[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
[March 13, 1996]
[Pages 443-444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel
March 13, 1996

    Thank you. Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, members of the Israeli 
Government, representatives of the people of Israel. I am honored to be 
here today, again, to stand with you in a time of pain and mourning and 
challenge. We grieve with you in the loss of innocent lives; we pray 
with you for the scores who lie wounded; we stand with you in the 
unceasing battle against those who commit these awful crimes. Your 
journey is our journey, and America will be with you every step of the 
way.
    The attacks we mourn claimed Israeli lives, although others, 
including Americans, died as well. But these attacks were aimed at all 
who yearn for a better day for this region, for all who believe that 
peace is better than war. The enemies of peace have grown desperate and 
more vicious as the reality of peace has moved closer. But we must not 
let the acts of the wicked few destroy the dreams of the many. Together 
we must restore the security that building peace requires. Those who 
practice terror must not succeed. We must root them out, and we will not 
let them kill the peace.
    In this time you are not alone. I have flown here with the Prime 
Minister, as he said, from Sharm al-Sheikh, from a Summit of Peacemakers 
that is unprecedented in the history of the Middle East. At the urging 
of many who were once Israel's sworn enemies--Egypt, Jordan, the 
Palestinians--29 leaders came together, 13 of them from Arab countries. 
There were Israel neighbors, there were other Arab nations, nations from 
Europe, North America, and Asia. All have long labored for peace. All 
are now united against the terror aimed at Israel. They came to support 
with deeds as well as words the peace process and the restoration of 
security and new efforts against terrorism.
    Only a few years ago, such a meeting would have been inconceivable. 
Only a few weeks ago, such a meeting would have been hard to imagine. 
Just a few days ago, this remarkable meeting was put together.
    The leaders of this area have met only a handful of times, and then 
always to celebrate events on the road to peace. But today they met in 
common cause to take action to confront the urgent threat of terrorism, 
to show that Hamas, Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad will not succeed in 
killing the peace.
    Now many of Israel's neighbors in the region have demonstrated that 
they share your desire for peace, and they understand that extremist 
violence is also their enemy. The nations that met in Sharm al-Sheikh 
sowed the seeds for a new cooperation to build peace and to confront 
those who would destroy it. The Middle East is changing; we must not, we 
will not let terror reverse history.
    Sharm al-Sheikh was a beginning. Tomorrow we will press forward when 
I and senior administration officials meet with the Prime Minister and 
his key security advisers. We will discuss concrete steps the United 
States can take to help the IDF and the Israeli police defeat those who 
would murder and maim. No one takes greater personal risks on behalf of 
peace than the brave men and women of Israel's security forces, like 
those who are standing here. America is determined to support them in 
every way and to provide them with the means they need to prevail 
against extremism and violence.
    I have visited this beautiful and holy land before. I have 
celebrated a great event on the road to peace. I have mourned Prime 
Minister Rabin. Today I come again in sorrow but also in determination 
with this message from the

[[Page 444]]

American people: The United States stands more strongly than ever, 
shoulder-to-shoulder, with Israel. We will work with you as you strive 
for a secure peace. We will stand by your side until Israelis come to 
know that peace with security within this land is a reality, ``until,'' 
in the words of the prophet, ``the voice of joy and the voice of 
gladness are heard again in the cities and the hills of Israel.''
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 9:21 p.m. at Ben-Gurion Airport. In his 
remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Shimon Peres of Israel and Sheval 
Weis, Speaker of the Knesset.