    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 10, 2008]
    [Pages 57-64]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, Palestinian
    Territories
    January 10, 2008

        President Abbas. Your Excellency, President George Bush, President
    of the United States of America, I welcome you in Ramallah, as well as
    in Bethlehem, on the land of Palestine, that welcomes you todayas a
    great guest, that goes with him--commitment towards the peace process.
    It's a historic visit that gives our people great hope in the fact that
    your great nation is standing and supporting their dream and

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    their yearning towards freedom and independence and living in peace in
    this area alongside their neighbors.
        Our people will not forget, Your Excellency, your invitation and
    your commitment towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian
    state. You are the first American President that confirms and reiterates
    this right.

    [At this point, there was a problem with the translation earpiece.]

        President Bush. I haven't got it yet. You may have to start over.
    [Laughter] Not yet. You better stay awake. [Laughter]
        President Abbas. Our people, Your Excellency----
        President Bush. I agree completely. [Laughter]
        President Abbas. Your commitment towards the establishment of the
    independent Palestinian state--you are the first American President to
    reiterate this right. The conferences of Annapolis and Paris were
    historic step from you and from the American people and the world as a
    whole to protect this commitment and push it forward.
        Our Palestinian people, who committed to peace as a strategic
    option, want to see, through your support and your intervention, an end
    to its suffering and the suffering of its people and their families, and
    wants to move freely in their homeland and develop their life and their
    economy without any obstacles that hinder that progress; and without a
    separation wall that fragments the land; and without settlements that is
    governing its land and future. We want to see a different future, where
    prisons are not crowded with thousands of prisoners and where hospitals
    are not crowded with tens of innocent victims every day, without
    checkpoints and queues of ordinary people who suffer from humiliation
    and siege.
        I would like to point out here that we instructed our Government to
    continue the work towards enhancing security and imposing public order
    and establishing good governance that is based on the rule of law and to
    consolidate the role of our democratic institutions and strengthen the
    work of the civil society, as well as work on consolidating development
    and administrative and financial reform and transparency so that we can
    lay the foundations for a modern and democratic state.
        And the Government is taking intensive steps in that direction, and
    I would like to express our appreciation for the support of your
    administration in the economic sphere in order to develop the
    infrastructure and provide new job opportunities and improve the level
    of services and all other projects that contribute in improving the
    lives and the conditions of living for our people.
        We and our Israeli neighbors, and under your direct sponsorship--
    bilateral negotiations that address all issues of final status are core
    issues--that we would like to end these negotiations during your term in
    office; and that we--it will be ending by the--ending of the occupation
    that started in 1967, and that establishment of an independent
    Palestinian state and its capital, Jerusalem, based on your vision and
    the international resolutions; and that we find a fair solution for the
    tragedy of refugees, according to the Arab initiative for peace and
    according to the U.N. resolutions.
        And on this occasion, I would like to reiterate before you our full
    commitment to all our obligations that we agreed to. And we call upon
    Israel as well to fulfill its commitments according to the roadmap plan,
    because we firmly believe that peace is made by a will and a shared
    commitment among all parties.
        Your historic visit today to the Palestinian Territories is highly
    appreciated by our people, and it's a new expression of your deep
    commitment towards establishing peace on the land of peace. We
    appreciate the complete seriousness that characterizes your visit and
    your efforts today to continue and build on, capitalize on this
    important

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    opportunity that is available to us and to the Israelis.
        We start with you a new year, hoping that this will be the year for
    the creation of peace. You will hear today in Bethlehem the call for
    prayers from the mosques and the heralding of bells at the Church of
    Nativity. That confirms our common message, the message of human
    tolerance and real peace that is deeply rooted in our conscience and in
    our heritage. Your presence today amongst us, Your Excellency, is a
    reiteration for the call for comprehensive and just peace that you
    called for and you committed yourself to. And the echo of this call
    reaches all the people and the countries in our region, because the
    voice that is now going out of Palestine is the closest and the deepest
    in reaching the hearts of all the people in the region.
        Please, Your Excellency, trust that peace in the world starts from
    here, from the Holy Land. We welcome you again, our dear guest and our
    dear friend, here in Palestine.
        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality. We
    have met a lot in the past, and I'm glad to finally have a chance to sit
    down in your office to discuss important issues.

