    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 25, 2003]
    [Pages 930-935]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
    July 25, 2003

        President Bush. Good day. I'm honored to welcome Prime Minister
    Abbas to the White House. It is such an honor to have you here, sir.
        Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you.
        President Bush. To break through old hatreds and barriers to peace,
    the Middle East needs leaders of vision and courage and a determination
    to serve the interest of their people. Mr. Abbas is the first
    Palestinian Prime Minister, and he is proving to be such a leader.
        We had a good meeting today about the way forward on the roadmap to
    Middle Eastern peace. Prime Minister Abbas and I share a common goal,
    peace in the Holy Land between two free and secure states, Palestine and
    Israel.
        Reaching this goal will require all sides to meet their
    responsibilities. We made a good progress last month at the Red Sea
    Summit in Aqaba. The Government of Israel recognized that Israel's own
    interests would be served when the Palestinians govern themselves in
    their own state, a peaceful, democratic state where the forces of terror
    have been replaced by the rule of law.
        Prime Minister Abbas committed to a complete end to violence and
    terrorism, and he recognized that terror against

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    Israelis, wherever they might be, is a dangerous obstacle to the
    achievement of a Palestinian state.
        I committed to both sides that the United States will strive to see
    that promises are kept and monitor the parties' progress on this
    difficult journey.
        To meet the goal we have set, we must improve the daily lives of
    ordinary Palestinians. For just this purpose, I recently approved a
    grant of $20 million directly to the Palestinian Authority.
        Today I'm also pleased to announce that the United States and
    Palestinian Authority will establish a joint Palestine Economic
    Development Group. This group of American and Palestinian officials will
    meet regularly and be charged with finding practical ways to bring jobs
    and growth and investment to the Palestinian economy.
        In addition, I'm sending Treasury Secretary John Snow and Commerce Secretary Don Evans to the region early this fall. I'll ask them to report
    back to me on the steps we need to take to build a solid economic
    foundation for a free and sovereign Palestinian state.
        In our talks this morning, Prime Minister Abbas and I covered a
    range of issues. We discussed the impact on the Palestinian people of
    the limits on their freedom of movement and the need to reduce the
    network of checkpoints and barriers. Prime Minister Abbas shared his
    concerns about Israeli settlements, confiscation of land, and the
    building of a security fence. He also expressed his strong desire to see
    the release of many more Palestinian prisoners.
        We will continue to address these issues. We will address them
    carefully and seriously with Palestinian and Israeli officials. We will
    work to seek solutions.
        We've seen important progress towards peace over the last 13 months,
    and we see even more progress today, here in Washington and in the
    region as well. Today the Government of Israel announced that it will be
    taking down more of the checkpoints that are making it difficult for
    Palestinians to travel to their jobs and schools. In addition, Israel
    will consider ways to reduce the impact of the security fence on the
    lives of the Palestinian people.
        And Israel has helped--has also pledged to transfer to the
    Palestinian Authority security responsibility for two additional cities
    in the West Bank and to make further progress in removing settlement
    outposts. Like Prime Minister Abbas, Prime Minister Sharon is demonstrating that he's a partner committed to
    reaching a peace settlement.
         I welcome these announcements from Israel, and I look forward to
    seeing Prime Minister Sharon on his visit to
    Washington next week. Together, these leaders can bring a bright future
    to both their people.
        This is the time of possibility in the Middle East. And the people
    of the region are counting on the leaders to seize opportunities for
    peace and progress. Too many years and lives have been squandered by
    resentment and violence. The Palestinian people, like people everywhere,
    deserve freedom. They deserve an honest government, and they deserve
    peace.
        I thank Prime Minister Abbas for his hard work. I thank him for his
    service to his people and for carrying their cause here to Washington,
    DC.
        Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. President,
    allow me to start by thanking you to your invitation and for the
    fruitful meeting we have just had and for the bilateral support we have
    received from you. We are particularly grateful for the $20 million of
    direct assistance to Palestinian Authority. And we hope that this
    assistance increases and is, in turn, in legislation.
        Allow me to also express my appreciation to you for your relentless
    efforts in pursuit of peace and your intensive engagement in resolving
    the conflict between us and the Israelis.
        Mr. President, we remain committed to the roadmap, and we are
    implementing our security and reform obligations. Security for

