    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [September 28, 1995]
    [Pages 1510-1511]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1510]]

    Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Israeli-Palestinian West Bank
    Accord
    September 28, 1995

        The President. Prime Minister Rabin; Chairman Arafat; Your Majesty
    King Hussein; President Mubarak; Foreign Minister Peres; Mr. Abu Mazin;
    Prime Ministers Gonzalez, Filali, Bin Shakir; Foreign Minister Kozyrev,
    our cosponsor of the Middle East peace negotiations; distinguished
    Foreign Ministers and members of the Diplomatic Corps; and honored
    guests:
        I welcome you to the White House for this milestone on the path to
    reconciliation. Today we make a great stride toward the fulfillment of a
    vision toward the day when two peoples divided by generations, by
    conflict, are bound now by peace. Finally, the time is approaching when
    there will be safety in Israel's house, when the Palestinian people will
    write their own destiny, when the clash of arms will be banished from
    God's Holy Land.
        Two years ago, on another brilliant September day here at the White
    House, two men reached across one of history's widest chasms with a
    simple handshake. That moment is etched forever in our memory. With the
    eyes of the world upon you, Mr. Prime Minister, you declared your wish
    to live side by side with the Palestinian people in dignity, in empathy,
    as human beings, as free men. And you, Mr. Chairman, vowed to wage what
    you called the most difficult battle of our lives, the battle for peace.
        In the days of labor that have followed, you have both shown
    profound courage in bringing us to this moment, and you have kept your
    word.
        The enemies of peace have fought the tide of history with terror and
    violence. We grieve for their victims, and we renew our vow to redeem
    the sacrifice of those victims. We will defeat those who will resort to
    terror. And we revere the determination of these leaders who chose
    peace, who rejected the old habits of hatred and revenge. Because they
    broke so bravely with the past, the bridges have multiplied, bridges of
    communication, of commerce, of understanding. Today, the landscape
    changes and the chasm narrows.
        The agreement that now will be signed means that Israel's mothers
    and fathers need no longer worry that their sons will face the dangers
    of patrolling Nablus or confronting the hostile streets of Ramallah. And
    it means that Palestinians will be able to decide for themselves what
    their schools teach, how their houses should be built, and who they
    choose to govern.
        You, the children of Abraham, have made a peace worthy of your great
    forebear. Abraham, patriarch of both Arabs and Jews, sacrificed power
    for peace when he said to his nephew, Lot, ``Let there be no strife
    between thee and me. If thou will take the left hand, then I will go to
    the right.'' Patience and persistence, courage and sacrifice: These are
    the virtues, then as now, that set peacemakers apart.
        Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Chairman, you are showing that it is not
    by weapons but by will and by word that dreams best become reality. Your
    achievement shines as an inspiration to others all around this world who
    seek to overcome their own conflicts and to secure for themselves the
    blessings of peace.
        Chapter by chapter, Jews and Arabs are writing a new history for
    their ancient lands. Camp David; the Declaration of Principles, signed
    here 2 years ago; the peace of the Arava last year between Jordan and
    Israel: With each of these, the truth of this book has become clear to
    the world. As courageous leaders stepped beyond the bounds of
    convention, they build for their peoples a new world of hope and peace.
        Now, as this new chapter begins, it is fitting that we are joined by
    so many from the camp of peace. Egypt's President Mubarak has carried
    forth the commitment to peace that began with Anwar el-Sadat and the
    miracle at Camp David. Before there was a glimpse of a breakthrough,
    President Mubarak stood for reconciliation. And he added his strength,
    his personal strength, time and time again in the days of the
    negotiations.
        Almost a year ago, on the border that had known only barbed wire and
    armed patrols, King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin brought their
    nations together in peace. Already that border has been transformed, as
    have the lives of Israelis and Jordanians, after 46 years as enemies.
    King Hussein stands a rock on which peace can be built. In only a few
    weeks, he

    [[Page 1511]]

    will host the economic summit in Amman that will bring together Israelis
    and Arabs from throughout the region, business and government leaders
    from throughout the world, to map the promise of tomorrow.
        Today we are also joined by the largest group of Arab Foreign
    Ministers ever assembled to support the growth of peace. Prime Minister
    Filali of Morocco has traveled here to represent King Hassan, who has
    done so much to advance progress in the region. With us as well are
    representatives of nations that have provided vital support for peace,
    including the countries of the European Union, Japan, Canada, and of
    course, Norway, whose assistance 2 years ago opened the way to this
    moment.
        All those who doubt the spirit of peace should remember this day and
    this extraordinary array of leaders who have joined together to bring a
    new era of hope to the Middle East. The United States is proud to stand
    with all of them.
        Much remains to be done. But we will continue to walk each step of
    the way with those who work and risk for peace. We will press forward
    with our efforts until the circle of peace is closed, a circle which
    must include Syria and Lebanon if peace is to be complete. We will not
    rest until Muslims and Jews can turn their backs to pray without any
    fear, until all the region's children can grow up untouched by conflict,
    until the shadow of violence is lifted from the land of light and gold.
        Thank you very much.

    [At this point, the Israeli-Palestinian West Bank Accord was signed.
    Following the signing, King Hussein of Jordan, President Hosni Mubarak
    of Egypt, Chairman Yasser Arafat of the PLO, and Prime Minister Yitzhak
    Rabin of Israel made remarks.]

        The President. As we adjourn, let me once again thank all of our
    guests from across the world who have come here to be a part of this and
    to wish all the parties well. Let me thank those who spoke today for
    their contributions to the peace process.
        Let me say a special word of thanks to the Members of Congress who
    have come here from both parties, including both Jewish-Americans and
    Arab-Americans represented in our United States Congress, for their
    support of the United States effort.
        And let me close with this simple thought. As the cold war has given
    way to a global village in which the enemies of peace are many and
    dispersed all across the world, the United States is honored and
    obligated to be a force for peace, from Northern Ireland to Southern
    Africa, from Bosnia to Haiti, to reducing the nuclear threat and the
    threat of biological and chemical weapons to fighting against terrorism
    and organized crime.
        But this is special, for it is in this place that those of us who
    believe that the world was created by, is looked over by, and ultimately
    will be accountable to one great God. All of us came from there, whether
    we find that wisdom in the Torah or the Koran or the Christian Holy
    Bible. If we could all learn in that place to find the secret of peace,
    then perhaps the dream of peace on Earth can truly be realized.
        Thank you, and God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:23 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of
    Israel; Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazin), head of the PLO committee on
    negotiations; Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain, representing the
    European Union; Prime Minister Abdellatif Filali of Morocco; Prime
    Minister Zayd Bin Shakir of Jordan; and Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev
    of Russia.