[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Pages 2169-2174]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Peres

December 11, 1995

    The President. Please be seated.
    Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Peres back 
to the White House. For as along as there has been a prospect of peace 
in the Middle East, Shimon Peres has stood at the forefront, striving to 
bring a new day of security and harmony to the people of Israel and to 
all the people of the region.
    From his early years as one of the architects of Israel's defense, 
he has devoted himself to ensuring the security of his Nation. And from 
his first term as Prime Minister in the mid-1980's, through the 
negotiations that led to the signing here of the Declaration of 
Principles with the Palestinians, to the peace of the Araba with Jordan, 
to the interim accord ceremony just 2\1/2\ months ago, Shimon Peres has 
been a visionary for peace. He has seen the way. He has been a leader on 
the path to peace. And time and again he has been proven right.
    One of the very last things Yitzhak Rabin said was that Shimon Peres 
was his full partner in forging peace. With those words and the memory 
of my friend in mind, let me renew now the pledge I first made to Prime 
Minister Rabin at the beginning of my Presidency.
    Mr. Prime Minister, as Israel continues to take risks for a lasting 
and comprehensive peace, the United States will stand with you to 
minimize those risks and to ensure your success. And I pledge to you 
personally, Shimon, that I will be your partner in peace.
    Until an assassin's bullet cut short his life, Prime Minister Rabin 
rose time and again to the challenges of peace. The United States knows 
that, just as he has in the past, Prime Minister Peres will do so as 
well. It is a measure of how much has changed in the Middle East that on 
his journey here the Prime Minister met with King Hussein, President 
Mubarak, and Chairman Arafat, and that on his trip home he will visit 
with King Hussein of Morocco.
    I have been especially encouraged to hear the Prime Minister talk 
about the progress in redeploying Israeli forces. He reviewed for me his 
meeting with Chairman Arafat, who reaffirmed his commitment to building 
upon and implementing the Declaration of Principles and the interim 
agreement.
    The key to a lasting settlement in the Middle East is achieving 
peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. Today, Prime 
Minister Peres and I agreed to redouble our efforts to achieve these 
goals. We agree that to close the circle of peace it will take more 
intensive and more practical negotiations. Each side will need to make a 
greater effort to take account of the others concerns. The United States 
stands ready to help to bring the parties together and to work with them 
in the negotiations. Peace is our mission. And the Prime Minister and I 
are determined that nothing--nothing--will deter us from this task in 
the weeks and the months ahead.
    Today, I have also spoken with President Asad of Syria about our 
talks here in Washington. President Asad told me he was committed to do 
his best to move the peace process forward and to reach an early 
agreement between Syria and Israel. He also agree to my proposal that 
Secretary Christopher travel to the region next week to consult with him 
on the next steps we will take together.
    We, of course, recognize that the differences will not disappear 
immediately.

