    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 16 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
    [Pages 592-596]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of
    Israel

    April 14, 2004

        President Bush. I'm pleased to welcome Prime Minister Sharon back to
    the White House. For more than 50 years, Israel has been a vital ally
    and a true friend of America. I've been proud to call the Prime Minister
    my friend. I really appreciate our discussions today. The policy of the
    United States is to help bring peace to the Middle East and to hope--
    bring hope to the people of that region.
        On June 24, 2002, I laid out a vision to make this goal a reality.
    We then drafted the roadmap as the route to get us there. The heart of
    this vision is the responsibility of all parties--of Israel, of the
    Palestinian people, of the Arab states--to fight terror, to embrace
    democracy and reform, and to take the necessary steps for peace.
        Today, the Prime Minister told me of his decision to take such a
    step. Israel plans to remove certain military installations and all
    settlements from Gaza and certain military

    [[Page 593]]

    installations and settlements from the West Bank. These are historic and
    courageous actions. If all parties choose to embrace this moment, they
    can open the door to progress and put an end to one of the world's
    longest-running conflicts.
        Success will require the active efforts of many nations. Two days
    ago, I held important discussions with President Mubarak of Egypt, and I
    will soon meet with King Abdullah of Jordan. We're consulting closely
    with other key leaders in the region, in Europe, and with our Quartet
    partners, the EU, Russia, and the United Nations. These steps can open
    the door to progress toward a peaceful, democratic, viable Palestinian
    state. Working together, we can help build democratic Palestinian
    institutions as well as strong capabilities dedicated to fighting terror
    so that the Palestinian people can meet their obligations under the
    roadmap on the path to peace.
        This opportunity holds great promise for the Palestinian people to
    build a modern economy that will lift millions out of poverty, create
    the institutions and habits of liberty, and renounce the terror and
    violence that impede their aspirations and take a terrible toll on
    innocent life. The Palestinian people must insist on change and on a
    leadership that is committed to reform and progress and peace. We will
    help, but the most difficult work is theirs.
        The United States is strongly committed, and I am strongly
    committed, to the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state. I
    reiterate our steadfast commitment to Israel's security and to
    preserving and strengthening Israel's self-defense capability, including
    its right to defend itself against terror.
        The barrier being erected by Israel as a part of that security
    effort should, as your Government has stated, be a security, rather than
    political, barrier. It should be temporary rather than permanent, and
    therefore not prejudice any final status issues, including final
    borders. And its route should take into account, consistent with
    security needs, its impact on Palestinians not engaged in terrorist
    activities.
        In an exchange of letters today and in a statement I will release
    later today, I'm repeating to the Prime Minister my commitment to
    Israel's security. The United States will not prejudice the outcome of
    final status negotiations. That matter is for the parties. But the
    realities on the ground and in the region have changed greatly over the
    last several decades, and any final settlement must take into account
    those realities and be agreeable to the parties.
        The goal of two independent states has repeatedly been recognized in
    international resolutions and agreements, and it remains the key to
    resolving this conflict. The United States is strongly committed to
    Israel's security and well-being as a Jewish state. It seems clear that
    an agreed, just, fair, and realistic framework for a solution to the
    Palestinian refugee issue, as part of any final status agreement, will
    need to be found through the establishment of a Palestinian state and
    the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than Israel.
        As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and
    recognized borders which should emerge from negotiations between the
    parties, in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and
    338. In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing
    major Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the
    outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return
    to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a
    two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to
    expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the
    basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities.
        I commend Prime Minister Sharon for his bold and courageous decision
    to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. I call on the
    Palestinians and their Arab neighbors to match that boldness and that
    courage. All of us must show the wisdom and the will to bring lasting
    peace to that region.
        Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the White House.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you. Thank you so much. I want to thank
    you, Mr. President, for your warm welcome and your strong support and
    friendship for the state of Israel.
        I came to you from a peaceseeking country. Despite the repeated
    terror attacks