    [There was another problem with the translation earpiece.]

        Is it working? [Laughter] Listen, they say I have enough problems
    speaking English as it is. [Laughter]
        I have had numerous opportunities to visit with the President. And
    the fundamental question I have is whether or not he is committed to
    peace. It's the same question I had for the Prime Minister of
    Israel. And I've come to the conclusion that
    both men understand the importance of two democratic states living side
    by side in peace.
        President Abbas was elected on a platform of peace. In other words,
    he just wasn't somebody who starts talking about it lately; he
    campaigned on it. He also said that if you give me a chance, I'll work
    hard to improve the lives of the average Palestinians, and that's what
    he has done. It's certainly not easy work. The conditions on the ground
    are very difficult, and nevertheless, this man and his Government not
    only works for a vision but also works to improve the lives of the
    average citizens, which is essential for the emergence of a Palestinian
    democracy.
        I talked today about how--what we can do to help, and as he
    mentioned, the United States has been an active financial giver. We
    helped at the Paris conference. I firmly believe that the Palestinians
    are entrepreneurial people who, if just given a chance, will be able to
    grow their businesses and provide jobs.
        We talked about the need to fight off the extremists. The world in
    which we live is a dangerous world because there are people who murder
    innocent people to achieve political objectives, not just here in this
    immediate part of the world but around the world. That's what we're
    dealing with in Iraq and Afghanistan and Lebanon. And the fundamental
    question is, will nations stand up and help those who understand the
    ideological struggle we're in? And the President understands the
    ideological struggle. He knows that a handful of people want to dash the
    aspirations of the Palestinian people by creating chaos and violence.
        And I appreciate that, Mr. President. And I appreciate your
    understanding that, ultimately, the way to achieve peace is to offer an
    alternative vision, and that's a vision based upon liberty.
        Now, look, there are some in the world who don't believe in the
    universality of freedom. I understand that. They say, like, freedom is
    okay for some of us, but maybe not all of us. I understand it, but I
    reject it. I believe in the universality of freedom. I believe deep in
    the soul of every man, woman, and child on the face of this Earth is the
    desire to live in a free society. And I also believe free societies
    yield peace.

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    And therefore, this notion of two states living side by side in peace is
    based upon the universality of freedom, and if given a chance, the
    Palestinian people will work for freedom.
        And that's a challenge ahead of us--is, is it possible for the
    Israelis and the Palestinians to work out their differences on core
    issues so that a vision can emerge? And my answer is, absolutely, it's
    possible. Not only is it possible, it's necessary. And I'm looking
    forward to helping.
        You know, there's a great anticipation that all the American
    President has got to do is step in and just say, okay, this is the way
    it's going to be. That's not how the system works. In order for there to
    be lasting peace, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert have to come together and make tough choices. And I'm
    convinced they will. And I believe it's possible--not only possible; I
    believe it's going to happen--that there will be a signed peace treaty
    by the time I leave office. That's what I believe. And the reason I
    believe that is because I hear the urgency in the voice of both the
    Prime Minister of Israel and the President of the Palestinian Authority.
        Is it going to be hard work? You bet. And we can help support these
    negotiations, and will. I was asked yesterday at a press conference, you
    know, what do you intend to do? If you're not going to write the
    agreement, what do you intend to do? I said, nudge the process forward.
    Like, pressure; be a pain if I need to be a pain, which in some people's
    mind isn't all that hard. And they said, well, like--yesterday somebody
    said, well, are you disappointed? I arrived, and it nudged the process
    forward. In other words, we can help influence the process, and will.
    But the only lasting peace will be achieved when the duly elected
    leaders of the respective peoples do the hard work.
        And so I want to help. And I want to help in the region as well, Mr.
    President. The rest of my trip will be talking about, obviously,
    security threats, but also the opportunity to achieve peace. And the
    Arab world has got an opportunity and obligation, in my judgment, to
    help both parties in these negotiations move the process forward.
        I explained yesterday, and I just want to explain again today, there
    are three tracks to this process, as far as we're concerned. One is the
    negotiations to define a vision that will be subject to the roadmap.
        Secondly, is to resolve--help resolve roadmap issues. And today I
    introduced the President to the general--three-star Air Force
    general who will be running this
    process. We have agreed to a trilateral process and want to help the
    Israelis and the Palestinians resolve their differences over roadmap
    issues.
        And thirdly is to help the Palestinians develop the infrastructure
    necessary for a democracy, an economy, and security forces that are
    capable of doing what the President and the Prime Minister want to have done. And we're very much engaged. I'm
    looking forward to seeing Tony Blair tomorrow,
    who is the Quartet's representative, and to find out what he has been
    doing and what progress is being made.
        I am confident that with proper help a--the state of Palestine will
    emerge. And I'm confident that when it emerges, it will be a major step
    toward peace. I am confident that the status quo is unacceptable, Mr.
    President, and we want to help you. And I appreciate your vision, and I
    appreciate your courage, and I appreciate your hospitality, and I
    appreciate you giving me a chance to talk to the press, of course.
    [Laughter]
        A couple of questions, I understand.

