Mr.
Chairman, the vice president, Your Majesty, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Madame
Secretary, Sandy Berger, their staff, and especially -- especially Dennis,
of the white hair and Olympic endurance, and all the delegations assembled
here, and all the distinguished ministers of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, and the members of the Senate and Congress, and the many
friends who are here today.
Today's a day when Israel and our entire region are more secure. Now this
has required sacrifice from both sides and reaching into what Lincoln
called the better nature of mankind. This is an important moment to give a
secure and peaceful future for our children and the children of our
neighbors, the Palestinians. We have seized this moment.
I'm asking all people of goodwill, of honesty and candor, I'm asking all
of them to join us in support for this important step for a secure future,
a future of peace.
We are more secure today because, for the first time since the signing of
the Oslo accords, we will see concrete and verifiable commitments
carried
out. Our Palestinian partners will join us in fighting
terrorism. They will follow a detailed and systematic plan to fight
terrorists and their infrastructure, to jail killers that have so far
roamed at large, to stop vitriolic incitement, and, above all, finally,
after 35 years, to cancel the articles in the Palestinian charter which
call for the destruction of Israel. This means that our world today will
be safer for our children and for our neighbors' children.
But it has been said here -- and it's true -- that we are just at the
beginning or maybe in the middle of the road to a permanent peace.
We will soon embark on negotiations for a permanent peace settlement
between our two peoples. Now, I guarantee you it will not be easy, and it
will not be simple, and it will be, Mr. President, despite your best
wishes, sleepless. I guarantee it. Mr. Chairman, I guarantee that to you,
too.
But I am today brimming with some confidence, and not overconfidence,
simply because we have overcome tremendous challenges and achieved success
for both sides. Not at the expense of one side and the benefit of the
other, but success and advantage and progress for both sides. And that
fills me with the confidence that we are able to tackle the larger
challenges that still await us and that still await our two peoples.
There are so many people that I could thank in the American delegation --
it's a wonderful one, headed by the secretary of State and Sandy Berger
and George Tenet and the team that was there, Dennis and Gemal (sp) -- a
provider of cigars and good humor. And so many others.
But I want to especially thank President Clinton. He is, if I can borrow a
cliche, he is a warrior for peace. I mean, he doesn't stop. He has this
ability to maintain a tireless pace and to nudge and prod and suggest and
use a nimble and flexible mind to truly explore the possibilities of both
sides, and never just on one side. That is a great gift, I think a
precious and unique one, and it served us well.
So I thank you, Mr. President, for serving us and the cause of peace well.
And I thank you, too, for your boundless optimism, without which these
qualities cannot come into effect. You needed a lot of optimism.
I want to thank Chairman Arafat. Mr. Chairman, your cooperation was
invaluable. And I want to thank you personally once again for the kind
wishes you extended me on a birthday that I shall never forget. Thank you
very much.
I want to thank Minister Sharansky. Mr. Sharansky is in Israel. He is
celebrating now his daughter's bat mitzvah. I'm sure you all send him the
best and excuse him for not being here. But he and Defense Minister
Mordechai and Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon brought to Wye their
patriotism and their commitment. They are great patriots. They are people
who have put themselves in line for their country and their people. And
they have brought all that experience, all that courage and all that
perseverance, all that skill, and they assisted me and the state of Israel
in ways that I think should be recounted and probably will repeat
themselves, I hope in the near future, in a successful bid for peace.
And I want most especially to thank two people at the close.
I want to thank King Hussein, who visited us twice. And, Your Majesty, you
gave us an unforgettable and inspiring example of courage and humanity,
and it moved me deeply. It moved every one of our people and our delegates
deeply, and I thank you for that.
And lastly, I would like to thank my wife, Sara, who joined me, who
offered me support and a great deal of wisdom in some trying moments, and
who constantly reminded me of our two children, of all the children for
whom we toil and dream and pray. Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Let me say, I wish that all of you who care about this
could have seen at least a portion of what I saw in the last nine days in
the interchanges between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat. It
was very interesting.
They were so different. I can't imagine Mr. Netanyahu in a "kaffiyeh."
(Laughter, applause, cross talk.) But they were very much alike in their
tenacity and their astonishing intelligence and knowledge.
Just as I was able to say a thank you to Prime Minister Netanyahu, let me
say to Chairman Arafat, I thank you. I thank you for turning away from
violence toward peace. I thank you for embracing the idea that
Palestinians and Israelis can actually share the land of our fathers
together. I thank you for believing that the home of Islam and Judaism and
Christianity can surely be the home of people who love one God and respect
every life God has created. And I thank you for decades and decades and
decades of tireless representation of the longing of the Palestinian
people to be free, self-sufficient, and at home.
