[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
[October 27, 1994]
[Pages 1893-1897]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of 
Israel in Jerusalem
October 27, 1994

    Prime Minister Rabin. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I believe 
that we experienced during the visit of President Clinton in the region 
a real move towards peace. No doubt that the visit of President Clinton 
was crowned yesterday by the second peace treaty between an Arab country 
and Israel, the first one after the convening of the Madrid peace 
conference.
    We look, from Israel's point of view, to President Clinton as a 
friend of Israel and a President that works very hard to bring about 
what we dream for, aspire to: to achieve comprehensive peace, that is to 
say, peace with our four neighboring Arab countries. With two, it has 
been accomplished. And no doubt, the visit of the President in Damascus, 
I believe that will bring about, through certain changes, a movement 
toward better negotiations, better possibilities to overcome the gaps 
between the positions of Israel and Syria.
    No doubt in my mind that during the term of you, Mr. President, as 
the President of the United States, we have seen dramatic change in the 
relations between those Arab partners with whom we negotiate. We signed 
the Declaration of Principles between us and the PLO on the lawns of the 
White House. It was followed by the negotiations to bring about the 
first phase of its implementation in the Gaza-Jericho first. We are 
engaged today in continuation of our negotiations with the Palestinians 
about early empowerment, elections. And no doubt, yesterday we signed a 
peace treaty that the President helped to bring about and witnessed.
    For 2 years, to reach two agreements, one with the Palestinians, 
with which we have a long story of suspicion, hatred, prejudice, 
bloodshed, and with the Jordanians, that I remember over 46 years ago 
that in this city I fought them and they fought me. And we look forward 
to make it possible to overcome yet the differences between Syria and 
Lebanon and us.
    It might take time. One has to be patient. One has to understand 
that there are problems. And I believe that it will not take long, and 
hopefully, we'll find ways and means by which to overcome these gaps.
    I hope, Mr. President, that you will continue sending Secretary 
Christopher, that worked very hard and tried in your name to move 
between Damascus and Jerusalem with the purpose to find ways to overcome 
the differences.
    Allow me also to add that the Government of Israel of today is 
determined, on one hand, to continue all our efforts to bring about 
comprehensive peace. But at the same time, we are fully aware that there 
are enemies of peace. For us, the enemies of peace are the extreme 
Islamic radical terror movements. Among the Palestinians, they are the 
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Ninety percent of the terror activities 
against us are carried by them. And there is a tendency for 
oversimplification, to identify those part of the Palestinians with whom 
we reach an agreement and we try to implement it and the extreme radical 
Islamic elements that are enemies of peace and enemies of the 
Palestinians that reach agreement with us. From Lebanon, Hezbollah, 
which is a part of the ugly wave of Khomeinism without Khomeini that is 
all over the Arab world and the Islamic world. Whatever happens in 
Algeria is not related whatsoever to the Arab-Israeli conflict, or in 
Sudan, or in fighting within Egypt. It's an ugly wave that threatens not 
only the peace. They are the infrastructure of the international 
terrorism. And behind it, to a certain extent there are certain parties, 
to a larger extent is Iran. And therefore, Mr. President, we support 
your policy of dual containment. We believe it's vital to the peace in 
the Middle East, to stability among the Arab and the Muslim world, and 
to prevent international terrorism.
    We thank you very much. You heard today in our Knesset the 
government and the opposi-


[[Page 1894]]

