    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 9, 2008]
    [Pages 47-49]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Shimon Peres of Israel in Jerusalem, Israel
    January 9, 2008

        President Peres. Mr. President, distinguished guests: As the
    President of the state, I am delighted to speak on behalf of our people.
    I want to tell you in simple language, you came to a land and a people

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    that loves deeply the United States of America, and without any
    reservation.
        And also, may I say that I have the highest respect for you----
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        President Peres. ----and the highest regard, because, speaking as a
    politician, you have introduced character in politics. It's a great
    contribution to politics--character, courage, vision. And I'm thinking
    about the last few years; you did really three things of importance:
    your address in 2002, which for the first time established the basis for
    a solution and the basis for a consensus in the Arab countries and the
    rest of--the two-state solution.
        Then you and the Secretary worked very hard in Annapolis, in spite
    of all the skeptics around. Finally, Annapolis gave us one thing, at
    least: a year to work and make progress.
        President Bush. Yes, sir.
        President Peres. And time is so precious. Dare I say that, firstly,
    I believe it won't be the last year, but it may be the best year for
    peace. God knows what can happen later on; we'll have to take it
    extremely seriously.
        And I also believe that the process may be slow, but the progress
    can be sweet. The process will be slow because negotiations by character
    calls for time between the opening positions and the fallback positions.
    You argue. You argue; you have to wait for them. But in the meantime,
    you can build a support for the negotiation that can make it realistic,
    tangible. I'm referring to economy; it can raise the standard of the
    life of the people. That will help immensely the Arabs, the
    Palestinians, Abu Mazen, nothing more than an economic--[inaudible]--
    advance, and also the security arrangements, which are also possible.
        About the economy, may I say, it can be done very quickly because
    things are ready, and that will have the most profound impact upon all
    people around. And I would like to add also that while the political
    side is controversial in our country, economic is a win-win situation.
    It is accepted by the whole Parliament; it is accepted by the Arabs; it
    is accepted by you and the Europeans. And you can really build a
    constructive coalition with the Europeans on that issue under your
    leadership.
        We take your visit not as a ceremonial occasion--very powerful--but
    a third opening after the two states, after the year of Annapolis, and
    now the year to implement the highest and the greatest hopes we have. It
    is in this spirit that I welcome you so much.
        President Bush. Thank you. Mr. President, thank you for your kind
    words about me. I'm just following your example. [Laughter]
        President Peres. Be careful. [Laughter]
        Q. Ten years to follow.
        President Bush. I wouldn't say that. [Laughter]
        You're well known in my country, and you're well respected. And so I
    bring the respect of America not only to you but to the people of
    Israel. Secondly, I come as an optimistic person and a realistic
    person--realistic in my understanding that it's vital for the world to
    fight terrorists, to confront those who would murder the innocent to
    achieve political objectives. We've been called to this task in the
    past. World War II was such a time, when the world was called to fight
    people who murdered the innocent to achieve a dark political vision.
        Here in the 21st century, America knows firsthand, just like Israel
    knows firsthand, what it's like to confront those who would murder
    innocent men, women, and children in order to achieve a political
    objective. And this war, Mr. President, goes on not only in this part of
    the world, but it goes on in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon; it goes
    on in capitals in Europe. And we must be steadfast in confronting it.
        Secondly, the best way to defeat an ideology of hate is with an
    ideology of hope. And so I come to Israel as a man who

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    believes strongly in liberty and the power of democracy and freedom to
    be transformative. And your country has shown that to the world. Israel
    is a thriving democracy, and its politics can be rough sometimes, just
    like the politics of America can be rough.
        President Peres. [Inaudible]--the Israeli. [Laughter]
        President Bush. Yes. Well, we share a common vision, though, of
    peace. I come with high hopes. And the role of the United States will be
    to foster a vision of peace. The role of the Israeli leadership and the
    Palestinian leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define
    a vision. And so I thank you for your hospitality. I've really been
    looking forward to this trip, and it's such an honor to be in your
    presence, sir.
        President Peres. Thank you very much. We met, actually, the first
    time in 1990----
        President Bush.  That's right.
        President Peres. ----the young American President on his ship.
        President Bush. That's exactly right.
        President Peres. And since then, we are sailing.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:12 p.m. at the President's Residence.
    President Peres referred to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; and
    President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority. A
    portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was
    incomplete.