Mr. Chairman, the microphone is yours.
(Chairman Arafat's remarks are through an interpreter.)
CHAIRMAN ARAFAT: Mr. William Clinton, the president; Mr. Al Gore, Mrs.
Madeleine Albright; and members of the U.S. delegation; friends; my
co-partner -- my new co-partner in the peace process, Mr. Netanyahu; and
here I mention my late co-partner Yitzhak Rabin and my co-partner Shimon
Peres.
Members of the Israeli delegation with whom we worked together until we
reached whatever we achieved, my brothers, members of the Palestinian
delegation, ladies and gentlemen, here, in this regard, I would like to
give special tribute from my heart to His Majesty, King Hussein, and Her
Majesty the Queen, for everything they presented us.
This is an important and a happy day, a day of achievement that we will
always remember with optimism and hope. It is true that whatever we
achieved is only temporary, that has been late. But our agreement in the
Wye River underscores that the peace process is going ahead and that
whatever we agreed upon in Madrid, Oslo, and in Washington and Cairo is
being implemented on the same bases that have been agreed to and that we
will never go back. We will never leave the peace process, and we will
never go back to violence and confrontation -- no return to confrontation
and violence.
Please allow me to mention, in this connection, first and foremost to
direct my talk to Mr. Bill Clinton for the long hours which he exerted
during the past 10 days, particularly those 24 hours that he spent
continuously, where he was always alert and understanding, creative in
order to bring back history between the cousins.
This friendliness that had been separated through war and destruction and
violence for many years.
And please allow me to present my tribute and acknowledgement to Mr. Al
Gore for whatever he did and whatever he does for pushing forward and
protecting the peace process, the peace process of courageous people.
My dear friend, we quite feel grateful to you and to the U.S. people and,
indeed, I am quite comfortable about the future of my people and that of
the small peoples, having you as a great leader of the world at this great
level of youth and sincerity and wisdom. This mixture of great things is a
gift from God to you and to your American people, and for humanity as a
whole. Your presence at the head of the international politics brings
justice in the balance of peace and coexistence, which is just and well
balanced.
I would also like to send this tribute from my heart to His Majesty King
Hussein for his efforts, even though he has very special health concerns,
and in spite of the difficulty of the negotiations that we have gone
through.
Please allow me also to talk to Mrs. Albright and to Mr. Sandy Berger
and Mr. George Tenet. You have worked a lot for long months, which was
strenuous indeed, during which, my dear minister, you crossed for
thousands of miles for peace and the future of our children and
contributed through your understanding. We all appreciate your efforts.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Mr. Dennis Ross and the U.S.
team working with him for their efforts with us for long hours and long
days because they did believe in the importance of peace for us, for our
children, others.
This reconciliation between the two peoples, the Palestinian and the
Israeli people, will not divert its path, and will go through negotiations
on the table and not through tanks, grenades and barbed wires.
We have achieved today a large step, but it is important, my co-partner,
Mr. Netanyahu, it is important in establishing the peace process because
this is the peace of courageous people, the implementation of Security
Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace,
achievement of political rights of the Palestinian people, and putting
every effort possible in the service of achieving security for all,
particularly for the Israeli people.
All this will bring us to begin at once and quickly in the negotiations of
the final solution that will try to achieve just and peaceful and
permanent peace in order to complement what takes place also on the Syrian
and the Lebanese paths very soon.
What we achieve together with the leading and effective role of President
William Clinton and his U.S. team is something, if fully and sincerely
implemented, will open the door, Amam (ph), before the Palestinian and
Israeli people for more achievements, more hope, and more optimism, not
only for ourselves, but also for the Middle East regions as a whole.
Once again, I'm saying that it is a big step that came late, but it is
indeed an important one because it will allow the return of 13 percent of
the Palestinian land on the West Bank to the Palestinian people, to their
sovereignty and will allow to double the area where the Palestinian
Authority will enjoy full-fledged authority and sovereignty. Yes, indeed,
it is a start that will allow to the Palestinian airplanes to fly to and
from the Gaza International Airport carrying visitors and merchandise,
carrying to the whole world the Palestinian flowers and fresh fruit.
It will also open the door to build the Gaza seaport and the realization
of the Palestinian dream of geographic -- (inaudible word) -- between the
regions of the Palestinian land in the Bank and Gaza through a secured
area.
