    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 3, 2007]
    [Pages 1512-1513]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With the U.S.-Palestinian Public-Private
    Partnership
    December 3, 2007

        It's been my honor and the honor of key members of my administration
    to welcome Minister Abu Daqqa here. She's
    the Minister of Youth for the Palestinians. I also want to welcome
    friends, business leaders, community activists who are committed to a
    public-private partnership to help the Palestinian Government provide
    hope, particularly for the young--she's the Minister of Youth.
        And we--so Walter Isaacson and the other
    leaders here have outlined a strategy to us as to how we can make sure
    our USAID money and our OPIC money can

    [[Page 1513]]

    be leveraged with private participation to help the Palestinians develop
    a civil society that is a key part of making sure that the vision of two
    states living side by side in peace becomes a reality.
        And so Madam Minister, you're seeing
    the best of America. You're seeing private citizens who care deeply
    about peace come together with a Government that is dedicated to a two-
    state solution to develop a strategy to help you succeed.
        And one of the things that interests me a lot is the fact that we
    are going to help the Palestinians develop youth centers, places where
    young Palestinians can come and learn new technical skills or language
    skills or have mentoring programs, all aimed at saying, there is a
    hopeful future; a future where you don't have to adhere to violence; a
    future where radicalism is not in your sights; a future where peace is
    possible.
        And so we're proud you're here in America. We want to thank you for
    your commitment to living side by side with Israel in peace. We have--
    you have a friend here in the United States to help you achieve this
    objective.
        And I want to thank my fellow citizens for being so spirited that
    you're willing to take time out of your busy lives to help this young
    democracy get up on its feet and eventually lead the peace that we all
    are so hopeful for.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:25 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Walter Isaacson, president
    and chief executive officer, Aspen Institute.