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Great hurdles must be overcome. But an Israel-Syria settlement is worth 
our every effort. It would end the Arab-Israeli conflict. It would 
establish a comprehensive peace. It could transform the face of the 
entire Middle East and the lives of all its inhabitants.
    That was Yitzhak Rabin's dream. Here at the White House, that 
soldier of peace said, ``enough of blood and tears.'' The United States 
is heartened that Shimon Peres will carry on. And together, we will work 
to fulfill Yitzhak Rabin's legacy.
    Mr. Prime Minister, as you go forward, the United States will go 
with you and proudly.
    Prime Minister Peres. Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Mr. 
Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen. Let me say from my heart that 
we are so moved by the American participation in our great sadness when 
Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. Mr. President, you have led a 
most unusual delegation that moved our heart. The President himself, two 
former Presidents, the Secretary of State, two former Secretaries, the 
leaders of the Senate, of the House of Representatives, and important--
of journalists, of leaders. There was greatness in the sadness as Prime 
Minister Rabin was assassinated because he was right, not because he was 
wrong.
    And may I say, ladies and gentlemen, that President Clinton did 
something most unusual. He has added an expression to the Israeli 
dictionary: Shalom, chaver. It is a very unusual combination. And for 
ones who don't understand Hebrew, let me say, the Russians are saying, 
``a comrade,'' which I don't know exactly what it is; the Americans are 
saying ``a friend,'' which I understand what it is; but the Israelis are 
saying ``chaver,'' which means togetherness. And since the President has 
used this word, we feel more together. We feel that we have an enriched 
dictionary among ourselves and between the United States of America and 
us. Believe me, I speak on behalf of all the Israelis for this 
enrichment of expression and feelings.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President----
    Prime Minister Peres: No, I--[laughter]. Don't discriminate the 
Israeli part. [Laughter]
    So I should really start by saying, Shalom, chaver. These, your 
farewell words to Prime Minister Rabin echoed throughout our land. The 
people of Israel will never forget your moving demonstration of 
solidarity in a moment of grief, of shock, of disbelief and 
determination. For us, you're a leader; you're a friend.
    I stand beside you, Mr. President, in the footsteps of my partner, a 
great captain of peace, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Together with 
you--and I know how much he trusted you--we scaled the trail from the 
depths of hostility to the highlands of promising peace. Indeed, 
together, we shall stay the course and, with firm resolve, reach a 
destiny of lasting and a secure peace. A peace for the whole of the 
Middle East--Arabs and Jews, Jews and Arabs--this was Yitzhak Rabin's 
quest. It is my commitment.
    Your leadership and devotion to the cause of peace are manifestly 
clear to Israel and to its neighbors as well. This is a constant 
direction, not a point of passing. May I say that as Bosnia reeled in 
agony, you offered a compass and a lamp to a confused situation, ending 
blood, offering hope, like in the Middle East. It is time to put an end 
to the Arab-Israeli conflict. With you, Mr. President, in the forefront, 
by our side, it may become possible, as it did in the past, bringing 
thereby peace, security, and prosperity to all people. Prophecy may meet 
reality again and again.
    Since your Presidency and through our partnership, the Middle East 
has already undergone an unbelievable change. Here at the White House on 
September 13, 1993, we came to grips with the heart of the problem. The 
Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles created a roadmap by means 
of which the Palestinians, alongside Israel, are becoming masters of 
their destinies. Palestinian elections are a new promise that reflects 
the interaction between peace and democracy. Nothing is a better 
guarantee for peace than democracy.
    Israel and Jordan are displaying its fruits day-in and day-out. A 
barren, rift valley is pregnant with new prospects. Peace with Egypt 
remains a cornerstone of the peace process for, by it, regional war is 
no longer the justification of policies that leaves lands deserted 
rather than flourishing.
    Today we seek an opening of a new, maybe a final, chapter: the end 
of war in the Middle

[[Page 2171]]

East in its totality. Peace between Syria, and between Lebanon and 
Israel will leave no reason whatsoever for the continuation of 
belligerency. Syria, together with us, stands in a unique position to 
contribute to a peaceful Middle East. The conflict between us has been 
bitter, complicated. The land that gave birth to prophecy can now give 
birth to yet a new vision.
    President Asad and myself can, with the assistance of your 
leadership, Mr. President, and the assistance of your administration and 
Congress, build a new equation of genuine peace and security to end 
terror, to begin a market economy. I speak of boundaries of permanent 
peace. I speak of lands of new and great opportunity. Peace between us 
must indeed put an end to the conflict that has mired our region for so 
long. The President, the Secretary of State, and their peace team will 
continue to create with us the architecture for peace in the region. We 
welcome you.
    Today I discussed the possible new opportunity with President 
Clinton. I find a warmth and an openness in our discussion, and I am 
very grateful. Mr. President, we are proud to be partners with you in 
working to make this prospect become a reality. It is my hope that 
President Asad will join us soon on this historic journey.
    To my fellow Israelis, I can say we have in you, Mr. President, a 
true friend and a true partner. There is no time now for political 
vacation. We don't intend to rest. We intend to continue the momentum, 
full-speed ahead, in the name of all Israelis. And I think all Israelis, 
they'll tell you, Mr. President, toda, chaver, thank you, chaver.

Israel-U.S. Space-Based Experiments

    The President. Thank you.
    Let me make one brief comment, and then I will take questions, as 
will the Prime Minister.
    As part of our effort to support Israel's advances in science and 
technology, I have today agreed with Prime Minister Peres to proceed 
with space-based experiments in sustainable water use and environmental 
protection. These experiments will take place in unmanned space 
vehicles, in the shuttle program and in the international space station. 
And as a part of this effort, we will also train Israeli astronauts to 
participate in these programs. We look forward to working out the 
arrangements for this cooperation, and we are absolutely certain that it 
will benefit Israel's high-tech development as well as our own.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan 
are critical to the Middle East peace process. Yet none of these are 
true democracies, and all of them are now showing serious signs of 
internal dissent, even violent dissent. At what point does the firm U.S. 
backing of such non-democratic governments become counterproductive?
    The President. Well, first of all, those countries have to work out 
their internal affairs for themselves. But as long as they are 
responsible actors on the international stage and as long as they are 
contributing to the peace process in the Middle East, we will consider 
them our partners for peace in the Middle East. That's the first and 
most important thing: How do they conduct themselves, and are they 
supportive of the peace process?
    Q. Mr. President, you have just managed to successfully bring three 
sides together in Dayton, Ohio. Is it the time to use Camp David--model 
in the Middle East and bring President Asad and Prime Minister Peres 
together to this country? And if not, did you hear any new ideas from 
Prime Minister Shimon Peres? Thank you.
    The President. Well, yes, Prime Minister Peres had some very good 
ideas which we shared together and which I think will form the basis of 
further action. At some point, I think the leaders of countries that are 
interested in peace have to meet--leaders have to meet and work together 
and work their problems out. But I think that will come in time.
    Keep in mind, we worked quite a long time on peace in the Middle 
East--I mean, in Bosnia--before the parties came together at Dayton. So 
that will come, I think.

