Girl from Quraysh

Just passing it along

Address by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to AIPAC Policy Conference -
19-Mar-2001Address by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to AIPAC Policy
Conference

Washington D.C., March 19, 2001

[Source: Israel Government Press Office]

"Towards a National Agenda of Peace and Security"


Distinguished Members of Congress, the leadership of AIPAC, Tim
Willigur, Lonny Kaplan, Howard Kohr, dear friends and supporters of
Israel.

I bring you greetings from Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the
Jewish people for the past 3000 years, and of the State of Israel for
the past 52 years and forever. Jerusalem belongs to all the Jewish
people - we in Israel are only custodians of the city. Only under the
sovereignty of Israel has Jerusalem been open to all faiths.
Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the holiest site to the Jewish
people, is something you should stand up and speak out about.
Jerusalem will remain united under the sovereignty of
Israel - forever.

I stand before you today, first and foremost as a Jew. This strong
Jewish identity is a central theme in my life and will be in carrying
out my responsibilities as Prime Minister. I want to work to
strengthen the relationship between Israel and Jews all over the
world. I have established a National Unity Government to unite the
people of Israel, but unity among Jews is vital worldwide. Unity is
our source of strength. The Jewish people have one small, tiny
country; it is the only place in the world where Jews have the right
and capability to defend themselves by themselves. For 2000 years we
had to rely on others for our defense, now we control our own
destiny. Exercising this right strengthens the security of Jews
everywhere.

Although I am 6000 miles from home, I feel that tonight, I am among
friends. I would like to recognize the long-standing bipartisan
support of the U.S. Congress for the State of Israel. I have come to
Washington to deepen and strengthen the special relationship between
our peoples. I wish to start by developing a close relationship with
President Bush and his Administration, enhance our ties with both
houses of Congress, and with the American people as a whole. Ten
years ago, under the leadership of President George Bush, Secretary
of Defense Richard Cheney, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, General Colin Powell, the United States won a great military
victory in the Gulf War, that changed the face of the Middle East.

An entirely new situation emerged that opened a 'window of
opportunity' leading to the Madrid Peace Conference in the fall of
1991.

The clear lesson of this period was that if there is a secure Middle
East, there can be a peaceful Middle East. Regional security proved
to be a pre-requisite for peacemaking: face to face negotiations
without the threat of aggression, violence or terrorism. This became
the underlying principle of the Madrid Conference and subsequent
Israeli-Arab negotiations.

In the years that followed Madrid, every Israeli Prime Minister
sought to advance the peace process in his own way. All of Israel
seeks peace. Based on my personal experiences in all of Israel's
wars, I am committed to achieving peace. But Israel needs peace with
security, a peace that will last for generations.

Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East in 2001 is no longer
the same as it was in 1991, the security of the region as a whole has
eroded.

A new wave of international terrorism is on the rise from Afghanistan
to Lebanon - some of it state-sponsored. Most recently, acts of terror
instigated by the Palestinian Authority, coupled with deliberate
incitement, have become one of the primary sources of instability in
the Middle East.

Terrorism as a form of warfare is a strategic issue in our region:
Most of the past wars in the region were instigated by acts of
terrorism. Therefore, on the basis of past experience, even today
international terrorism can still threaten regional and global
stability.

Terrorism thrives when international norms and principles are
ignored; when the peaceful resolution of disputes is displaced by
violence and intimidation. Therefore, strengthening cooperation among
all western nations including Israel, and concerted efforts led by
the United States are the only way to contain this dangerous trend.

Regional security is eroding in the wider Middle East, as well. Iraq
has not been under UN monitoring for more than two years and
sanctions have been increasingly ignored. There can be no doubt that
Saddam Hussein is seeking to restore his mass destruction weapons
capability and his quest for long-range missiles.

Iran today is providing unprecedented support for terrorism. It not
only backs Hizbullah, but also seeks to arm and train Palestinian
organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad that are planning attacks
within Israel and against Jewish and Israeli targets abroad. Today,
Iran is continuing its effort to export fundamentalism, converting
Lebanon into one of the main centers of international terrorism that
will inevitably undermine the stability of the entire Middle East.

Iran is already testing missiles that can strike Israel. But it is
planning to produce significantly longer-range missiles that will put
the Middle East, Western Europe, Russia and even parts of the U.S.
itself at risk.

