    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [January 2, 2009]
    [Pages 1512-1513]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    January 2, 2009

        Good morning. Over the past week, I have been monitoring the
    situation in the Middle East closely with the members of my national
    security team. Secretary Rice is actively
    engaged in diplomacy, and I've been in contact with leaders throughout
    the region, including the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt,
    the President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, and the Prime Minister
    of Israel.
        This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas, a
    Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for
    Israel's destruction. Eighteen months ago, Hamas took over the Gaza
    Strip in a coup, and since then has imported thousands of guns and
    rockets and mortars. Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Hamas and
    Israel, but Hamas routinely violated that cease-fire by launching
    rockets into Israel. On December 19, Hamas announced an end to the
    cease-fire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that
    deliberately targeted innocent Israelis, an act of terror that is
    opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President
    Abbas.
        In response to these attacks on their people, the leaders of Israel
    have launched military operations on Hamas positions in Gaza. As a part
    of their strategy, Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian
    population, which puts innocent Palestinians at risk. Regrettably,
    Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days.
        The United States is deeply concerned about the humanitarian
    situation facing the Palestinian people. Since Hamas's violent takeover
    in the summer of 2007, living conditions have worsened for Palestinians
    in Gaza. By spending its resources on rocket launchers instead of roads
    and schools, Hamas has demonstrated that it has no intention of serving
    the Palestinian people. America has helped by providing tens of millions
    of dollars in humanitarian aid, and this week we contributed an
    additional $85 million through the United Nations. We have consistently
    called on all in the region to ensure that assistance reaches those in
    need. And as I told President Mubarak,
    America appreciates the role Egypt has played in facilitating the
    delivery of relief supplies in recent days.
        In addition to reducing humanitarian suffering, all nations must
    work toward a lasting end to the violence in the Holy Land and a return
    to the path of peace. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to
    achieve a meaningful cease-fire that is fully respected. Another one-way
    cease-fire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And
    promises from Hamas will not suffice; there must be monitoring
    mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to
    terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end. I urge all parties to pressure
    Hamas to turn away from terror and to support legitimate Palestinian
    leaders working for peace.
        In the days ahead, the United States will stay closely engaged with
    our partners in the region, in Europe, and in the international
    community. My administration will continue to keep the President-
    elect and his team informed. And America's
    objectives in the Middle East will remain clear: We seek security and
    peace for our allies, the free people of Israel. For the Palestinian
    people, we seek a peaceful and democratic Palestinian state that serves
    its citizens and respects its neighbors. For all in the region, we seek
    an end to terror. And we seek an enduring peace based on justice,
    dignity, and human rights for every person in every nation of the Middle
    East.
        Thank you for listening.

    [[Page 1513]]

    Note: The address was recorded at 10 a.m. on January 2 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January 3. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 2. In his address, the President referred to King Abdallah bin
    Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah II of Jordan;
    President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; President Mahmoud Abbas and
    Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority; Prime Minister
    Ehud Olmert of Israel; and President-elect Barack Obama. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.