[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 29 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Pages 1406-1412]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Ehud Barak
of Israel

July 19, 1999

    President Clinton. Good afternoon. Please be seated. Prime Minister 
Barak and I have had a very good series of meetings over the past few 
days. Of course, we have focused primarily on the Middle East peace 
process. We strongly agree that a negotiated peace is the best way to 
make Israel more secure, the best path to lasting stability and 
prosperity for all the peoples of the Middle East.
    The Prime Minister is determined to accelerate that process, to 
reach with Chairman Arafat a permanent status agreement between Israel 
and the Palestinian people, and to achieve a broader regional peace that 
includes Syria and Lebanon. As he has said, the objective now is to put 
the peace process back on all its tracks.
    But we should have no illusions. The way ahead will be difficult. 
There are hard decisions to be made. Knowing his long record of 
accomplishment, both as soldier and civilian, and having spent a good 
deal of time with him these past few days, I believe the Prime Minister 
is ready to move forward decisively. And America is clearly ready to 
help in any way we can. As Israel takes calculated risks for peace, we 
will continue to support Israel's defense.
    Today we have agreed to strengthen our security assistance to Israel 
so Israel can best meet the threats to its citizens, including terrorism 
and the growing threat of long-range missiles and weapons of mass 
destruction. We've also agreed to establish a high-level joint planning 
group to consult on security issues and to report back regularly to the 
Prime Minister and to me personally.

[[Page 1407]]

    I intend to work closely with our Congress for expedited approval of 
a package that includes not only aid to Israel but also assistance to 
the Palestinian people and Jordan in the context of implementing the Wye 
River agreement. Making Israel stronger and making Palestinians and 
Jordanians more secure and more prosperous--all these are crucial to 
building a just and lasting peace in the region.
    Finally, I want to announce that America and Israel will be taking 
our partnership to new heights, literally. As part of an effort to 
enhance our scientific cooperation, we will create a working group 
between NASA and the Israel Space Agency to advance scientific research, 
educational activities, and the peaceful uses of space. And an Israeli 
astronaut and a payload of Israeli instruments will fly on a space 
shuttle mission next year.
    All these efforts will strengthen the bonds between our two 
democracies. They will help us to build a better future together. I am 
proud that Prime Minister Barak is my partner in this work. I look 
forward to seeing him again soon.
    Mr. Prime Minister, the floor is yours.
    Prime Minister Barak. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen. President 
Clinton and I have just concluded the last in our series of meetings. 
Those meetings were held in an atmosphere of deep friendship and 
understanding that characterizes the bilateral relationship between 
Israel and the United States.
    Our policy is based on the following: We are committed to the 
renewal of the peace process. It is our intention to move the process 
forward simultaneously on all tracks--bilateral, the Palestinian, the 
Syrians, and the Lebanese, as well as the multilateral. We will leave no 
stone unturned in our efforts to reinvigorate the process, which must be 
based upon direct talks between the parties themselves and conducted in 
an atmosphere of mutual trust.
    Any unilateral steps, acts or threats of terrorism, violence, or 
other forms of aggression have no place in a process of peace. The peace 
we seek to establish is only the one that will enhance the security of 
Israel. Only a strong and secure Israel is capable of making the 
difficult choices that the process requires.
    I will not shy away from those difficult choices, but I have 
responsibility to the people of Israel to do all that I possibly can to 
minimize the risks and dangers involved. From here, I call upon our Arab 
partners and their leaders to embark with us together on this historic 
journey, which requires tough choices from all parties.
    Mr. President, Israel and America share a unique friendship and a 
very special partnership. Our relationship is built upon common values, 
shared interests, and a mutual vision as to the future of the region. A 
strong Israeli-American relationship must be the cornerstone on which to 
build a peaceful Middle East. Mr. President, the road ahead may be long 
and arduous, but together with our peace partners, we can and will make 
it happen.
    We know, Mr. President, that in the pursuit of this sacred mission, 
a mission of peace, we can count on your wisdom, experience, good 
advice, and continued support all along the road.
    For Nava and for myself, thank you again for your warm hospitality 
accorded us throughout our visit and for your consistent friendship and 
support.
    Thank you.
    President Clinton. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Prime Minister has 
committed himself to implementing the West Bank pull-back agreed upon at 
Wye River. You just talked about accelerating the peace process. 
Realistically speaking, looking ahead, how long before the final status 
talks get underway on the tough issues like Jerusalem, the Palestinian 
hopes for a homeland, refugees? And what specific steps can the United 
States do to facilitate this process? Maybe if each of you could address 
those.
    President Clinton. Well, first of all, the United States will 
continue to do what it has done all along. I believe that we should be 
prepared to support a final status agreement in the way we have 
supported all these other agreements, going all the way back to Camp

