    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [September 28, 1995]
    [Pages 1507-1508]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Yitzhak
    Rabin of Israel
    September 28, 1995

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q. Mr. Prime Minister, do you think this agreement today will be a
    step toward a Palestinian state?
        Prime Minister Rabin. I'll answer questions later. We came to visit
    with the President. After the signing he will be able to ask questions.
    I prefer not to answer--not to respond to them at this stage.

    [[Page 1508]]

        Q. Maybe the President will be less shy. Mr. President, U.S. policy
    has been against Palestinian statehood. But you appear to be moving in
    that direction. Has U.S. policy shifted?
        The President. We're not moving anywhere. We're moving with the
    parties to help make a peace. The parties are making the peace. Every
    agreement along the way is an agreement between the parties. We are
    supporting the peace process, and that's all we're doing, and that's all
    we will continue to do.
        Q. [Inaudible]--need their own state, Mr. President?
        Prime Minister Rabin. Allow me not to answer you on specifics. I
    would like to thank the President for the way that he encouraged,
    assisted, and helped the peace process in the last almost 3 years. I
    believe that the approach that was taken by the President, the way that
    he just said so, is to encourage the parties to the conflict to be the
    parties for peace. The responsibility, the main responsibility of the
    peacemaking process lies with the parties to the conflict. We appreciate
    and are thankful to the President for his assistance and encouragement
    to reach agreements, the kind that we have reached--started 2 years ago
    almost in signing the DOP, then the Washington Declaration with Jordan,
    then the peace treaty with Jordan, hopefully today, the second phase of
    the implementation of the DOP after the Cairo agreement to the whole
    West Bank. And I believe what has happened in the last over 2 years is a
    remarkable progress with tranquility, stability, and peace in the
    region.
        Q. Mr. Rabin, progress on the Syrian front hasn't been very swift.
    Do you have any thoughts about whether this will provide impetus for
    agreement on another front?
        Prime Minister Rabin. Be patient.

    [At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group
    entered.]

        Q. Mr. President, is there a chance to see President Asad sitting in
    this room next to you and the Prime Minister?
        The President. Well, we would like to see a peace, a comprehensive
    peace in the Middle East, but that's up to the parties involved. We'll
    keep working, and we'll just keep working at it.
        Q. Mr. President, how do you see the chances of implementation, this
    current Oslo B agreement between Israel and the Palestinians? Do you
    perceive that this--that there are fair chances that it will be
    implemented correctly, positively?
        The President. Yes, I believe that if the parties make a good-faith
    effort, I will do what I can to see that it's properly implemented and
    to get the necessary support from around the world.
        You know, a lot of people have been cheering this process on, and
    those who cheer need to support it. And the United States will do what
    we can to support it. And I will encourage a bipartisan support within
    the United States and around the world. I think the parties will do
    their part. And those of us who support peace should do ours.
        Q. Do you mean political or economically?
        Q. Mr. President, do you think Israel should release all the
    Palestinian prisoners when the agreement is signed?
        The President. Excuse me?
        Q. Do you think Israel should release all the Palestinian prisoners
    now when the agreement is signed?
        The President. I think that the United States will take the position
    we have always taken. The parties are working these matters out, and the
    parties will continue to do it, and we will support the peace process.

    Note: The exchange began at 9:28 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A reporter referred to President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria. A tape
    was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.