tion together joined in the support of the peace treaty with Jordan, in 
expressing thanks to you, Mr. President, for the way that you have stood 
and stand in support of Israel's security while trying your best to 
bring about advancement, which was successful so far in bringing about 
peace to the region.
    Therefore, today here in Jerusalem, the united city, the capital of 
Israel, and, no doubt, the heart of the Jewish people, we thank you.
    Thank you very much.
    The President. Thank you, Prime Minister.
    Ladies and gentlemen, because I had the opportunity to speak at 
length at Knesset this evening and to outline my position on a number of 
matters, I will be very brief. I would like to make just a couple of 
points.
    First of all, at my first meeting with Prime Minister Rabin shortly 
after I became President, he told me he was prepared to take risks for 
peace. And I told him that that being the case, the job of the United 
States was to minimize those risks. For 20 months now, we have both done 
our best to do our jobs, and I think it's fair to say that we have had a 
reasonable amount of success in which the people of Israel can be proud 
and in which they can feel secure and one in which I hope the American 
people take pride.
    Secondly, I would like to congratulate him and the people of Israel 
again on the peace treaty with Jordan. We have responsibilities there 
that relate to the security of both Israel and Jordan, and I have been 
working on that even since the peace treaty has been signed. I was in 
conversations with the King well past midnight last night. We are 
attempting to do our part to make sure this peace is as wildly 
successful as everyone believes that it can be.
    Thirdly, I thank the Prime Minister for his comments about terrorism 
and his support for our policies. Especially I think I should mention 
something I did not mention in my speech tonight, which is the steadfast 
support of Israel for our policies in the Gulf and for our recent action 
in the Gulf. I will be going to Kuwait tomorrow to see our troops and on 
to Saudi Arabia. I appreciate the support of Israel.
    Finally, with regard to what the Prime Minister said about Syria and 
my trip there today, I went there because I was convinced we needed to 
add new energy to the talks. And I come away from Syria convinced that 
we have, that some significant progress has been at least made possible, 
that there has been some change in positions that offer the hope of more 
progress. And I have instructed the Secretary of State to return to the 
region within a few weeks to continue. Meanwhile, other discussions 
continue at other levels. And I am confident that we can be successful 
by simply pushing ahead.
    So on all these fronts, I feel better tonight than I did when I came 
here. And again, I thank the Prime Minister for this welcome and for the 
opportunity to address the Knesset.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President and Prime Minister Rabin, you are talking about 
significant developments coming from Damascus. From what we heard 
publicly until now, your visit to Damascus seems a disappointment for 
the Israelis. I mean, you gave the Syrians maybe one of the biggest 
gestures America has, a personal visit of the President of the United 
States. And President Asad responded publicly in his general words of 
peace which we heard in the past. So what else is new, Mr. President? 
And Mr. Rabin, what did you hear maybe privately from the President 
about this visit?
    The President. Well, I would like to make three points if I might. 
First of all, I don't think it's accurate to say that he had ever said 
to me and to the rest of the world and to the people of Israel that he 
wanted to make peace with Israel and wanted to have normal, peaceful, 
constructive relations with Israel.
    Secondly, he made some statements in our private conversations about 
the details of this process which I would be wrong to discuss because 
the essence of these negotiations is that they can proceed in some 
confidence. But they did show some forward movement in ways that I 
believe are not insignificant.
    Thirdly, there's one thing I do regret about the press conference 
today. I regret that President Asad did not take the opportunity to say 
in public what he said to me in private about his deep regret about the 
loss of innocent lives and, particularly, the bus bombing. He said to 
me, ``You know, we have to end the killing of innocents wherever it 
occurs, whether it was on that bus or in Hebron. I deplore it all. And I 
am convinced that only by making peace can we end it. And when we do 
make peace, it will end.'' That is what he said to me.
    I think the way the question was posed to him, I think, led him to 
give an answer which

[[Page 1895]]