    Palestinian Authority-Israel Security Situation/Israeli Settlements

        Q. Mr. President Abu Mazen, what are the results of your--this
    visit? Mr. President Bush, you said more than once that the Palestinian
    side must fulfill its obligations, and Mr. Fayyad has had a security

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    plan to help. And--[inaudible]--went to Annapolis, and he commended that
    security plan, and then Israel destroyed all those efforts in Annapolis.
    How can the Palestinian Authority do security efforts that are
    successful while Israel destroys and undermines all their efforts in the
    occupied territories?
        The other side of the question: Are you willing to give guarantees
    for the Palestinian side to declaring a freezing on settlements
    immediately? And thank you.
        President Abbas. We are fully satisfied with the outcome that we
    reached through this visit of Mr. President George Bush. We spoke about
    all topics that might occur to your mind and that might not occur to
    your mind as well. All the issues are in agreement. We are agreed on all
    topics. All topics are clear.
        In the near future, in the coming few days, we are going to
    bilateral negotiations with the Israelis in order to discuss the final
    status negotiations, final status issues. And as Mr. President said,
    there are three themes. The other theme is implementing the roadmap
    through the committee, the trilateral committee. And the third point is
    the economic and security conditions in Palestinian Territories. We have
    great hopes that during 2008 we will reach the final status and a peace
    treaty with Israel.
        President Bush. Each side has got obligations under the roadmap.
    Settlements are clearly stated in the roadmap obligations for Israel. We
    have made our concerns about expansion of settlements known, and we
    expect both parties to honor their obligations under the roadmap.
        Secondly, we're spending--General Dayton
    is spending a lot of time trying to help the President and the Prime
    Minister develop security forces that are
    effective. There's no question in my mind the commitment to provide
    security for the average citizen is strong. The question is the
    capabilities. And the truth of the matter is, there needs to be a fair
    amount of work done to make sure that the security forces are
    modernized, well trained, and prepared with a proper chain of command to
    respond. And I will tell you, I firmly believe the security forces are
    improving.
        I remember our visit in New York, and we discussed this during the
    U.N. General Assembly. And by any objective measurement, the Palestinian
    security forces in the West Bank are improving.
        And so my message to the Israelis is that they ought to help, not
    hinder, the modernization of the Palestinian security force. It's in
    their interests that a government dedicated to peace and understanding
    the need for two states to live side by side in peace have a modern
    force.
        It's got--very important for the Government to be able to assure
    people that if there is a need, there will be an effective force to
    provide security. That's just step one of having credibility with the
    people. And to the extent that Israeli actions have undermined the
    effectiveness of the Palestinian force or the authority of the state
    relative to the average citizen is something that we don't agree with
    and have made our position clear.
        Myers [Steven Lee Myers, New York Times], she just called on you.