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    all Palestinians and Israelis is an essential element in progress, and
    we will achieve security based on the rule of law. We have succeeded
    significantly where Israel, with its military might, has failed in
    reducing violence, and we will continue.
        Reform and institution-building are an internal Palestinian
    priority. We do not merely seek a state, but we seek for a state that is
    built on the solid foundations of the modern constitution, democracy,
    transparency, the rule of law, and the market economy.
        We continue to negotiate with Israel on the implementation of its
    obligations. Some progress has been made, but movement needs to be made
    in terms of freeing prisoners, lifting the siege on President Arafat,
    Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas, and easing up freedom of
    movement to Palestinians.
        A transformation in the human conditions on the ground must occur.
    As you have said many times, Mr. President, attacks on the dignity of
    the Palestinians must end. Palestinians must be able to move, go to
    their jobs and schools, and conduct a normal life. Palestinians must not
    be afraid for their lives, property, or livelihood. Some steps have been
    taken by Israel so far, but these steps remain hesitant. The new era of
    peace requires the courageous logic of peace, not the suspicious logic
    of conflict.
        The outcome must correspond with your vision, Mr. President,
    achieving a peace that will end the occupation that started in 1967; the
    establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, with East
    Jerusalem as its capital; and a just, agreed solution of the refugee
    question on the basis of the U.N. Resolution 194.
        This vision cannot be realized if Israel continues to grab
    Palestinian land. If the settlement activities in Palestinian land and
    construction of the so-called ``separation wall'' on confiscated
    Palestinian land continue, we might soon find ourselves at a situation
    where the foundation of peace, a free Palestine state living side by
    side in peace and security in Israel, is a factual impossibility.
    Nothing less than a full settlement freeze will do, because nothing less
    than a full settlement freeze will work. For the sake of peace and for
    the sake of future Palestinian and Israeli generations, all settlement
    activities must be stopped now, and the wall must come down.

        Mr. President, in conclusion, allow me to thank you again for all
    your efforts, to reiterate our commitment to peace and security for all,
    and to express my hope for a solid, fruitful relations between our
    Governments and our peoples. Thank you.

        President Bush. Good job, Mr. Prime Minister.

        Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you very much.

        Q. Mr. President----

        President Bush. Hold on for a second, please. We'll have two
    questions a side, alternating, starting first with Barry of AP [Barry
    Schweid, Associated Press].

    Liberia

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. On Liberia, if I may.

        President Bush. Liberia, yes.

        Q. How many U.S. troops will be going in? What is their role? How
    long might they stay?

        President Bush. As the statement says that we put out, that U.S.
    troops will be there to help ECOWAS go in and serve as peacekeepers,
    necessary to create the conditions so that humanitarian aid can go in
    and help the people in Liberia. We're deeply concerned that the
    condition of the Liberian people is getting worse and worse and worse.
    Aid can't get to the people. We're worried about the outbreak of
    disease. And so our commitment is to enable ECOWAS to go in, and the
    Pentagon will make it clear over time what that means.

        Secondly, it is very important for Charles Taylor to leave the country.

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        Third, we want to--in order to expedite aid and help, in order to
    make the conditions such that NGOs can do what they want to do, which is
    to help people from suffering, that the cease-fire must be in place.
        And finally, we're working very closely with the United Nations.
    They will be responsible for developing a political solution, and they
    will be responsible for relieving the U.S. troops in short order. And so
    we're working all these pieces right now. But today I did order for our
    military in limited numbers to head into the area, to help prepare
    ECOWAS' arrival to relieve human suffering.

    Palestinian Prisoners/Settlements/War on Terror

        Q. Mr. President, how do you perceive the settlements as obstacle to
    your vision, to implementation of your vision? Thank you.
        President Bush. Yes----
        Q. And to the Prime Minister----
        President Bush. Okay, good, yes. This is the old two-question trick.
    It's an international trick, I see. [Laughter] Very good job, yes. You
    learned from the guy to your left. Both of them from your left are pros
    at that too, I might add. [Laughter]
        Q. Various officials in the administration yesterday indicated that
    they are having difficulties understanding the Palestinian situation
    when it comes to the issue of prisoners. In your meeting today with the
    President, did you discuss that, and did any progress happen on the U.S.
    understanding?
        Prime Minister Abbas. We always raise this issue, that it is
    basically an important and sensitive issue for us. This is the issue of
    prisoners. We look at the prisoners as the true constituency for peace.
    And we have raised this issue. We believe that they will support the
    peace process. Today we did discuss this issue, and we see understanding
    coming from the administration about this humanitarian and fair issue.
        President Bush. As to the settlements, I've constantly spoken out
    for the need to end the settlements. I--and we'll continue to work with
    both sides on this very sensitive issue.
        Let me make something--let me say this--this is necessary. It is
    necessary for this good man to continue to fight off the terrorist
    activity that creates the conditions of insecurity for not only Israel
    but for the peaceful Palestinian people. In order for us to be able to
    make progress on a lot of difficult issues, there has to be a firm and
    continued commitment to fight terror.
        One reason I'm willing to stand with the Prime Minister is because I
    believe that he has that commitment. He understands what I understand,
    that terrorists, every time, every place, will thwart the desires of
    those who want peace and freedom. And the commitment to fight terror and
    the results in fighting terror will make it a lot easier to deal with
    difficult issues, including the settlement issue.
        Steve [Steve Holland]. That would be Steve of Reuters.