Balkan Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, on the Bosnia issue, since the accord, Bosnian 
Croats have reportedly burned a village, two French pilots are

[[Page 2172]]

still captive, a number of cease-fire violations have occurred. It 
remains so unstable there. Why should the American people have any 
confidence that our troops will be safe there?
    The President. First of all, I don't think it remains so unstable 
there. I think, basically, you--in some ways you made the case. It has 
not been a perfect observation of the agreement, but basically the 
agreement they made has been observed. There has not been a resumption 
of hostilities.
    There are some rough edges there, which is why NATO and others who 
are cooperating with us were asked to come in and help to separate the 
forces--supervise the separation of the forces--the transfer of land, 
the redeployment of forces out of land which they no longer are 
responsible for, and then to maintain a secure environment while the 
agreement is implemented.
    And I see no reason to believe, based on the evidence so far, that 
all the parties who signed the agreement are not fully committed to 
implementing it. In fact, over the weekend we received some more 
encouraging comments from some of the Serb leaders about being committed 
to the end of the war and the implementation of the agreement.
    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, do you feel----
    Prime Minister Peres. You know, gentleman, Bosnia is Muslim, and 
Israel is Jewish. Yet, this is not the right distinction when it comes 
to politics in my eyes. The distinction is between aggressors and 
defenders. And I salute the United States of America to try to put an 
end to aggression and really help the people that were attacked to 
survive and not to suffer any longer.
    Thank you.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, do you feel now that the chances for peace between 
Israel and Syria are better than they were one month or two months ago?
    The President. Yes.
    Q. And is this the impression that you informed today to Mr. Peres?
    The President. That is the impression I have today, yes.
    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, did you review to President Clinton your 
readiness to withdraw from Golan Heights as part of the peace agreement 
with Syria?
    Prime Minister Peres. You cannot pin on a single issue. We are 
talking about the Syrian-Israeli peace process in its totality, and I 
have revealed the totality.
    Q. Yes, but as one of the----
    Prime Minister Peres. I understand what you--the answer you are 
seeking, and that's the answer I am having. [Laughter]
    Q. Mr. President, do you know the price that Israel is ready to pay 
for peace with Syria? Are you going to transfer this information to 
President Asad? And are you maybe considering a visit in the Middle 
East, in Damascus and Jerusalem?
    The President. Well, first of all, the Secretary of State will 
communicate to President Asad the essential elements of my meeting with 
the Prime Minister, as agreed upon between the Prime Minister and 
myself.
    But I would just reiterate something that he said. I think the most 
important thing is not what any particular issue is, but I think that 
the atmosphere is better than it was before--as the previous questioner 
asked--and very frankly, as sad as it is to say, I think the Syrian 
leader and the Syrian people now see the exceptional price that former 
Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister Peres have been willing to pay 
in their search for peace.
    I think that is the fundamental new reality here. I don't think any 
of the details matter nearly as much as that fundamental new reality, 
because, in the end, in any peace agreement, the parties have to have 
two things. One is, a certain level of trust that the people actually, 
on either side, intend to go forward with the agreements they have made 
because it's in their interest and because they can be believed. And the 
second is a certain system of observing the implementation of that 
trust. That's more important than all the details. So that is, I think, 
the central new reality.

Balkan Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, you've talked about Bosnia a little bit. You still 
have not gotten the congressional approval you expect. You are about to 
head off to Paris to sign a commitment. Are you going to send U.S. 
troops if you don't get that approval from Congress

[[Page 2173]]

in regards to the timetable you want for sending the troops over there?
    The President. First of all, I believe that we will secure that 
approval. I believe that Congress will support the troops. I had a good 
talk yesterday with Senator Dole and with Speaker Gingrich, and I know 
that we have these congressional delegations that have been to Bosnia 
that are coming back; I think two more are coming back. And I believe 
when it is all debated and all said and done in the next few days that 
the Congress will find a way to express their support for our troops. 
That's what I believe will happen.
    Q. Will you send them anyway, sir?

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, if you could tell us, do you see in the context of 
a peace agreement with Syria the need for a formal defense alliance with 
Israel, an upgrading of security--of the secure relationship. To follow 
up on that, also, if something would go wrong on Bosnia, do you see how 
that could affect this whole idea of U.S. troops on the Golan Heights? 
Thank you very much.
    The President. Well, first let me say that the United States has not 
been asked in any negotiations by either party to put troops on the 
Golan as of this time. We have not been asked.
    Secondly, if one thing should be clear to the entire world in the 
history of the last several years, it is that the security of Israel is 
terribly important to the United States. We have made an explicit policy 
commitment which has been carried through under Presidents of both 
parties to maintain the qualitative and technological edge that Israel 
needs to guarantee its security in an atmosphere that has been far more 
hostile than it is even today.
    And so I think you can, as we go forward here, you can be assured 
that the security of Israel in going to be one of the main pillars of 
America's defense commitments and one of the main things we will be 
concerned about as we move through the peace process.

Captured French Pilots and the Jonathan Pollard Espionage Case

    Q. Mr. President, one question directed specifically towards you. 
Can you update us on the possible release of the two French pilots in, 
presumably in Serbian control, and whether or not that issue could 
derail the peace agreement signing on Thursday in Paris? And question to 
both of you on, unrelated, did you have a chance to discuss the Jonathan 
Pollard spy case now that he has been granted Israeli citizenship, and 
did the Prime Minister ask you to release Pollard?
    The President. You got a lot in there in a little time. [Laughter]
    Very briefly, I wish I could tell you more about the French pilots. 
I can tell you this, that we are in very close touch with the French. 
They are working very, very hard on this. I have no factual update for 
you. They are working it very hard, and they expect the peace signing to 
go forward on time.
    With regard to Mr. Pollard, the Prime Minister mentioned it to me 
and gave me a letter setting forth his position on it. As you know, Mr. 
Pollard came up once before, I think in early 1994. If he requests 
executive clemency, I will, of course, review that request, as I would 
anyone who requested it. But he has to make a request, and it has to 
come through the ordinary channels before I can do that.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, the Palestinian Authority is holding elections 
next month. I would like to ask you, how do you assess the performance 
of the Palestinian Authority and the performance of Yasser Arafat 
leading to the Palestinian elections? And when are you planning to visit 
the Palestinian Authority as well as the rest of the Middle East? I 
asked you this before; I would like to know if you are going to make 
another trip?
    And for Mr. Prime Minister, I just want to--[laughter].
    The President. You went to the Wolf Blitzer [Cable News Network] 
school of journalism, I think. [Laughter] No, go ahead, please.

[[Page 2174]]

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I just want to wish you the great success in 
your performing your duties in this very crucial time in Israel and the 
Middle East. While I'm wishing you this, I would like very much to ask 
you, Mr. Prime Minister, to release the Palestinian----
    Prime Minister Peres. Be careful with your timing.
    Q.--to release the Palestinian prisoners as soon as possible so they 
will go back to their families and we will really have peace in the 
region, especially in the Authority. Thank you.
    The President. Let me say, first of all, about the elections, I 
expect them to go forward; I expect them to be successful; I expect them 
to be held in a way that is generally applauded for their integrity. And 
I expect to go back to the Middle East at an appropriate time, but I 
don't have a trip scheduled. I think I'd like it to be in the context of 
another advance for the cause of peace. And that's where we are.
    Prime Minister Peres. Before Christmas, 450 villages in the West 
Bank and all the major cities, as well as Gaza and Jericho, will be 
under the rule of the Palestinians for the first time in history. Israel 
has implemented one of our greatest moral promises: not to rule another 
people. Believe me, it makes us content and complete by doing so.
    Part of the agreement was to release another thousand prisoners 
before the elections. I hope we shall release a little bit more than 
that but for the people that have blood stains on their hands. Until 
now, we kept every promise, every word. We were ahead of time. And I 
thought the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin puts an extra 
responsibility upon me to really do everything true to the commitment.
    The President. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Note: The President's 110th news conference began at 1:14 p.m. in Room 
450 of the Old Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to 
King Hussein of Jordan, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Chairman 
Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and President 
Hafiz al-Asad of Syria..