[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[October 23, 1998]
[Pages 1836-1838]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1836]]


Remarks at the Wye River Memorandum Signing Ceremony
October 23, 1998

    The President. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Vice President, 
Madam Secretary. Your Majesty, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman 
Arafat. To the Israeli and Palestinian delegations, the Members of 
Congress and the Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps, my fellow 
Americans who are here, it's a great honor for me to welcome you here. I 
only wish the First Lady were here as well. She is in Chicago. We talked 
a few moments ago, and she sends her great happiness and best wishes, 
especially to Queen Noor and Mrs. Netanyahu.
    After some very difficult negotiations--very long, dare I say, quite 
sleepless--the Israelis and Palestinians here have reached an agreement 
on issues over which they have been divided for more than 17 months. 
This agreement is designed to rebuild trust and renew hope for peace 
between the parties. Now both sides must build on that hope, carry out 
their commitments, begin the difficult, but urgent journey toward a 
permanent settlement.
    Over the last 9 days I have witnessed extraordinary efforts on 
behalf of peace. I thank our team, beginning with its head, the 
Secretary of State, who showed remarkable creativity, strength, and 
patience. I thank the Vice President for his interventions. I thank my 
good friend Sandy Berger; our Director of Central Intelligence, George 
Tenet, who had an unusual, almost unprecedented role to play because of 
the security considerations; our Special Middle East Coordinator, Dennis 
Ross, who was a young man with no gray hair when all this began. 
[Laughter] I thank all the other outstanding members of our delegation.
    I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu, who stood so firmly for the 
security of his citizens and of his country, and of the impressive 
members of his Cabinet and administration. I thank Chairman Arafat, who 
tenaciously defended the interests of his people, and the very 
impressive members of his team, as well. In the end, after all the 
twists and turns and ups and downs, all their late and ultimately 
sleepless nights, both reaffirmed their commitment to the path of peace. 
And for that, the world can be grateful.
    And finally, let me thank His Majesty King Hussein, whose courage, 
commitment, wisdom, and frankly, stern instruction at appropriate times 
were at the heart of this success. Your Majesty, we are all profoundly 
in your debt.
    This agreement is good for Israel's security. The commitments made 
by the Palestinians were very strong, as strong as any we have ever 
seen. They include continuous security cooperation with Israel and a 
comprehensive plan against terrorism and its support infrastructure.
    This agreement is good for the political and economic well-being of 
Palestinians. It significantly expands areas under Palestinian authority 
to some 40 percent of the West Bank. It also offers the Palestinian 
people new economic opportunities, with an airport, an industrial zone, 
soon safe passage between Gaza and the West Bank, and in time, a 
seaport. The Palestinian people will be able to breathe a little easier 
and benefit from the fruits of peace.
    Most importantly, perhaps, this agreement is actually good for the 
peace process itself. For 18 months it has been paralyzed, a victim of 
mistrust, misunderstanding, and fear. Now ordinary Israelis and 
Palestinians once again can become partners for peace.
    To bolster this effort, Chairman Arafat will invite members of the 
Palestinian National Council and other important political entities to 
reaffirm his prior commitments and their support for the peace process. 
I have agreed to address that meeting, several weeks hence, and to 
underscore the values of reconciliation, tolerance, and respect, and my 
support for those commitments and this process.
    People around the world should be heartened by this achievement 
today. These leaders and those with whom they work have come a very long 
way. The Israeli and Palestinian peoples, whose bitter rivalry in this 
century has brought so much suffering to both sides, have moved yet 
another step closer toward fulfilling the promise of the Oslo accords, 
closer to the day when they can live peacefully as true neighbors, with 
security, prosperity, self-governance, cooperation, and eventually, God 
willing, genuine friendship.
    No doubt, as peace gains momentum, forces of hate, no matter how 
isolated and disparate, will once again lash out. They know this, the

[[Page 1837]]