It will also allow the achievement of real happiness for hundreds of the
prisoners of Palestinians in the Israeli jails and also for their families
in everywhere, liberating them. And I will never forget this in fact, for
Mr. Netanyahu, with the assistance of King Hussein and President Clinton.
I say they would be liberated outside their cells to where there is
freedom and participation in the completion of what we started of peace
process and building their free land with their heads held high and
proud.
I led those children during their struggle for freedom, and they gave
their freedom and their lives for the sake of the land. However, they
adopted the peace process, adopted peace and stood by peace while they
were in the jails. And now they are joining us in our peace process for
the sake of peace. It is the peace of courageous people.
We have succeeded in the agreement to stop all the unilateral actions that
would undermine the final solution and bring about a difficult climate for
negotiations on peace. With this agreement, we begin the final-solution
negotiations, which we will take very seriously and commitment in order to
achieve it on its stipulated times in all the agreements we signed
together, which is the 4th of May, 1999.
We will have understanding around this date between us and the Israeli
partners, and between us our friends in the U.S., and between us and our
brothers the Arabs, at the forefront of which is His Excellency, His
Majesty King Hussein, and my brother, President Mubarak, who has been
following with commitment what we are doing here in the U.S. And also our
brothers, the Arabs, the Arab leaders who have been following our work
minute by minute. And I will not forget Federal (sic) Russia as well, and
China and Japan and the states of the nonalignment countries. And in
particular, I would like to mention in this regard the European role, who
sent their delegation, Mr. Martinez (sp), in order to be here beside us
during these negotiations.
We are quite certain that we will stand together here in this place, which
is at a high level forum, and under the guardianship of the President
Clinton, in order to announce the achievement of permanent peace between
the Palestinian and Israeli peoples; that we have completed the solution
of all issues: the return of the land, the status of Jerusalem, the status
of the settlements, the final frontiers, and return of refugees, and the
just distribution of water, and security and good relations with our
neighbors, and that we have achieved freedom and independence and security
for all.
We will begin a new era of new relations based on equality, mutual
feelings, and cooperation between two independent neighboring countries
enjoying security and openness with their neighbors in a regional
framework that will bring about peace, justice, and stability for all.
Mr. President, President Clinton; Your Majesty, King Hussein; my
co-partner, Mr. Netanyahu; Mr. Al Gore, ladies and gentlemen, I talked in
hope and optimism about the future, which I hope will be achieved together
through sincere and accurate achievement of whatever we agreed upon. But I
would like to assert in honesty and sincerity that we are fully committed
to whatever is required from us in order to achieve real security and
constant peace for every Israeli person and for the Israeli people. We
will not forget our duties as we underline our rights.
I am quite confident that I'm talking in the name of all Palestinians when
I assure you that we are all committed to the security of every child,
woman, and man in Israel. Here we have come to a detailed agreement, and
we are committed to play our independent role to keep security. And we
will achieve whatever we promised here. I will do everything I can so that
no Israeli mother will be worried if her son or daughter is late coming
home or any Israeli would be afraid when they heard an explosion.
It is true that nobody can secure 100 percent results of security for all
Palestinians and all Israelis.
But I am proud that we were able to work together. And we will be able to
do more together with the assistance of all our friends all over the
world, in America and in Europe, and with great commitment to achieve much
more in the years ahead.
Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen, we want achievements of the peace of
courageous people to end this long suffering, in order to build an
independent nation having a lot of democracy and caring for these
children. We want a school and education for every child and young man. We
want a job for every man and woman and a modern medical clinic and a
hospital, and a small house as well, where everybody feels comfortable and
where laughter is heard of happy healthy kids. We want that and more for
our neighbors and co-partners, the Israeli people and the Arabs.
We want a factory, a lab, an airport and a seaport, a clean environment
and an ability to grow and to develop. And on the occasion of the new
millennium, which represents the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem where
his light came out to the world, we would like to receive the whole
world
now, calling for peace and justice and freedom, for a world where
there is stability, fraternity and cooperation.
We would also like to pursue the joint work with our neighbors the Arabs,
as well as the regional work which is cooperative and successful. And even
through I realize the difficulties that we face and my full knowledge of
-- whatever we sign today will only trickle down to worthless ink and
paper unless it is implemented accurately and quickly.
So I call upon President Clinton to remain with us, alert and supportive,
in order to make sure that we implement everything we agreed upon.
However, I'm also happy that I call upon my sons and children in
Palestine, in the diaspora and confinement, bringing to them the good news
of a better future where they can enjoy a better life with freedom,
dignity and independent country. I want them to work with me seriously and
sincerely in order to do everything we can, all the sacrifices to build
our nation, Palestine.
