[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[December 13, 1998]
[Pages 2160-2161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Arrival Ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israel
December 13, 1998

    President and Mrs. Weizman, Prime Minister and Mrs. Netanyahu, first 
of all, on behalf of my family and our entire delegation, I would like 
to thank you for coming out here at this very late hour to welcome us. 
Hillary and Chelsea and I and all the Americans have been looking 
forward to this trip. I am delighted to be back in Israel.
    As President Weizman said, this is the fourth time I have come here 
as President, to reaffirm America's unbreakable ties to Israel, to 
reaffirm our unshakable commitment to Israel's security, and this time, 
to fulfill the pledge I made at the Wye talks to speak with the people 
of Israel and the Palestinians about the benefits of peace and to stand 
by you as you take risks for a just, lasting, and secure peace. The 
United States will walk this road with Israel every step of the way.
    Peacemaking has opened historic opportunities to Israel, but each 
step forward has been tempered with pain and understandable feelings of 
ambivalence when questions arise as to whether agreements are being 
implemented fully.
    We share the conviction that without security, the peace process 
always will be clouded for the vast majority of Israelis who seek only 
to live normal lives as a free people in their own country, and we are 
determined that Israel's just requirements for security be met. At the 
same time, we believe that, for two peoples who are fated to share this 
land, peace is not simply an option among many but the only choice that 
can avert still more years of bloodshed, apprehension, and sorrow.
    That is why I am here. In the past few weeks, the people of Israel, 
through their Government and Knesset, have endorsed the Wye River 
agreement, recognizing the promise it holds for putting the peace 
process on track and creating a positive environment for dealing with 
the complex and difficult final status talks.
    I want to again, but for the first time in Israel, pay tribute to 
the Prime Minister and the representatives of his government for those 
long, arduous, difficult talks at Wye, often accompanied with sleepless 
nights. I believe it was the right thing to do. I believed it then. I 
believe it now. But both sides now must face the challenge of 
implementing Wye.
    I will discuss that with the Prime Minister and his colleagues 
tomorrow and later in my meeting with Chairman Arafat. Then on Tuesday 
our family will have the chance to go to Bethlehem and Masada to explore 
more of this magnificent country and its sacred heritage.

[[Page 2161]]

    Again, I thank you for welcoming us. I thank you for the struggles 
you have waged for freedom and for security. I thank you for the efforts 
you now make for peace. It is good to be back.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 12 midnight at Ben-Gurion International 
Airport. In his remarks, he referred to President Ezer Weizman of Israel 
and his wife, Reuma; Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel and his 
wife, Sarah; and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority.