[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.