leaders, and they are prepared to face it. Staying on the path of peace 
under these circumstances will demand even greater leadership and 
courage.
    The work at Wye River shows what can happen when the will for peace 
is strong. But let me say once again to all the rest of you, everyone 
who is tempted to handicap every little twist and turn over the last 9 
days, you need to know one overwhelming thing: The Prime Minister and 
the Chairman and the members of their delegation who supported this 
process, even when there were things about it they did not agree with, 
are quite well aware that the enemies of peace will seek to extract a 
price from both sides. They are quite well aware that in the short run, 
they themselves may have put themselves at greater risk. But by pledging 
themselves to the peaceful course for the future, to the same values 
and, ultimately, to the same enemies, they have given both Israelis and 
Palestinians a chance to have the future we all want for our children 
and our children's children.
    Every effort will have to be exerted to ensure the faithful 
implementation of this agreement, not because the parties do not want to 
do so but because the agreement covers many things, was developed over 
many days, involved many discussions and sleepless nights. It will test 
whether the Palestinian people are prepared to live in peace, 
recognizing Israel's permanence, legitimacy, and a common interest in 
security. It will tell us whether Israelis want to help build a strong 
Palestinian entity that can fulfill the aspirations of its people and 
provide both real security and real partnership for Palestinians and 
Israelis.
    The United States is determined to be of whatever help we can to 
both sides in their endeavors. I will consult with Congress to design a 
package of aid to help Israel meet the security costs of redeployment 
and help the Palestinian Authority meet the economic costs of 
development. I hope we will have support from Republicans and Democrats 
in that endeavor.
    With respect to Mr. Pollard, I have agreed to review this matter 
seriously, at the Prime Minister's request. I have made no commitment as 
to the outcome of the review. Ultimately, the parties will have to 
translate the gains of Wye River into renewed efforts to secure a just 
and lasting peace. For as big a step as today is--and after 17 months, 
it is a very large step, indeed--it is just another step along the way. 
Therefore, perhaps as important as any other statement to be made today, 
let me say how grateful I am that the Prime Minister and the Chairman 
have agreed to begin permanent status talks upon ratification of this 
agreement.
    I have agreed to convene the two leaders at an appropriate time to 
seek to complete these talks. We have all agreed to try to do it under 
circumstances which permit more sleep at night. [Laughter]
    Let me say that no agreement can wipe away decades of distrust. But 
I think these last several days have helped each side to get a better 
understanding of the other's hopes and fears, a better feel for all they 
have in common, including on occasion, thank the Lord, a good sense of 
humor.
    The future can be right for Israelis and Palestinians if they 
maintain the will for peace. If we continue to work together, the next 
generation will grow up without fear. Israel can have the genuine 
security and recognition it has sought for so long. The Palestinian 
people can, at long last, realize their aspirations to live free in 
safety, in charge of their own destiny.
    So, on behalf of all the people of the United States, let me say to 
the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, salaam, shalom, peace be with you 
in the hard and hopeful days ahead. We value our friendship, and we 
thank you for your trust, for giving us the opportunity to walk this 
road with you.
    Now it is my privilege to introduce Prime Minister Netanyahu. Let me 
say, I was, once again, extraordinarily impressed by the energy, the 
drive, the determination, the will, the complete grasp of every detailed 
aspect of every issue that this Prime Minister brought to these talks. 
He showed himself willing to take political risks for peace, but not to 
risk the security of his people. And as a result, this agreement 
embodies an enormous increase in the security of the people of Israel.
    Mr. Prime Minister, the microphone is yours.

[At this point, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel made 
remarks.]

    The President. Let me say, I wish that all of you who care about 
this could have seen at least a portion of what I saw in the last 9 days 
in the interchanges between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman 
Arafat. It was very interesting. They were so different. I can't

[[Page 1838]]

imagine Mr. Netanyahu in a kaffiyeh. [Laughter] But they were very much 
alike in their tenacity and their astonishing intelligence and 
knowledge.
    Just as I was able to say a thank you to Prime Minister Netanyahu, 
let me say to Chairman Arafat, I thank you. I thank you for turning away 
from violence toward peace. I thank you for embracing the idea that 
Palestinians and Israelis can actually share the land of our fathers 
together. I thank you for believing that the home of Islam and Judaism 
and Christianity can surely be the home of people who love one God and 
respect every life God has created. And I thank you for decades and 
decades and decades of tireless representation of the longing of the 
Palestinian people to be free, self-sufficient, and at home.
    Mr. Chairman, the microphone is yours.

[Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority made remarks.]

    The President. Ladies and gentlemen, many kind things have been said 
about the efforts of the American delegation and the hours that I spent 
at Wye Plantation, every one of which I treasured. [Laughter] Some more 
than others. But in truth, all that was required of us was a listening 
ear and a helpful suggestion now and then, and a kind of a determination 
to keep us all moving forward.
    It is a little too easy, I think, sometimes for people who are not 
directly, themselves, parties to a peace negotiation to believe they 
truly understand the judgments that the parties themselves must make, 
and how difficult they are, and what price they might carry. I think, as 
hard as we tried not to fall prey to that, from time to time we did. I 
know we did, because there are people on both sides smiling at me just 
now as I speak. So the lion's share of the credit belongs to Prime 
Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat and their close aides.
    But His Majesty King Hussein provided an element quite different 
from what the United States brought to these negotiations, for he 
reminded us of what rises above the facts, the arguments, the legitimate 
interests, even the painful sacrifices involved. He was the living 
embodiment of the best of our past and the brightest of our hopes for 
the future. And every time he was in the room, he made us all become a 
little closer to the people we all would like to see ourselves as being. 
For that, we and the world are immeasurably in his debt.
    Your Majesty.

[King Hussein I of Jordan made remarks.]

    The President. Let me say--everyone sit down. We have to hurry 
because the hour is growing late, and it's almost Shabbat. I have to say 
one thing, very quickly. We have three men of peace here who have 
extraordinary military backgrounds. We have many others here; I want to 
mention two who came with Prime Minister Netanyahu: General Sharon and 
General Mordechai; we're glad to have you here. And I say that because I 
want you to understand a piece of history.
    This table was brought to this house in 1869 by one of America's 
greatest military leaders, Ulysses Grant, who revolutionized infantry 
warfare in our Civil War. One hundred years ago this table was used to 
sign the peace treaty between the United States and Spain. And for 100 
years, this table, brought here by one of our greatest warriors, has 
been the exclusive repository of our peace agreements, the one we signed 
with Your Majesty King Hussein on this table; President Kennedy's test 
ban treaty, signed on this table.
    And so I think it is fitting that these three great leaders--two 
signers, one, His Majesty, observing--who know a great deal about war 
have come to make peace on this table, which, for our country, has come 
to embody it. And we thank them.
    Thank you very much.

[The memorandum was signed.]

Note: The President spoke at 4 p.m. in the East Room at the White House. 
In his remarks, he referred to Queen Noor of Jordan; Prime Minister 
Netanyahu's wife, Sarah; former civilian U.S. Navy intelligence analyst 
Jonathan Pollard, convicted of treason and espionage in 1987; and 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ariel Sharon and Minister of Defense Yitzhak 
Mordechai of Israel. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary of State Madeleine 
Albright, Vice President Al Gore, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman 
Arafat, and King Hussein I.