And so I also say something special for my children, that they are in our
imagination and minds and conscience, and we will never forget their
rights, their efforts and their tortures. And in particular, I call upon
my brothers and sisters in the refugee camps in Lebanon that this long
standing apart will not be long and they will come back to Palestine in
their dignity.
For those who sacrificed for Palestine -- the martyrs, the wounded, the
widows, the orphans and the prisoners -- without whom we wouldn't have
achieved this day for freedom for them all, I tell them that we are going
to achieve peace. To all our brothers, the Arabs who embraced us in our
difficulties and supported us during war and peace, I tell them that we
will continue our effort and will be committed to our cause.
I am really honored with the presence of King Hussein with us, to stand
with us, supporting our efforts for peace even though he needs rest and
medical care to go back safe to his kingdom once again and to the Arab
nation and Islamic nation.
Our daily contacts with President Mubarak and Minister Amre Moussa was
important in giving us the sincere advice and support and expertise. And I
say the same thing for all the Arab leaders who were in constant contact
with us, supporting us, guiding us and wishing us success in our
effort.
Mr. President, members of the U.S. government, my co-partner, Mr.
Netanyahu, and the delegation, and Israeli people. The U.S. administration
has done every possible and creative effort in order for the success of
this work that took place on American land and in the hospitality of the
U.S. administration. What President Clinton did, along with his
colleagues, is rare to see or find anywhere. In spite of his full
schedule, President Clinton gave us his full attention with members of his
government and the officials, and scores of experts and assistants for the
success of these negotiations and bringing us to this result that has been
achieved.
President Clinton, and for assistants, I would like to say that you have a
special place in our hearts, and the peace process has witnessed, under
your directions, all the success and with our presence here with him in
the White House. We are certain that he will be witnessing the signing of
the final agreement here in the White House, so he will have achieved the
two important things in the peace process -- Palestine and Ireland. And he
will stay in the heart of every Palestinian person with every love.
In this regard, I would also like to thank the European Union for their
continued support of the peace process. And from here I will go to Vienna,
where the European presidency, in order to tell them and to thank them for
their support of the peace process in the coming days.
I would also like to thank the Russian president, and I believe that my
visit to President Yeltsin and Primakov and Blair has support to continue
this peace process and to support the same role played by the Russians and
the Europeans.
I would like to thank them all, to thank China in particular and Japan,
and the Asian and African countries, and the non-aligned countries,
Islamic countries and the Latin American countries. All of them -- all of
them -- support the peace and the rights of our people. And no doubt they
will celebrate the achievement of peace in our region, because this peace
will establish security and stability and growth all over the world.
And at last I would like to direct my talk to Mr. Netanyahu and his
colleagues, to say today we have achieved a great, positive agreement. We
have to continue that together very soon and to implement it quite
sincerely in reality.
Your security is our security. Your security is our security, and peace
for your children and our children. And we will work together, through the
peace process and negotiations, even though they are difficult, in order
to achieve a final solution. We will not retreat. We will not go back to
violence or confrontation. And we together will be the leaders in order
that peace would prevail on our land and the land of our neighbors, and
peace be with you all.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Ladies and gentlemen, many kind things have been said
about the efforts of the American delegation and the hours that I spent at
Wye Plantation, every one of which I treasured -- some more than
others.
But in truth, all that was required of us was a listening ear and a
helpful suggestion now and then and a kind of a determination to keep us
all moving forward.
It is a little too easy, I think, sometimes for people who are not
directly themselves parties to a peace negotiations, to believe they truly
understand the judgments that the parties themselves must make and how
difficult they are and what price they might carry. I think, as hard as we
tried not to fall prey to that, from time to time we did. I know we did
because there are people on both sides smiling at me just now, as I
speak.
So the lion's share of the credit belongs to Prime Minister Netanyahu and
Chairman Arafat and their close aides.
But His Majesty King Hussein provided an element quite different from what
the United States brought to these negotiations, for he reminded us of
what rises above the facts, the arguments, the legitimate interests, even
the painful sacrifices involved. He was the living embodiment of the best
of our past and the brightest of our hopes for the future. And every time
he was in the room, he made us all become a little closer to the people we
all would like to see ourselves as being. For that, we and the world are
immeasurably in his debt.
Your Majesty.
