    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [April 28, 2002]
    [Pages 674-676]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Situation in the Middle East and an Exchange With
    Reporters in Crawford
    April 28, 2002

        The President. Good afternoon. I am pleased by today's developments
    in the Middle East and believe they'll prove to be important steps along
    the path to peace in the Middle East.
        I commend the Israeli Cabinet for its decision this morning to allow
    Chairman Arafat to move freely, to accept
    international monitoring of six prisoners who are at Chairman Arafat's
    compound, and to withdraw its forces from Ramallah. The Palestinian
    Authority has agreed to accept this approach.
        Many parties contributed to today's positive development. The United
    Kingdom played an especially important role in creating a framework for
    international monitoring of the six prisoners.
        I've called on all parties to step up their responsibilities, and
    today's developments are a positive sign that they are doing so.
        Much hard work remains, and this is a time for all of us to commit
    to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East. Chairman Arafat
    should now seize this opportunity to act decisively, in word and in
    deed, against terror directed at Israeli citizens. As we work to improve
    the security situation in the region, all of us must step up our efforts
    to bring humanitarian relief and economic assistance to the Palestinian
    people.
        This morning I called Crown Prince Abdullah to thank him for his visit to the United States. Our
    discussions forged a personal bond of friendship and strengthened the
    60-year relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The
    Crown Prince has offered a number of constructive ideas for making
    political progress between Israel and the Palestinians. We will continue
    to build on these ideas as we move forward to fight terror and to
    promote peace in the Middle East.
        I'll answer a couple of questions. Sonya [Sonya Ross, Associated
    Press].

    Saudi Peace Plan

        Q. Mr. President, on the Saudi peace plan, where are the points of
    objection that you've not been able to agree upon?
        The President. Well, they came with some constructive ideas, and we
    listened very carefully to their ideas, and we will continue to work
    with them and others in the region to promote them. I believe that

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    there is a lot of common ground, starting with all parties assuming
    responsibility--their responsibilities.
        The Crown Prince clearly understood
    there is a responsibility for the Arab world. He also believes strongly
    that Chairman Arafat must step up and believes
    that Israel should withdraw from the territories. And that is taking
    place now.
        Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].

    Ramallah/Bethlehem/Jenin

        Q. Mr. President, is today's proposal that was accepted by Mr.
    Sharon and Mr. Arafat a model for lifting the siege in Bethlehem? And
    are you concerned that the Israelis have not allowed the U.N. monitors
    into Jenin yet?
        The President. Well, first of all, on the Jenin issue, that's being
    worked out now at the U.N.
        And secondly, in terms of Bethlehem, I believe we're making good
    progress toward ending that part of the Israeli incursion, and hopefully
    it will get done soon.
        But the big news, of course, is Ramallah, and Chairman
    Arafat is now free to move around and free to
    lead. And we expect him to do so.

    Situation in the Middle East

        Q. Mr. President----
        The President. Okay, Stretch.
        Q. ----on that point, what would you expect to see from Chairman
    Arafat in the next 24, 48, 72 hours in terms of explicit demonstrations
    of his leadership?
        The President. Well, of course, one of the things that Chairman
    Arafat must do is condemn and thwart terrorist
    activities. And it's important he do so.
        Again, I keep saying this, and it's so important for all of us
    involved in this process to recognize there are clear responsibilities.
    And his responsibility is just what I said, to
    renounce, to help detect and stop terrorist killings. The Israelis have
    got responsibilities.
        The key responsibility for the world at large is to help end the
    suffering of the Palestinian people through humanitarian and economic
    assistance. I am very serious about our Government's involvement in a--
    in humanitarian relief. I--my heart grieves for a people who have no
    hope, and there are a lot of people who have no hope in the Middle East.
    There are some Palestinians--a lot of Palestinians who wonder whether or
    not life is worth living. And we've got, as a world, have got to help
    them understand there is a positive life ahead for they and their
    children.
        There is--people in Israel, of course, are deeply concerned about
    their security, and I can completely understand that. And therefore, all
    of us--Arab nation, Palestinians, United States, the EU--must all
    continue our collective effort to fight terror.
        There are clearly people in the Middle East who would use terror as
    a weapon to derail any peace process. And for there to be peace--
    something I long for and something I know that Israel and the
    Palestinian people long for--in order for there to be peace, we must
    continue to rout out terror. And the message can't be more clear, and
    we're going to continue to hold people accountable for results.

    Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel

        Q. Did you invite Mr. Sharon to visit?
        The President. As I understand--yes, we did. Listen, I'm pleased
    anytime people want to come and visit. We've had the King of
    Morocco; we've had Crown Prince
    Abdullah, obviously. And when I talked
    to him on the phone this weekend, the subject didn't come up, but as--I
    understand that there is a--discussions going on about a potential trip.
    I welcome a trip here to the United States. I welcome people from that
    part of the world to come and bare their soul and discuss their plans
    for peace.
        The thing I always look for when I talk to the leaders is a vision
    for peace. It's impossible to achieve a peace unless there's

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    a vision. And one of the things I appreciated about the Saudi initiative
    a while ago was it laid out a potential peace process, a plan for peace,
    a way to get to peace in the region--something we all long for.

    Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian
    Authority

        Q. Are you ready to include Arafat in that open invitation? Are you
    ready now to include Arafat in that open invitation?
        The President. Mr. Arafat must perform. Mr. Arafat must do his job.
    I've called upon Mr. Arafat in the past; I'll continue to call upon Mr.
    Arafat to lead. The other day--somebody asked me one time, a while ago,
    they said, ``Has he disappointed you? Has he lost your respect?'' I
    said, ``Well, he hasn't earned my respect yet. He must earn my respect
    by leading.'' And there are a lot of people, a lot of Palestinians who
    are suffering, and now is the time for him to step up.
        This has been a hopeful day for the region, and we must continue to
    press forward to peace.
        I want to thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:25 p.m. at the Bush Ranch. In his
    remarks, he referred to King Mohamed VI of Morocco.