    Palestinian Authority-Israel Security Situation/Palestinian State

        Q. [Inaudible]
        President Bush. No, that's the roadmap obligation I was talking
    about.
        Q. Mr. President, thank you. I understand you drove in today, and so
    I assume you passed through the security barrier on the way in----
        President Bush. Yes.
        Q. ----and President Abbas talked about some of the obstacles that
    confront Palestinians in their daily life. And I wonder if you could
    reflect on your own impression.
        President Bush. Yes. He's asking me about the checkpoints I drove
    through and what--my impression about what it was like

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    to drive through checkpoints. I can understand why the Palestinians are
    frustrated driving through checkpoints. I can also understand that until
    confidence is gained on both sides, why the Israelis would want there to
    be a sense of security. In other words, they don't want a state on their
    border from which attacks would be launched. I can understand that. Any
    reasonable person can understand that. Why would you work to have a
    state on your border if you weren't confident they'd be a partner in
    peace?
        And so checkpoints create frustrations for people. They create a
    sense of security for Israel; they create massive frustrations for the
    Palestinians. You'll be happy to hear that my motorcade of a mere 45
    cars was able to make it through without being stopped. But--
    [laughter]--I'm not so exactly sure that's what happens to the average
    person. And so the whole object is to create a state that is capable of
    defending itself internally and giving confidence to its neighbor that
    checkpoints won't be needed.
        Now, the vision of the Palestinian state is one of contiguous
    territory. In other words, as I said earlier in my administration, I
    said, Swiss cheese isn't going to work when it comes to the outline of a
    state. And I mean that. There is no way that this good man can assure
    the Palestinians of a hopeful future if there's not contiguous
    territory. And we--that position is abundantly clear to both sides.
    Therefore, the ultimate vision, of course, is there be no checkpoints
    throughout the Palestinian state-to-be.
        And you know, this is the issue. We're working through how to gain
    enough confidence on both sides so that checkpoints won't be necessary
    and a state can emerge. My judgment is, I can understand frustrations. I
    mean, I hear it a lot. I heard it but--you know, the chief negotiator
    spent 2 hours at a checkpoint. All he was trying to do was go negotiate.
    And I can see that--I can see the frustrations. Look, I also understand
    that people in Israel--and the truth of the matter is, in the
    Palestinian Territories, the average citizen wants to know whether or
    not there's going to be protection from the violent few who murder.
        The security of a state is essential, particularly in a day and age
    when people simply disregard the value of human life and kill. And so
    these checkpoints reflect the reality, Myers. And what we're trying to
    do is alter the reality by laying out a vision that is much more hopeful
    than the status quo.
        Question.

    Middle East Peace Process/Israeli Settlements

        Q. [Inaudible]--Mr. President George W. Bush, you lead the
    superpower in this world. You launched war against Iraq after the Iraqi
    leadership refused to implement the United Nations resolutions. My
    question now is, what the problem to ask Israel just to accept and to
    respect the United Nations resolutions relating to the Palestinian
    problem, which--[inaudible]--facilitating the achievement of ending the
    Israeli occupation to the Arab territories and--[inaudible]--
    facilitating also the solution between Palestinians and the Israelis?
        And for Mahmoud Abbas, did you ask President George Bush to ask
    Israel to freeze settlements fully in order to enable negotiations from
    success?
        President Bush. Yes, but tell me the part about the U.N. thing
    again? What were you--I couldn't understand you very well.
        Q. I just asked, why you ask Israel to accept the United Nations
    resolutions related to the Palestinian problem just to facilitate the
    solution and to end the occupation?
        President Bush. Yes, actually, I'm asking Israel to negotiate in
    good faith with an elected leader of the Palestinian Territory to come
    up with a permanent solution that--look, the U.N. deal didn't work in
    the past. And so now we're going to have

