[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
[April 14, 2004]
[Pages 578-580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel
on the Israeli Disengagement Plan
April 14, 2004
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Thank you for your letter setting out your disengagement plan.
The United States remains hopeful and determined to find a way
forward toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. I remain
committed to my June 24, 2002 vision of two states living side by side
in peace and security as the key to peace, and to the roadmap as the
route to get there.
We welcome the disengagement plan you have prepared, under which
Israel would withdraw certain military installations and all settlements
from Gaza, and withdraw certain military installations and settlements
in the West Bank. These steps described in the plan will mark real
progress toward realizing my June 24, 2002 vision, and make a real
contribution towards peace. We also understand that, in this context,
Israel believes it is important to bring new opportunities to the Negev
and the Galilee. We are hopeful that steps pursuant to this plan,
consistent with my vision, will remind all states and parties of their
own obligations under the roadmap.
The United States appreciates the risks such an undertaking
represents. I therefore want to reassure you on several points.
First, the United States remains committed to my vision and to its
implementation as described in the roadmap. The United States will do
its utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to impose any other plan.
Under the roadmap, Palestinians must undertake an immediate cessation of
armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere, and
all official Palestinian institutions must end incitement against
Israel. The Palestinian leadership must act decisively against terror,
including sustained, targeted, and effective operations to stop
terrorism and dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure.
Palestinians must undertake a comprehensive and fundamental political
reform that includes a strong parliamentary democracy and an empowered
prime minister.
Second, there will be no security for Israelis or Palestinians until
they and all states, in the region and beyond, join together to fight
terrorism and dismantle terrorist organizations. The United States
reiterates its steadfast commitment to Israel's
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security, including secure, defensible borders, and to preserve and
strengthen Israel's capability to deter and defend itself, by itself,
against any threat or possible combination of threats.
Third, Israel will retain its right to defend itself against
terrorism, including to take actions against terrorist organizations.
The United States will lead efforts, working together with Jordan,
Egypt, and others in the international community, to build the capacity
and will of Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle
terrorist organizations, and prevent the areas from which Israel has
withdrawn from posing a threat that would have to be addressed by any
other means. The United States understands that after Israel withdraws
from Gaza and/or parts of the West Bank, and pending agreements on other
arrangements, existing arrangements regarding control of airspace,
territorial waters, and land passages of the West Bank and Gaza will
continue.
The United States is strongly committed to Israel's security and
well-being as a Jewish state. It seems clear that an agreed, just, fair,
and realistic framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue
as part of any final status agreement will need to be found through the
establishment of a Palestinian state, and the settling of Palestinian
refugees there, rather than in Israel.
As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and
recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the
parties in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. In light of new
realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli
populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of
final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the
armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-
state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to
expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the
basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities.
I know that, as you state in your letter, you are aware that certain
responsibilities face the State of Israel. Among these, your government
has stated that the barrier being erected by Israel should be a security
rather than political barrier, should be temporary rather than
permanent, and therefore not prejudice any final status issues including
final borders, and its route should take into account, consistent with
security needs, its impact on Palestinians not engaged in terrorist
activities.
As you know, the United States supports the establishment of a
Palestinian state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and
independent, so that the Palestinian people can build their own future
in accordance with my vision set forth in June 2002 and with the path
set forth in the roadmap. The United States will join with others in the
international community to foster the development of democratic
political institutions and new leadership committed to those
institutions, the reconstruction of civic institutions, the growth of a
free and prosperous economy, and the building of capable security
institutions dedicated to maintaining law and order and dismantling
terrorist organizations.
A peace settlement negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians
would be a great boon not only to those peoples but to the peoples of
the entire region. Accordingly, the United States believes that all
states in the region have special responsibilities: to support the
building of the institutions of a Palestinian state; to fight terrorism,
and cut off all forms of assistance to individuals and groups engaged in
terrorism; and to begin now to move toward more normal relations with
the State of Israel. These actions would be true contributions to
building peace in the region.
Mr. Prime Minister, you have described a bold and historic
initiative that can make an important contribution to peace. I commend
your efforts and your courageous decision which I support. As a close
friend
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and ally, the United States intends to work closely with you to help
make it a success.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
this letter. The letter was made available by the Office of the Press
Secretary on April 14 but was not issued as a White House press release.
The Office of the Press Secretary also made available the text of Prime
Minister Sharon's letter to the President.