Much of this ballistic missile technology comes from North Korea, but
it is also emanating from the Russian Federation. In the Middle East
today, the forces of instability feel they are gaining momentum. In
this new environment, it is not surprising that the Arab-Israeli
peace process has reached a stalemate in recent months as the
considerations of our immediate neighbors have been altered.

Syria is looking east to its ties with a resurgent Iraq and Iran,
instead of better relations with the West. The Palestinians are
waving the flags of Iraq and Hizbullah. Yasser Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority are returning to the belief that they can
defeat Israel by means of armed struggle. They feel that violence
will produce further Israeli concessions. Arafat is willing to
destabilize the entire Middle East, including moderate Arab regimes,
in order to achieve his goals.

The current situation in the Middle East can be reversed. Strong
democracies determined to protect themselves can restore stability
and build the foundations for a lasting peace.

First, I believe that Israel can reach an agreement with the
Palestinians and I will make every effort to reach such an agreement.
This agreement will be based on two basic stages.

In the first stage, which we have begun, we are already taking
immediate steps to ease up restrictions and improve the economic
situation of the Palestinian population. At the same time, we will
maintain a relentless fight against terrorists and their supporters
with an effort to prevent escalation. Steps and measures to stop the
violence and restore stability must be taken by the Palestinian
Authority as well as the Israeli security forces. Let me emphasize
that I draw a clear distinction between terrorists and their
supporters, on the one hand, and the general population on the
other.

In the second stage, after a cessation of hostilities, and when
stability has been restored, we will restart the negotiations.
Despite intense diplomatic efforts of the last nine months, it is
clear that conditions are not yet ripe to conclude a permanent status
agreement. However, Israel remains committed to agreements that
previous governments have signed, that were ratified by the Knesset,
and also implemented by the other side. But Israel will not be bound
by the record of past negotiations that failed.

It is for this reason that I have called in the second stage for a
new, more realistic approach of non-belligerency and a long-term
interim agreement. More than ever, Israel needs security zones to
protect it from the growing dangers in the Middle East; the
Palestinians need contiguity and a better economic future. And time
is needed to make sure that incitement and hatred are removed from
the Palestinian media and from school textbooks and that children are
taught the language of peace, so that we can achieve real
reconciliation and a true end to the conflict.

For this to occur, Arafat must understand, first and foremost, that
he will gain nothing from violence. Israel will not negotiate while
Israeli civilians and soldiers are under fire.

Regrettably, just last week, we received a definite intelligence
warning that Yasser Arafat's own Presidential Guard, known as Force-
17, was planning a car bomb attack in the heart of Jerusalem. Many
Israeli lives were at stake. The Force-17 unit was located in
Palestinian-controlled Ramallah, but Arafat was not prepared to stop
this threat against Israel by himself. Israel placed a ring of
checkpoints around Ramallah in order to catch the Force-17 unit. The
PLO tried to create an international uproar about our actions, saying
that we wanted to strangle Ramallah. We do not want to create
barriers for the Palestinians, but I will do what is necessary to
protect the people of Israel.

Second, it is not enough to address the Palestinian issue alone. For
two decades many believed that if Israel would only make diplomatic
progress with the Palestinians, the rest of the Middle East would
fall into place. That has not happened over the last ten years. The
wider sources of regional instability must be neutralized. It is
imperative that Iraq be placed under strict inspection and
monitoring. Iran's backing of international terrorism must be
stopped. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
missile delivery systems to both Iran and Iraq must be halted.

Third, in order to assure for both the security of Israel and the
United States, we must provide an answer to the emerging threat that
both Iran and Iraq pose to our future security; namely, long-range
ballistic missiles. Missile defense is an absolute imperative for our
countries today. Israel is proud to be one of America's major
international partners in missile defense development. It is our hope
that Israel's own experiences in missile defense can help the US and
its allies in protecting their future security. In sum, restoring
regional stability requires both diplomacy and deterrence.

Let me close, however, with the following observation. The future of
Israel is not just a matter for the Israelis that live there. Israel
belongs to the entire Jewish people. And Israel would not be what it
is today if it were not for the efforts of all Jews worldwide, as
well as of our friends, many of whom I see here tonight. Our
destinies tie us together and remain firmly bound. Now I turn to your
generation to stand by Israel at this critical hour. We have three
main goals on our shared agenda; aliya, a Zionist-Jewish education,
and continuing to build the foundations of the State of Israel.