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    an opportunity to redefine the future by having a state negotiated
    between an elected leader of the Palestinian people as well as the Prime
    Minister of Israel. This is an opportunity to
    move forward. And the only way for--the only way to defeat the
    terrorists in the long run is to offer an alternative vision that is
    more hopeful. And that's what we're attempting to do, sir.
        We can stay stuck in the past, which will yield nothing good for the
    Palestinians, in my judgment. We can chart a hopeful future, and that's
    exactly what this process is intending to do: to redefine the future for
    the Palestinian citizens and the Israelis.
        I am confident that two democratic states living side by side in
    peace is in the interests not only of the Palestinians and the Israelis
    but of the world. The question is whether or not the hard issues can be
    resolved and the vision emerges so that the choice is clear amongst the
    Palestinians, the choice being, do you want this state, or do you want
    the status quo? Do you want a future based upon a democratic state, or
    do you want the same old stuff? And that's a choice that I'm confident
    if the Palestinian people are given, they will choose peace.
        And so that's what we're trying to do, sir.
        President Abbas. The settlement for us is considered an obstacle for
    negotiations. And we have spoke more than once with the--Mr. Prime
    Minister Olmert very frankly. And we also spoke in this meeting with
    President George Bush, and consequently, the President understood this
    issue. And we have heard the statements given by the Secretary of State,
    Dr. Rice, and she had her point of view regarding settlements was very
    positive.

    Gaza/Hamas

        Q. Good morning. President Bush, Prime Minister Olmert said that
    peace is unlikely as long as Gaza militants continue their attacks on
    Israel. How do you see President Abbas getting control of Gaza?
        And you, Mr. President Abbas, how do you intend, actually, to get
    control of Gaza, and do you think this is feasible by the end of the
    year and by--at the end of Mr. Bush Presidency?
        President Bush. First of all, Gaza is a tough situation. I don't
    know whether you can solve it in a year or not. But I know this: It
    can't be solved unless the Prime Minister--the President has a vision
    that he can lay out to the people of Gaza that says, here's your choice:
    Do you want those who have created chaos to run your country, or do you
    want those of us who negotiated a settlement with the Israelis that will
    lead for lasting peace?
        There is a competing vision taking place in Gaza. And in my
    judgment, Hamas, which I felt ran on a campaign of, we're going to
    improve your lives through better education and better health, have
    delivered nothing but misery. And I'm convinced his Government will
    yield a hopeful future. And the best way to make that abundantly clear
    is for there to be a vision that's understandable.
        See, the past has just been empty words, you know. We've--actually,
    it hasn't been that much--I'm the only President that's really
    articulated a two-state solution so far. But saying two states really
    doesn't have much bearing until borders are defined, right of return
    issues resolved, there's--Jerusalem is understood, the security
    measures--the common security measures will be in place. That's what I'm
    talking about. I'm talking about a clear, defined state around which
    people can rally.
        And there's going to be no--there will be no better difference, a
    clearer difference, than the vision of Hamas in Gaza and the vision of
    the President and the Prime Minister and his
    team based here in Ramallah. And to me, that's how you solve the issue
    in the long term. And the definition of long term, I don't know what it
    means. I'm not a timetable person. Actually, I am on a timetable; I've
    got 12 months. [Laughter] But it's--I'm impressed

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    by the President's understanding about how a vision and a hopeful future
    is--will help clearly define the stakes amongst the Palestinian people.
        President Abbas. Gaza is considered a coup by us; we consider it a
    coup d'etat, what happened in Gaza.

    [A call to prayer could be heard in the background.]

        President Abbas. Now with a call to prayer--we consider it a coup
    d'etat. [Laughter] And we deal with Gaza at two levels. The first is
    that we deal with the people as part of us, and we take full
    responsibility that is necessary towards our people. We spend in Gaza 58
    percent of our budget. This is not to--it is our duty towards our people
    that we provide them with all they need.
        As for the issue of Hamas, we said that this is a coup, and they
    have to retreat from this coup, and they have to recognize international
    legitimacy, all international legitimacy, and to recognize the Arab
    Peace Initiative as well. In this case, we can--we will have another
    talk.
        President Bush. Thank you all.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:12 a.m. at the Muqata.
    In his remarks, the President referred to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of
    Israel; Lt. Gen. William M. Fraser III, USAF, U.S. monitor of the
    Israeli-Palestinian roadmap peace plan; Lt. Gen. Keith W. Dayton, USA,
    U.S. security coordinator to Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and
    former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, Quartet
    Representative in the Middle East. A reporter referred to Prime Minister
    Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority. President Abbas and some
    reporters spoke in Arabic, and their remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.