[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have been replaced by the rule of law.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

[[Page 931]]

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

[[Page 932]]

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.

[[Page 933]]

    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

[[Page 934]]

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

[[Page 935]]

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.