[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[December 13, 1998]
[Pages 2171-2172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2171]]


Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of 
Israel in Jerusalem
December 13, 1998

    Thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Netanyahu, leaders and 
citizens of Israel, my fellow Americans: Let me begin by thanking the 
Prime Minister, his family, and his administration for the warm welcome 
accorded to me and Hillary and Chelsea and our entire group. This is, as 
I have said many times today, my fourth visit to Israel since I became 
President. Perhaps that fact alone says something about the unique 
relationship between our two nations.
    Last spring I walked out onto the South Lawn at the White House to 
lead my fellow Americans in our celebration of your 50th birthday as a 
nation. And as I did that, I thought about how that great old house--
where every President since our second President has lived, for almost 
200 years now--and how for the last 50 years it has been and now will 
forever be linked to Israel's destiny. It was in the White House that 
Harry Truman recognized the State of Israel only 11 minutes after you 
had declared your independence. And, I might add, he did so over the 
objection of some of his most senior advisers. It was in the White House 
a year later that President Truman wept when Israel's Chief Rabbi told 
him, ``God put you in your mother's womb so you would be the instrument 
to bring the rebirth of Israel after 2,000 years.''
    Mr. Prime Minister, every President since Harry Truman has been 
strongly committed to the State of Israel and to Israel's security. No 
one should doubt that the United States will always stand with you.
    Every President has also believed it is vital to Israel's security 
that together we seek peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. 
Israel's own leaders again and again have said this, from Ben-Gurion to 
Golda Meir, Begin to Rabin and Peres. Now you, Mr. Prime Minister, have 
taken your own brave steps on the path to peace. This is the correct 
course because only through negotiated and implemented peace can 
Israelis live their dream of being both free and secure.
    No one knows better the cost the enemies of peace can extract than 
you, Mr. Prime Minister. You have fought terrorism with your own hands. 
You have written powerfully about it. You lost your beloved brother to 
it. The citizens you now lead face the possibility of terrorism every 
day.
    America knows something of this struggle, too. Hundreds of our 
citizens have perished in terrorist attacks over this generation, most 
recently at our Embassies in east Africa. We know we must stand strong 
against terrorism. We are determined to do so, just as we are determined 
to find just and peaceful solutions to conflicts and to overcome 
longstanding hatred and resentments. We know the closer we get, the more 
desperate the enemies of peace become. But we cannot let terrorists 
dictate our future. We will not let their bombs or their bullets destroy 
our path to peace.
    Mr. Prime Minister, at Wye River you obtained commitments that will 
greatly strengthen Israel's security if they are honored. All of us who 
shared those 9 days and 9 long nights know you are a skilled and 
tenacious negotiator. Despite your long sojourn in America, there can be 
no doubt that you remain a sabra to the core, tough, the kind of leader 
with the potential to guide his people to a peaceful and secure future.
    Many have pointed out that you are the first leader of Israel born 
after 1948, actually born in the State of Israel. But I know you never 
forget that the history of the Jewish people, as you have told us again 
tonight, is far, far longer, that the issues of today must be considered 
in light of events of a rich but often turbulent past, including 2,000 
years of exile and persecution.
    We honor your history, your struggles, your sacrifices. We pray for 
a permanent peace that will, once and for all, secure the rightful place 
of the people of Israel, living in peace, mutual respect, mutual 
recognition, and permanent security in this historic land, with the 
Palestinians and all your neighbors.
    You mentioned, Mr. Prime Minister, the fact that my devotion to 
Israel had something to do with the instruction I received from my 
minister long ago. I will tell you, the real story

[[Page 2172]]

is even more dramatic. I hesitate to tell it because then you will use 
it against me when it is helpful. [Laughter]
    My pastor died in 1989. Before that, starting in 1937, he came here 
to the Holy Land more than 40 times. Once in the mid-1980's, we were 
sitting together--long before I had thought that a realistic prospect--
and he looked at me and he said, ``You might be President one day. You 
will make mistakes, and God will forgive you. But God will never forgive 
you if you forget the State of Israel.'' That's what he said.
    When Hillary first came here with me 17 years ago this month, I was 
not in elected office. I came on a religious pilgrimage just after we 
celebrated Christmas. I saw Masada and Bethlehem for the first time, not 
through political eyes but through the eyes of a Christian. I can't wait 
to go back to Masada, and I can't wait to go back to Bethlehem.
    You mentioned that the troubles and travails and triumphs of Jesus, 
a Jew, gave the world the Christian religion, of which I am a part. In 
the Christian New Testament, we get a lot of instruction about what it 
takes to make peace and become reconciled to one another. We are 
instructed that we have to forgive others their sins against us if we 
expect to be forgiven our own. We are instructed that they who judge 
without mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy triumphs over 
judgment. And we are told in no uncertain terms that the peacemakers are 
blessed, and they will inherit the Earth.
    Please join me in a toast to Prime Minister and Mrs. Netanyahu, the 
people of Israel, and the promise of peace. L'Chaim.

Note: The President spoke at 9:16 p.m. at the Jerusalem Hilton. In his 
remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Netanyahu's wife, Sarah. The 
transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included 
the remarks of Prime Minister Netanyahu.