[[Page 1408]]

David and through those that have been reached during my tenure. We 
should support the security of Israel, the stability of the region, the 
economic development of the region. And we should help to work out any 
of the particular problems as they arise.
    In terms of the timing, I don't think it's for the United States to 
set the timetables here. I think we should just be supportive of moving 
ahead as vigorously as possible. But it's not our role--and shouldn't 
be--to impose an outside timetable on the process.
    Prime Minister Barak. We are committed to agreements signed by 
Israeli governments. We are committed to Wye. We will implement it. We 
are committed to the permanent status negotiations, and we intend to go 
forward and do it.
    We have to consider, together with Chairman Arafat, the way to 
combine the Wye agreement implementation with the pushing forward of the 
permanent status negotiations and implementation. And we will do exactly 
that in the coming months.
    I would suggest a kind of framework of about 15 months, within which 
we will know whether we have a breakthrough and are really going to put 
an end to the conflict, or alternatively--I hope this will not be the 
case--we are stuck once again. I use the kind of framework of 15 months 
to signal to all publics and ask the players that we are not talking 
about a miraculous solution, magic solution, that will drop upon us from 
heaven in 3 weeks, and we do not intend to drag our foot for another 3 
years.
    President Clinton. Want to take a question from an Israeli 
journalist?
    Prime Minister Barak. Please.

President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria

    Q. Mr. President, do you intend to have talks or to meet with 
President Asad at the present time and maybe shoot for a summit meeting 
here with President Asad?
    And, Prime Minister Barak, another question also on Damascus. Today 
terrorist organizations there were urged to leave the country by the 
Syrian Government. Is there any proof of this news that you heard, and 
if it's true, do you see any significance?
    President Clinton. Well, let me answer the first question. I have 
had regular contact, as you know, and a lot of contact with President 
Asad over the last 6\1/2\ years. He knows very well that I am committed 
to the peace process between Israel and Syria, and that I believe that 
he has a golden opportunity now to resume that process and that I hope 
he will do so. And I intend to reaffirm that in the appropriate way at 
the conclusion of our meeting.
    We, too, would like more normal relations with Syria, and we would 
like Syria to be reconciled to all its neighbors in the region. And I 
think anything that Syria does to disassociate itself from terrorists is 
a positive step in the right direction.
    Yes, ma'am. Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International], you're 
next; I'll take you next.

Future Israeli Security

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, a question to you. As Israel moves now to 
resume peace talks with its Arab adversaries, what and who do you regard 
as the real existential threats to Israel in the coming century? Do you 
look more toward Iran and Iraq? Do you have different views on these 
issues than your predecessor? Thank you.
    Prime Minister Barak. Unlike this part of the world, our neighbor--
unlike North America--Western Europe is a very tough neighborhood, you 
know, kind of merciless environment, no second opportunity for those who 
cannot defend themselves. And many threats might loom over the horizon 
without very long early warning. We, of course, see the risk. This is 
one of the reasons why I'm so determined to do whatever we can to 
achieve peace.
    I spent all my life in uniform fighting for the security of our 
country, and we know from our experience that by strengthening Israel 
and going toward peace, we will reduce this kind of threat. There are a 
lot of conventional armed forces around us. If you combine them together 
it's more weapon systems in the Middle East than in NATO. And of course, 
the prospect of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile 
technology to places like Iran or Iraq create a major threat to the 
stability of the whole Middle East, to the free flow of oil from this 
region that helps to sustain the economies

[[Page 1409]]

of both Europe and Japan, and, of course, to Israel. And we are watching 
very carefully these kinds of threats.
    We do not aspire to eliminate any future risk from the globe by 
making peace with our neighbors, but we're clearly determined to make 
our future and the future of our neighbors better by reaching a full 
agreement about peace with all our neighbors around.
    Q. Iraq and Iran, sir?
    Prime Minister Barak. Iran and Iraq is a sources of potential threat 
to the stability of the Middle East and to Israel if they reach missile 
technology, nuclear weapons, and, by this, the combination to really 
launch them.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. President Clinton, you have met with Prime Minister Barak for 
many hours, and we all know that you have concluded some sort of a 
program to advance the peace process. Can you please tell us some of 
these details that you can tell us? What is expected in the coming days 
or weeks and when is the talks between Syria and Israel are going to be 
resumed? Is there any date?
    And a question to Prime Minister Barak, what is your reaction to the 
meeting of Abd al-Halim Khaddam in Damascus with a few Palestinian 
organizations that are imposing the Olso--the peace process? Do you 
think that it's a significant step for peace.
    President Clinton. First of all, we have issued a very detailed 
joint statement. I don't know if you have it yet or not.
    Q. I've read it, but it doesn't say specifically what are the coming 
moves.
    President Clinton. That's right; that's on purpose. [Laughter] So 
you know--sometimes in this process, the less you say, the better. Let 
me say that you know that Prime Minister Barak has talked to Chairman 
Arafat, and they intend to talk again. And I have said that I will make 
it known to President Asad what I consider to be the very satisfactory 
results of this meeting and that this is an important time to restart 
the peace process. I think to go beyond that right now would be an error 
on my part. Not because I don't intend to push ahead in every way I can, 
but I just think it would be a mistake.
    Prime Minister Barak. I can just add to this that I'm fully 
confident that when we will have something to tell, we will be 
interviewed by you, and we'll tell you, and the public will know. There 
will be no secrets when something really happens in the open.
    On the other part of your question, I did not get a real report 
about this meeting, but if there was such a meeting and the Syrians 
really asked the terror organizations to reduce their level of activity, 
if that is true, it is, of course, good news for all of us.
    President Clinton. Helen.

Israeli-Palestinian Relations

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, there's an expression----
    Prime Minister Barak. I awaited you. [Laughter]
    Q. ----that if you walk in someone's moccasins, then you'll know how 
they really feel. If you were walking in a Palestinian's shoes, how 
would you feel about occupation, annexation, incarceration for months, 
for years without a charge, without a trial?
    Prime Minister Barak. I was elected Prime Minister of the State of 
Israel. I'm fully focused on the security and future of the Israelis. I 
am aware that, the same way that a person cannot choose his parents, a 
nation cannot choose its neighbors. They are there, the Palestinians; we 
respect them. We want to build a peace with them that will put an end to 
the conflict with all the sufferings that happen on both sides of this 
conflict. We are determined to do it. 
I believe that focusing on how to solve the problems of the future is a 
more, may I say, productive way to consume our time than dealing with 
analyzing past events or their interpretation.
    Q. Well, they aren't past. They're very current.
    Prime Minister Barak. We are working on bringing a peace that will 
create a different environment in the Middle East, and I am fully 
focused on this future, rather than on analysis of the past.
    President Clinton. Do you want to take another question?
    Prime Minister Barak. Please.

[[Page 1410]]

U.S. Role in Middle East Peace Process

    Q. How do you reconcile between the Prime Minister's expectation to 
get your support to the further negotiations with the Palestinians, the 
potential difficulties that Israel will face, with your role as an 
honest broker?
    President Clinton. Why are they inconsistent? I'm not sure I 
understand the question.
    Q. It's a cultural gap.
    Q. No, it's not cultural gap.
    President Clinton. No, no, explain the question. I'm sorry, I don't 
mean to be dense, but I don't understand the question.
    Q. We understand that the Prime Minister strove to get your 
understanding to Israel's point of view with regard to the negotiations 
that he will have with the Palestinians.
    President Clinton. Yes, that's correct.
    Q. On the other hand, America is going to play the role of an honest 
broker between Israel and the Palestinians. So probably there is a kind 
of conflict between these two roles.
    President Clinton. Oh, I see what you mean. Actually, in this case, 
I disagree with that for the following reason. The Prime Minister has 
made it clear--this goes a little bit to the question Helen asked in a 
general way--the Prime Minister has made it clear that however he 
proceeds into the future in negotiating with the Palestinians that it 
must all be done by agreement, including the ideas of synchronizing Wye 
and going to the final status talks. I'm convinced that at the end of 
the road, anything they could both agree to would be in both their 
interests.
    And I must say, I think--some of you may think this is naive, 
especially as long as I've been doing this--but I honestly believe that 
the most important element for success for an Israeli Prime Minister in 
negotiating an agreement with the Palestians is being able to set aside 
the accumulated burdens of the past to at least see them with respect 
and understand how they perceive the legitimacy of their aspirations. 
And I have seen that with this Prime Minister. And I think when you do 
that, then there will be a way to work this out.
    I think that in a peculiar way, the United States can only be of 
value to the Palestinians because we are so close to Israel. Otherwise, 
of what value are we to them? And because we are, if we believe they 
have a good point that I privately and personally communicate to the 
Prime Minister or his designated representatives, it should carry more 
weight because they know how close we are.
    So I don't see the two things as in conflict. I think that, in the 
end, they both have to believe they have won or there will be no 
agreement. If either side believes that it has lost, why should they 
agree?

Convicted Spy Jonathan Pollard

    Q. Mr. President, did the subject of 
Jonathan Pollard and his possible release come up in any form during 
your discussions? It's now 8 months since White House Counsel Chuck Ruff 
requested the major U.S. Governmental agencies to offer their opinions 
on this. Did any of those agencies recommend or indicate that they would 
recommend his release?
    And, Mr. Prime Minister, did President Clinton give you any reason 
to expect that Pollard's release may be a possibility?
    Prime Minister Barak. Maybe I'll answer first, and it will make it 
more, smoother in a way. I clearly want to see Jonathan Pollard 
released, but I am of the position that any public discussion of this 
issue doesn't push forward the purpose of having him released. For many 
reasons, this is a subject that should be dealt with not in public, but 
at most, between the leaders of the two nations.
    President Clinton. One more over here, and then we'll take--Sam [Sam 
Donaldson, ABC News], you want a question?

First Lady's Position on Middle East Process

    Q. Sir, I'd like to take another crack at a question you've been 
asked before. You've said that when Mrs. Clinton expresses her opinions 
publicly she's just doing something in public which you've done in 
private before--that is, have disagreements. That's the American way. 
But when she talks about an opinion in which she takes the Israeli 
position on Jerusalem, doesn't this make it more difficult for you to be 
that honest broker that one of your colleagues talked about, sir?
    President Clinton. No, no. For one thing--let me say, that issue is 
not one that--that's not the public-private distinction. The

[[Page 1411]]

Government of the United States, the executive branch, the President, is 
a sponsor of the peace process and a facilitator of it. In that context, 
those of us with positions of official responsibility who are all the 
time asking Israel and the Palestinians, we're all the time asking both 
sides not to do anything which prejudices final status issues--I have 
taken the position that my government should not prejudice final status 
issues.
    There are many American citizens who consider, for example, 
Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel; Israel considers Jerusalem to be 
the capital of Israel. You heard the Prime Minister say that he hoped 
that when we had all this worked out, everybody's Embassy would be 
there.
    The genius, I thought, of the legislation which was passed by the 
Congress and sponsored I think primarily by Senator Moynihan was that it 
permitted each individual Member of Congress and, therefore, imposed on 
everybody who might want to be in Congress, the responsibility of 
expressing their opinion on it, while allowing the United States to 
continue to be an honest broker through the waiver authority so we don't 
have to prejudice the final status issue.
    The status of Jerusalem is, under the Oslo accords, something that 
the parties themselves have to work out at the end. So that's my 
position. I don't think there is any inconsistency there at all. I think 
that anybody who is ever going to consider being a candidate for 
Congress in any place in this country, or the Senate, where people care 
about this, might be asked about it. But we have a framework in our law, 
which I think is quite good, where people can express their opinion 
about it, vote for a law, support the law, but the President, whoever 
the President is, is permitted to honor the obligation of the United 
States not to prejudice the final status issue.
    Q. But sir, the thrust----
    Prime Minister Barak. ----of Israeli TV----
    Q. Sir, may I just follow up?
    Prime Minister Barak. Please, let the young lady--beauty before age. 
[Laughter] I'm not quarreling with your wisdom, but look, a young 
Israeli. [Laughter]