may have been somewhat misleading, not intentionally but because he did 
not say that. I also want to reaffirm that there was absolutely no 
discussion in our private meeting, as he said, about the question of the 
United States removing Syria from the terrorist list. He did not ask for 
that; he did not bring it up. And I certainly did not bring it up. There 
has been no mixing of those two issues.
    So, I think that his statement did break some new ground. I know 
that his private conversations broke some new ground. And I was 
particularly encouraged by what he said in private to me about the 
killing of innocent people. I regret that that was not said in public, 
but I can tell you that it was said in private. And what I said in the 
press conference is now, as I understand it, even being rebroadcast on a 
regular basis in Syria tonight to reaffirm that that is in fact what 
happened.
    Prime Minister Rabin. I am accustomed to the prolonged and sometimes 
difficult period of negotiations. If one would have told us 2 years ago 
that we'd make a strategic understanding with Chairman Arafat and the 
PLO, people would not believe.
    In the process towards peace, we have to overcome on both sides 
certain perceptions, certain sometimes prejudices, one about another. 
Therefore, I believe that all the partners to the Madrid peace 
conference--and by now remain the Palestinians with which we reached an 
agreement in principles; Syria and Lebanon would like to have peace--I 
don't know any one of the partners who don't want to have peace. The 
only question is, what is the meaning of peace? What is the price of 
peace? It takes time to overcome differences. And whatever I heard is, 
first, that Syria strategically decided for peace. Second, they are 
ready to continue the negotiations, not in the best way to my opinion, 
but as long as there is any avenue of negotiations, we should follow it. 
Thirdly, I don't believe it will be right on the part of Israel, 
regardless what he said or didn't say on the press conference today in 
Damascus--which I would like that he would say different things, but it 
doesn't discourage me to continue our negotiations.
    And this is the essence of the peacemaking process, to be patient, 
to be determined, and not to be misled by ups and downs of public 
statements. Therefore, we will continue the way that it will be possible 
in negotiations with Syria. I am aware that there are gaps between our 
positions. But I can't recall any negotiations in the past that there 
were no gaps. And whenever we succeeded to reach an agreement, came 
about as a result of the capability to make the compromise that bridged 
the gap.
    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, if you'll forgive us, we're going to keep 
pressing still. The President is speaking of change in positions; you're 
speaking of change in perception. We have the issues tattooed on our 
forehead. The issues have been here for 3 years. We know there are major 
gaps. Are you talking about new atmospherics 3 years after Madrid, or 
have you been told something about Syria's position on Golan, on 
security, on the terms of peace? Have you heard sufficiently for you to 
reverse your election stand and surrender the Golan Heights?
    Prime Minister Rabin. Well first, I believe that whoever sees what 
has taken place in the last over 3 years, he cannot ignore the 
tremendous change as a result of the Declaration of Principles between 
the PLO and us, the signing of the peace treaty, the openness in the 
Arab world that the Foreign Minister of Israel can fly to Bahrain, that 
multilateral negotiations can be taking place in Oman and Qatar and who 
knows where else, the decision of the six members of the Gulf Community 
Council about ignoring, not counseling, the Arab boycott. There is a 
trend, a move that no doubt will have its implications in other Arab 
countries, I hope in the short run or in the long run, even on the 
issues that have not yet been solved between Syria and Israel.
    I believe that the mere fact that there is a continuation of 
negotiations with all the partners, it creates new realities in the 
region. From Maroc tomorrow, our big mission headed by the Foreign 
Minister will go to the Casablanca meeting. When did you expect that 
such a meeting will take place in an Arab country? We have to see, 
beyond technical or tactical or certain important issues between us and 
one of our partners, the changes that have taken place in the whole 
region in the attitude, a change of attitude. This is what realities 
speak about.
    And therefore, don't ask me today about details of this part or that 
part of the negotiations. The fact that we are moving--Palestinians, 
yesterday Jordan, openness in the Arab world, different kind of 
relations, Maroc, Tunisia, and I believe there will be other Arab 
countries--this is the importance. You don't have to look at

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it on a limited point of view. You have to look at it: Are there changes 
in the region? Are there changes in the attitude of so many Arab 
countries towards relations to Israel, or not? This is the issue. And it 
will continue. And we will continue, regardless to the terrible 
atrocities of the Islamic radical terror groups against us. I believe 
you'll see more changes and more in the right direction.
    Q. Mr. President, the restoration of Israel's exact fulfillment of 
over 300 Bible prophecies proves the Bible is God's true word. Genesis 
17:8 says God gave Israel ``all the land of Canaan for an everlasting 
possession.'' And Leviticus 25:23 forbids her ever to sell it. How can 
it produce real peace to induce Israel to defy God by selling Judea and 
Samaria for Arafat's or Asad's paper promises of peace?
    Prime Minister Rabin. Do you ask the President of the United States 
this question? He is not representing Israel, to the best of my 
knowledge.
    The President. That was the answer I was going to give. [Laughter]
    The people of Israel, through their elected leaders, will decide 
what they are required to do for their own existence, their own 
security, their own future, and for their patience and peace with God.
    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, in the agreements you signed with some of 
your Arab neighbors, the issue of Jerusalem remained unresolved, the 
whole status of east Jerusalem. And that's also true at the U.N. and in 
most of the world, it's unresolved. Why did you assert such absolute 
control? Were you trying to put President Clinton on the spot tonight?
    The President. You mean in his speech to the Knesset?
    Q. Yes.
    Prime Minister Rabin. First, we are independent states. And we have 
our positions, and the United States has got its position. I can speak 
only on the Israeli position. We believe that Jerusalem must remain 
united under Israel's sovereignty. But we did not reject that the 
Palestinians, once we negotiate permanent solution, will raise the 
issue. We know their position; they know ours.
    I believe that in the long run, the Jerusalem problem should be 
solved on two levels, the political one, that is to say, what will be 
the sovereignty over the united Jerusalem--which we have no doubt that 
it must be Israeli sovereignty--and the question of the holiness of 
Jerusalem to the other two religions. And you'll see a sign in the 
Washington Declaration, in the peace treaty that we signed between 
Jordan and Israel, that we distinguished between the holy shrines to the 
Muslims that in the last 27 years we allowed free access, free practice. 
But even beyond that, the administration of the holy shrines to the 
Muslims and the Christians is done by the respective churches. We don't 
intervene. In that way that they run something within the holy shrines 
that derived from their own religion, as long as it doesn't affect the 
security of the area. It works for 27 years. And I believe we have in 
Hebrew an expression, Jerusalem shall maala, Jerusalem shall matta, 
Jerusalem in the heavens, and Jerusalem on the ground.
    I believe this is the key to the real solution in the long run of 
Jerusalem. But we are committed if they want to raise this issue. We 
know our position when we negotiate the permanent status between us and 
the Palestinians. We negotiate the solution to the refugee problems of 
much wider scope not only with one partner, on a regional basis. 
Therefore, from my point of view, it's very clear.

[The following question was asked and answered in Hebrew and translated 
by an interpreter.]

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I should like to take this opportunity to ask 
you a question in Hebrew. President Clinton and the Secretary of State 
have spoken about progress in Damascus. Following your meeting with 
President Clinton, do you share their estimation that, indeed, there is 
progress towards peace? And if so, in what areas?
    Prime Minister Rabin. To begin with, I heard from President Clinton 
about his meeting with President Asad. His impression, whereby on 
certain subjects there has been some progress, is relevant. We must bear 
in mind that we are now negotiating with the Syrians. In fact, this has 
been going on for 3 years, ever since the Madrid convention. And we are 
advancing in tiny steps, inch by inch.
    In the talks between us, we reached an agreement whereby Secretary 
of State Christopher, within a period of 3 or 4 weeks, would examine the 
progress being made in order to implement or to put into practice what 
we hope will be done. In other words, we are interested in reaching 
peace with Syria. We do want a peace

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treaty with Syria. In principle, we have agreed to a withdrawal. There 
is no agreement between us and Syria as to the final borders of peace, 
and there are other areas which have not yet been resolved.
    President Clinton did not tell me that there was a historic 
breakthrough. He said that there was some progress on certain areas. 
Therefore, we must pursue these efforts. We must continue along the road 
on which the negotiations have been taking place so far. In other words, 
Secretary of State Christopher will continue shuffling between Damascus 
and Jerusalem. And indeed, we have agreed that this will be taking place 
within 3 or 4 weeks from today, if I'm not mistaken.
    Q. [Inaudible]--have another day yet before the trip is over, and I 
know I'm getting you while you're somewhat tired. But even so, I'd like 
to ask you if you could to reflect a little bit, since this is the last 
press conference before you go home, if you could tell us a little bit 
about what have you learned on the trip the last couple of days? What 
will you take home with you that's different from what you came here 
with? And what do you feel has changed for yourself from the experiences 
that you've had in the last however many hours it's been?
    The President. Well, this has been my first opportunity to see 
first-hand the potential for a new Middle East, the real potential for 
peace, and the yearning that I see everywhere.
    In Damascus today, when I was riding along the road and people would 
stop their working or children would crowd around their buildings, their 
play yards, and wave a greeting, they did it because they see the United 
States as the instrument of peace to bring these two nations together or 
at least to make it possible for them to come together. These are all 
things that you know, but until you see it, it's a very different thing, 
indeed.
    I also come away from this trip profoundly grateful to the leaders 
of Israel and Jordan for setting an example that I think will give 
confidence and conscience to the efforts that others will make now to 
resolve the problems in the Middle East.
    I also came away, frankly, with a much clearer idea of what things 
the United States can do and indeed what we must try to do to help make 
peace successful from a security point of view and from an economic 
point of view.
    So all these things I leave with. But the most important thing is 
the deep yearning for this to work. I saw it in the energy in the 
Knesset tonight. We saw it in the energy and the passion in the 
Jordanian Parliament last night. And I have seen it on the streets of 
every place I have been, in the eyes of the people. I think we are on 
the right historic mission, and we need to redouble our efforts until we 
finish.
    Prime Minister Rabin. May I, Mr. President? [Inaudible]--in the last 
15 years, the President of the United States did help and attended 
signing of the peace treaty between an Arab country and Israel.

Note: The President's 77th news conference began at 10:44 p.m. in the 
Convention Center.