[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[May 24, 2002]
[Pages 873-874]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V. 
Putin on the Situation in the Middle East
May 24, 2002

    Mindful of the responsibility the United States of America and the 
Russian Federation as co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, we 
believe that there is an opportunity to move away from the current 
unacceptable situation of terror and violence towards a resumption of 
meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. We are agreed 
that we have to move aggressively to help the parties take advantage of 
this opportunity. In the Middle East, neither conflict nor peace is 
inevitable. Peace will not come to the Middle East on its own. We must 
do all we can for the attainment of peace.
    In that spirit, the United States and Russia pledge their maximum 
efforts to realize the vision of a negotiated settlement, including two 
states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace and security within 
recognized borders. This should become part of a comprehensive 
settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute based on UN Security Council 
resolutions 242 and 338, the Madrid principles, and the principle of 
land for peace, and existing agreements and understandings. We share 
these approaches, which were reflected in UN Security Council resolution 
1397.
    We reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of all terrorist acts, 
considering terrorism and any form of violence an absolutely 
unacceptable means for achieving political goals. At the same time, 
recognizing the legitimate right of Israel to fight terrorism, we urge 
the Israelis and Palestinians to consider carefully the consequences of 
any actions they may take and to work to create and sustain an 
environment in which the parties can return to a serious political 
dialogue. We urge the parties to move forward on a settlement between 
Israel and the Palestinians along the lines of the goals outlined by the 
President of

[[Page 874]]

the Russian Federation in his March 26 message to the Arab Summit in 
Beirut and by the President of the United States at the UN General 
Assembly last November and advanced by him in his April 4 statement on 
the Middle East.
    The United States and Russia are encouraged by several recent 
signals that have created a window of opportunity: the peaceful 
resolution--with the cooperation of the Israeli government and the 
Palestinian Authority--of the standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem and 
the recent Israeli withdrawals from Palestinian areas; the Arab League's 
endorsement of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative; and the May 12 joint call by the Saudi, 
Egyptian, and Syrian leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh for a negotiated 
solution and an end to all forms of violence. The Arab states have an 
essential role to play in the search for a just peace.
    We believe that the parties themselves and the international 
community should seize this opportunity by pursuing a comprehensive 
strategy that includes the following parallel steps: security and 
freedom from terror and violence for both Israelis and Palestinians; 
serious and accelerated negotiations leading to a just political 
settlement; and efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs and help 
promote the rebuilding of strong, accountable, democratic, and market-
oriented institutions as the basis for a vibrant Palestinian state. This 
will require vigorous efforts by the Palestinian leadership and action 
by all parties concerned to create an environment in which progress can 
be made in all the above mentioned directions.
    The United States and Russia reaffirm their commitment, expressed 
most recently at the April 10 and May 2 meetings of the ``Quartet,'' 
composed of the United States, Russia, European Union, and United 
Nations, to undertake all efforts to help Israel and the Palestinian 
Authority in the achievement of these goals. We are prepared to provide 
humanitarian and economic assistance to the Palestinians at this time of 
urgent need. We are also prepared to assist in the reconstruction of 
Palestinian institutions, including those of the Palestinian Authority, 
in order to lay the foundation of a future Palestinian state worthy of 
the Palestinian people and able to live as a good neighbor in peace with 
Israel.
    The United States and Russia are committed to using an international 
meeting this summer to create serious momentum to move forward on our 
comprehensive strategy for peace in the Middle East.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.