[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 45 (Monday, November 15, 1993)]
[Page 2332]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Yitzhak 
Rabin of Israel

 November 12, 1993

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, are you considering a stop in the Middle East 
during your Europe trip in January to help the momentum of the Middle 
East peace process?

    The President. The Prime Minister and I are going to talk about what 
we can do to keep this going, but that's not one of the things that's 
been raised so far by anyone.


[At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group 
entered.]

    Q. President Clinton, is King Hussein strong enough to make peace 
with Israel before President Asad?

    The President. I think he's in a good position to proceed now. And 
of course, we all have come out for a process that will lead to 
comprehensive peace in the Middle East. But I think King Hussein 
obviously wants peace, and the recent elections must surely encourage 
him. I think the people of Jordan want peace.

    Q. Do you think there's a chance to reach any progress with the 
Syrians?

    The President. I hope so. We're going to discuss that today and a 
number of other issues. Over the long run, I think we'll have to make 
progress with everyone.

PLO Terrorism

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, what's your comment on the involvement of PLO 
people in the kidnaping and killing of an Israeli?

    Prime Minister Rabin. We consider it as a great and dangerous 
violation of the commitment of the PLO. In the letter that was signed by 
the chairman of the PLO to me, he committed himself to renounce and 
reject terrorism. Keeping commitments is the basis for the advancement 
towards peace. We'll keep our commitments; we demand them to keep their 
commitments and to come up openly in renouncing and taking the 
disciplined measures to which he is committed, as it is written in the 
letter that he signed and sent to me.

Note: The exchange began at 10:41 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.