Now is the time to make aliya and join us in building the country.
But if you can't, it is also the time to visit and send your children
to learn and study. A Jewish and Zionist education is the key to
Jewish survival. We can meet these challenges and make all our dreams
come true.

Together we can make the Jewish people secure, make Israel safe, and
assure for generations an Israel which is a true island of democracy
at peace, with a united Jerusalem as its eternal capital.

Today I feel the heavy responsibility of being Prime Minister. I am
ready to face the challenges and hopes that lie ahead. I am hopeful
that if we work together, we can live to see Israel reach its
potential and take its place as a true light unto the nations. I
would like to end with a quotation I used in my opening speech to the
Knesset two weeks ago. It is taken from President Abraham Lincoln's
presidential address on March 4, 1865 and reflects my own feelings
and aspirations upon assuming office: "With malice towards none, with
charity for all; for firmness in the right, as God gives to us to see
the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in; to bind up the
nation's wounds;. to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and
a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Thank you.

NYAhmadiX

Very nice speech indeed. Not a single reference to “pushing Arabs in the Red Sea”, which is a usual sentiment echoed in speeches by the Arab leaders.

More power to Israel, and I hope that an everlasting peace is achieved where Israelis and Palestinians live as good neighbors, without one telling the other to get lost. Peace is possible.

Only yesterday the association of Persian Gulf states approved a 300 million-dollar aid for the Palestinians, to get them out of brink of bankruptcy. This was despite the fact that Palestinians sided with Saddam during the Gulf War. It is a good sign that the Persian Gulf Arabs are willing to see beyond the misdeeds of the past. One cannot blame the Palestinians for siding with Saddam during the Gulf conflict, as Kuwaitis are not a God’s gift to the world.

Excellent speech by Sharon.

Mr Xtreme

If I had a gun I'd put a bullet through this murderer's brain myself.

mean machine naseem

Like the other bro said, iam sure millions of them would do the same, shoot him and not praise him.


[This message has been edited by mean machine naseem (edited March 21, 2001).]

NYAhmadiX

Xtreme and Mean Naseem.. Did you guys know that Zia-ul-Haq was responsible for killing more Palestinians than Sharon (in fact by the thousands) so are you suggesting a bullet in Zia’s head as well? And have you ever talked to any Palestinian as to what s/he thinks of Zia (and Pakistanis). Try it some time. Also ask them how they view Indians compared to Pakistanis. You will be very surprised.

Mr Xtreme

I think two bullets, just to make sure.

CM

NYA, people have different opinions.
I have known and know palestinians how thinking very highly of pakistan and wish it would do more for palestine in the way the provided arms and ammo to the afghanis.
While there are others who like you stated think that Pakistani are responsible for many deaths.
I still don't understand who we are responsible, maybe you could clear that up.

And how do you think the palestinian people reacted when India started to develop closer ties with israel, esp. due to military deals.
I doubt they think very highly of them.

I agree with extreme, that ******* should be sleeping with the fishes.

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CROIRE A L'INCROYABLE

Malik73

Ariel "butcher" Sharon has been spent the last half a century as one of the leading criminals in carrying out the “final solution” against the Palestinian people. This has involved the expulsion of 1.5 million Palestinians, from Palestine through intimidation, forced evictions, terror tactics and outright killings.
The forced occupation of all the Palestinian lands in contravention of all international statutes and human rights conventions. And the belief that Jews are superior to everyone else, especially the Arabs, etc, etc, etc.

Shades of a Jewish Adolf Hitler huh?


Sharon should follow Hitler’s example put a couple of bullets in his evil scull, before the Palestinians eventually get their hands on him.

mean machine naseem

Yeah shoot Zia in the head as well, because they are both responsible for the killings of muslim. I don't care what they think of india or pakistan for that matter. Attaching oneself to a piece of land or race(i.e nationalism,patrioticism,racism) has no rational basis for binding mankind togeather in his quest for progress and reviveal.

The fact is that the jews have taken the muslims land and that they are killing and torturing them, while the corrupt rulers of the muslim countries are setting by and watching.

mean machine naseem

Good points but sad to see we as muslim ummaaha, see our self as pakistani's muslim,indian muslim, palestain muslim,somalia muslim etc. We should get rid of this nationlism because it is haram and only binds us to divide us into nations.It is one of the tools used by the west to weaken and divide the muslim nation.

"The muslim ummah is one ummah,her land is one and her war is one" Hadith saying of the prophet(saw)