KING HUSSEIN I (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan): Mr. President, Mr. Vice
President; Ms. Albright, secretary of state; my friend Sandy Berger; and
of course all our friends here and all our friends who played such a vital
part in the last few days in which I was privileged to be an observer and
one who sought to give courage to the process that was ongoing.
George Tenet.
And as the president said, Dennis has lost his black hair and replaced it
with gray. I have lost all mine and even my eyebrows!
But this is part of the life in which we live, and -- I was privileged to
be with you all, and no matter what, I would have been. If I had an ounce
of strength, I would have done my utmost to be there and to help in any
way I can.
By the way, many in our part of the world, in different parts of the
world, have written me off. But I have a lot of faith in God and I believe
that one lives one's destiny. And as far as I am concerned, my morale is
the highest it has ever been, and this has been a shot in the arm for me,
what you have accomplished today, President Arafat and Prime Minister
Netanyahu.
I recall discovering past events over many years, and one thing that
remained with me throughout those many years was a total commitment to the
cause of peace. We quarrel, we agree, we are friendly, we are not
friendly, but we have no right to dictate through irresponsible action or
narrow-mindedness the future of our children and their children's
children.
There has been enough destruction, enough death, enough waste, and it's
time that together we occupy a place beyond ourselves, our peoples, that
is worthy of them under the sun, the descendents of the children of
Abraham -- Palestinians and Israelis coming together.
I have attended previous occasions here, and of course, you, Mr.
President, together with the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, were my
partners four years ago in the Washington Declaration, and later on when
the state of peace was finalized in our meetings in Jordan and in Aqaba.??
I don't think we might have given you as much hard work or less sleep than
you have been subjected to of late! But what I found this time, and what
really gives me hope and confidence, is that that same chemistry after the
first meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Arafat is
there. I think that we passed a crossroad. We have made our commitment to
the welfare and happiness and security and future of our peoples in all
the times to come. And now our partners are humorous, and we wish them
every success in their endeavors, and we'll do everything we can to help
them.
I think such a step as is concluded today will inevitably trigger those
who want to destroy life, destroy hope, create fear in the hearts and
minds of people, trigger in them their worst instincts. They will be
skeptical on the surface, but if they can, they will cause damage wherever
they are and wherever they belong. Let's hope that the overwhelming
majority of us, those who are committed to the future, those who know what
responsibilities they hold now, will be able, through steady progress and
a determined combined joint effort, be able to thwart their aims and their
objectives and move and maybe, God willing, witness the dawn that we have
all been seeking of a comprehensive peace in our entire region.
Mr. President, I've had the privilege of being a friend of the United
States and presidents since the late President Eisenhower. And throughout
all the years that have passed, I have kept in touch. But on the subject
of peace, the peace we are seeking, I have never, with all due respect and
all the affection that I held for your predecessors, have known someone
with your dedication, clearheadedness, focus, and determination to help
resolve this issue in the best possible way.
Mr. President, permit me to say what I feel; I was mentioning it more than
once in the last few days. You have the tolerance and the patience of Job,
and you are the subject of our admiration and respect. And we hope that
you will be with us as we see greater successes and as we help our
brethren and our friends move ahead towards a better tomorrow.
On behalf of Noor and for those colleagues of mine from Jordan, thank you
all for your great kindness, and thank you, our Israeli friends in this
very fine delegation, for all your contributions and efforts.
And obviously, my pride is limitless in the efforts and in the commitment
of President Arafat and his colleagues.
I think we are moving. We are not marking time but we are moving in the
right direction. I believe that very sincerely. And may God bless our
efforts.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Thank you.
Let me say -- everyone sit down. We have to hurry because the hour is
growing late and it's almost Shabbat, huh? I have to say one thing, very
quickly. We have three men of peace here who have extraordinary military
backgrounds. We have many others here. I want to mention two who came with
Prime Minister Netanyahu -- General Sharon and General Mordechai. We're
glad to have you here.
And I say that because I want you to understand a piece of history. This
table was brought to this house in 1869 by one of America's greatest
military leaders, Ulysses Grant, who revolutionized infantry warfare in
our Civil War. One hundred years ago, this table was used to sign the
peace treaty between the United States and Spain. And for 100 years, this
table, brought here by one of our greatest warriors, has been the
exclusive repository of our peace agreements -- the one we signed with
Your Majesty, King Hussein, on this table; President Kennedy's test ban
treaty, signed on this table.
And so I think it is fitting that these three great leaders -- two
signers; one, His Majesty, observing -- who know a great deal about war,
have come to make peace on this table which, for our country, has come to
embody it. And we thank them.
Thank you very much.