Palestinian State

    Q. To both of you, Prime Minister Barak was mentioning that 15-month 
framework for the negotiation; do you see, Mr. President, and you, Prime 
Minister Barak, a Palestinian state at the end of this period of time?
    Prime Minister Barak. I think it's too early to think of the results 
of the negotiations about permanent status that were hardly begun. And I 
don't think that you should interpret this 15-month framework as a kind 
of a deadline where everything should be either fully concluded and 
implemented, or the whole thing is blown up, blown apart. I don't think 
that is the case.
    We have this framework in order that different players on different 
tracks with only partially transparent membranes between them could make 
up their judgment about what should be concluded in their own track, 
vis-a-vis Israel, while taking into account the fact that the others are 
continuing.
    So without providing them with a certain timeframe they might be 
lost or suspicions would be heightened, which as you know, happens very 
often in the Middle East. So in order to produce a certain kind of 
common basis, common framework, and common understanding about how we 
intend to move, we shaped this timeframe. It could not be interpreted as 
more than this.
    Q. What about the possibility of a Palestinian state?
    Prime Minister Barak. Oh, this was the question, I thought--
[laughter]. It's part of the permanent status negotiations, and I'm 
confident that the nature of the Palestinian entity will emerge quite 
naturally out of these permanent status negotiations. We are 
concentrating on solving at the same time all the problems that are on 
the table--the refugees, the border, the future of settlements, the 
problem of Jerusalem. And I don't think it's a very easy task to solve 
part of the problem without solving, at the same time, the other parts.
    President Clinton. Joe says we were about to draw this to a close. 
But if you want to chew on me, I'll be back Wednesday; we're going to 
have a press conference. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[[Page 1412]]

    Oh, wait, wait, I'll answer the Coast Guard question. Go ahead. This 
is important--further--what's going on for America today, so I'll answer 
this. Go ahead.

Search for Wreckage of John F. Kennedy, Jr., Aircraft/Conversations With 
Kennedy Family

    Q. Mr. President, I'm told that you were briefed earlier today by 
the U.S. Coast Guard about their search for the wreckage of the Kennedy 
plane. Can you tell us what the results of that are to date? And also, 
sir, since the search became a--quote, unquote--``recovery operation'' 
last night, have you had a chance to speak with any members of the 
Kennedy family, and if so, can you relate some or all of those 
conversations?
    President Clinton. Well, let me say, first of all, I did speak with 
Admiral Larrabee this morning, and again I want to say I think the Coast 
Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, all the State 
and local entities who have worked for them have done quite a fine job 
here; and I'm grateful to them.
    He was actually, Admiral Larrabee, somewhat optimistic that they 
would eventually be successful in this area they have identified, in 
finding further--at least further parts of the plane. And I believe it's 
appropriate that this search continue. So I think they've done a good 
job.
    I have had, over the last 3 days, several conversations with Senator 
Kennedy, and I have talked with Caroline, and I have--but I think it 
would not be appropriate for me to talk about the merits of it.
    Let me say that John Kennedy and his sister and later his wife, were 
uncommonly kind to my daughter and to my wife, and this has been a very 
difficult thing for us, personally, as well as because of my position. 
They are very strong people, and I think they are carrying on as well as 
any human beings could. But they need the support and prayers of our 
country.
    Thank you.
    Prime Minister Barak. Allow my please to add to it--to extend on 
behalf of myself and the Israeli people our prayers and thoughts to the 
Kennedy family that faced so many tragedies and now is facing another 
one, a tragedy that I believe touched hearts of billions all around the 
world.
    Thank you.
    President Clinton. Thank you very much.

Note: The President's 178th news conference began at 4 p.m. in 
Presidential Hall (formerly Room 450) in the Old Executive Office 
Building. In his remarks, the President referred to Chairman Yasser 
Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; Rear Adm. Richard M. Larrabee, 
USCG, 1st Coast Guard District, head of the search and recovery efforts 
off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, MA, to locate the missing aircraft 
that carried John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, 
and her sister Lauren Bessette. The President also referred to Mr. 
Kennedy's sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. Prime Minister Barak 
referred to his wife, Nava; and Vice President Abd al-Halim Khaddam of 
Syria.