    Palestinian Prisoners/Israeli Security Fence

        Q. Would you like to see Israel release the political prisoners, and
    would you like to see them stop building this barrier wall?
        President Bush. I think--first of all, on the wall. Let me talk
    about the wall. I think the wall is a problem, and I discussed this with
    Ariel Sharon. It is very difficult to develop
    confidence between the Palestinians and the Israel--Israel--with a wall
    snaking through the West Bank. And I will continue to discuss this issue
    very clearly with the Prime Minister. As I said in my statement today,
    he has issued a statement saying he is willing to come and discuss that
    with us. And I appreciate the--willing to discuss it.
        On the prisoners, I think it's very important to have a frank
    discussion on the prisoners. We ought to look at the prisoner issue on a
    case-by-case basis. Surely nobody

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    wants to let a coldblooded killer out of prison that would help derail
    the process. I mean, after all, it doesn't make any sense if you've got
    somebody who is bent upon destroying lives and killing people in prison
    to--if you were to let him out, it would make it harder to achieve the
    peace we all want. And so I think it's very important to analyze the
    prisoner situation on a case-by-case basis.
        I fully understand the Prime Minister's desire. I fully understand
    his request. And I have--and therefore, we'll talk to--continue to talk
    to both sides on this issue. But I would never ask anybody in any
    society to let a prisoner out who would then commit terrorist actions.
    And I think that's logical and clear.
        And so--but these are all difficult issues. By the way, we're
    discussing them now in a frank way, which is progress unto itself. These
    are issues where there had been no discussion before. And now we're
    putting them on the table, and we're making progress. And as people get
    more confidence--listen, I'm gaining confidence in the Palestinian Prime
    Minister and in his great cabinet.
        I had the Finance Minister in to discuss
    issues with me. He told me he would put the budget of the Palestinian
    Authority on the web page. And he did, which means he's a man of his
    word. The Security Chief, Dahlan, and I have
    had some discussions. He's a good, solid leader. And so I gain
    confidence in them, because they're people who do what they say. And the
    more confidence we gain, the more easy it's going to be to tackle these
    very difficult issues.
        Final question from the Palestinians.

    Terrorism and Resolution of Issues

        Q. Mr. President, Mr. President----
        Q. Mr. President, Mr. President----
        President Bush. Wait, wait, wait. It's best if we only have one
    question at a time.
        Q. Mr. President, do you think that----
        Q. Do you think that----
        President Bush. Ladies first.
        Prime Minister Abbas. Ladies first, okay. [Laughter]
        Q. When you speak to Palestinians, they're saying that the biggest
    problems they have now are the 160 Israel checkpoints that are
    suffocating the Palestinian community. Did you get any guarantees from
    Mr. President that he will pressure Israel in removing these
    checkpoints?
        And Mr. President, you said the settlements are an obstacle for
    peace. Will you pressure Israel to stop the settlement activity? When
    and how?
        President Bush. Well, let me start, and then you can end.
        Prime Minister Abbas. Please.
        President Bush. We'll let my guest end. I just told you that we
    brought this issue up. I've constantly spoken out about the end of
    settlements. I have done so consistently. It's very important for us to
    continue to earn the confidence of each other. And I'm going to tell you
    pointblank that we must make sure that any terrorist activity is rooted
    out in order for us to be able to deal with these big issues.
        Nobody is going to accept a situation in which they become less
    secure, whether it be the Palestinian people or the Israeli people.
    Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the roadmap to peace.
    And the reason I'm confident that we can achieve substantial progress
    and achieve the vision of two states living by side by side in peace is
    because I believe that the Prime Minister and his team is interested in
    routing out terror.
        And so to answer your question, the more progress there's made on
    terror, the more progress there will be made on difficult issues.
        Prime Minister Abbas. The issue of the checkpoints between various
    Palestinian towns and villages was one of the issues that basically was
    discussed with the President. As he mentioned, we discussed a wide
    variety of issues. We discussed issues of settlements, the issue of the
    wall, the issue of prisoners, and others, including the

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    checkpoints. We feel that the President is paying attention to all these
    issues, and we believe that he will raise those issues with the upcoming
    visit of Prime Minister Sharon.
        President Bush. Thank you all very much.
        Q. We need three questions--we're making a news conference.
        President Bush. Thank you very much.
        That's Bill Plante of CBS, an old veteran, constantly willing to
    express his opinion.
        Thank you for your opinion.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 12:05 p.m. in the Rose
    Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister
    Ariel Sharon of Israel; President Charles Taylor of Liberia; and Finance
    Minister Salam Fayyad and Minister of State for Security Affairs
    Mohammed Dahlan of the Palestinian Authority. During the question-and-
    answer session, some reporters asked their questions in Arabic, and
    Prime Minister Abbas responded in Arabic, and their remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.