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    against us, the people of Israel continues to wish for the achievement
    of a viable peace in accordance with our Jewish tradition as outlined by
    Israel's prophets. Our people desires to be known for its achievements
    in the fields of culture, science, and technology, rather than in the
    battlefield. We are committed to make any effort to develop our country
    and society for our own benefit and for the benefit of the peoples of
    the region.
        In our meeting today, I presented to you the outlines of my
    disengagement plan. It will improve Israel's security and economy and
    will reduce friction and tension between Israelis and Palestinians. My
    plan will create a new and better reality for the state of Israel, and
    it also has the potential to create the right conditions to resume
    negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
        I was encouraged by your positive response and your support for my
    plan. In that context, you handed me a letter that includes very
    important statement regarding Israel's security and its well-being as a
    Jewish state. You have proven, Mr. President, your ongoing, deep, and
    sincere friendship to the state of Israel and to the Jewish people. I
    believe that my plan can be an important contribution to advancing your
    vision, which is the only viable way to achieve the peace and security
    in the Middle East.
        I wish to end with a personal note. I, myself, have been fighting
    terror for many years and understand the threats and cost from
    terrorism. In all these years, I have never met a leader as committed as
    you are, Mr. President, to the struggle for freedom and the need to
    confront terrorism wherever it exists. I want to express my appreciation
    to you for your courageous leadership in the war against global terror
    and your commitment and vision to bring peace to the Middle East.
        Thank you, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Good job, good job.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you.
        President Bush. We will answer two questions a side, starting with
    the American side. The Prime Minister will call on somebody from the
    Israeli press at the appropriate moment.
        Prime Minister Sharon. If there will be any, there's no----
        President Bush. There may not be any questions from the Israeli
    press, that's what you're saying? [Laughter] It's not the case from the
    American press.
        Terry Hunt [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Israeli West Bank Settlements/Final Status Negotiations

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to go back to your opening
    statement and ask you, does the United States recognize Israel's right
    to retain some Jewish settlements in the West Bank? And if so, how does
    that fit with the U.S. policy that settlements are an obstacle to peace?
        President Bush. First, let us recognize that the Prime Minister has
    made the decision to dismantle some settlements. In other words, he is
    beginning to implement a vision that allows for contiguous territories
    so that a Palestinian state can emerge.
        And this is an important step today. It accelerates the process.
    See, I view it as creating an opportunity, an opportunity for those of
    us who believe that a Palestinian state should emerge, a peaceful
    Palestinian state, to work to put a framework for such a state to exist
    so that the institutions of such state are bigger than the people. See,
    when you have a Government where the person is bigger than the
    institutions, that Government will inevitably fail. It's when the
    institutions are bigger than the people that you're able to have
    continuity and people's hopes and aspirations realized and peace.
        It is very important for a Palestinian state to emerge in which we
    have confidence, in which any Prime Minister of Israel has confidence,
    in which the United States has confidence, that will be a peaceful
    partner. And so what the Prime Minister has done is he started the
    process of removing settlements from the West Bank.
        Your question to me is about the final status agreements. I said
    that the conditions on the ground have changed over time, and obviously,
    that must be recognized during any final status negotiations.
        You know, I look forward to the moment when we're actually
    discussing final status negotiations. There's a lot of work to be done
    prior to getting there. And what the Prime

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    Minister has done is started the process. And now it's up for
    responsible Palestinians, caring Europeans, Americans, the United
    Nations to step in and help develop such a state that will be a peaceful
    state, one in which money will actually end up helping the people of the
    Palestinian--Palestinians to be able to grow their businesses and grow
    their--find wealth for their families. And then we can worry about the
    final status negotiations. In other words, there's a lot of work to do.
    What the Prime Minister has done is started the work, and we're prepared
    to help with the work.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you. The same question for me?
        President Bush. Right over here.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Oh, there's another question?
        President Bush. You ask for one of the Israeli press. You don't have
    to answer their questions if you don't want to. [Laughter] I'm sorry,
    you didn't ask him one. No, it's too late. I'm protecting my friend here
    from the appetite of the American press.
        Prime Minister Sharon. I'm afraid we have the same problem.
    [Laughter]
        President Bush. It's not a problem, it's an opportunity, Mr. Prime
    Minister. [Laughter] Go ahead and ask a question from your press corps.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you.
        Q. Mr. President, may I ask a question, please?
        President Bush. It's up to the Prime Minister, but if it was up to
    me, of course you can.
        Q. I would like to ask you, please, first.
        President Bush. Please, what is it?

    Prime Minister's Leadership

        Q. Sharon's political future depends largely on the Americans quid
    pro quo, so still I'm asking on this issue, could you clarify the
    ambiguity surrounding few key issues, as the settlements, for example.
    In your eyes, Ariel is going to be on the Israeli side of the fence. I
    wanted to ask about the right of return, but your answer was quite clear
    there.

    [At this point, the journalist continued in Hebrew, and no translation
    was provided.]

        President Bush. Let me say this to you, his future doesn't depend
    upon me. His future depends upon his capacity to convince the Israeli
    people he's doing the right thing, and I think he is. He's a bold
    leader. That's what people want. They want leadership.
        There is a process that got stuck, and the Prime Minister steps up
    and leads. And I'm confident the Israeli people appreciate that kind of
    leadership.
        You can answer the question if you care to, but I don't buy the
    premise that what I say helps him get elected. What he says helps him
    get elected. It's his vision of Israel that the people of Israel will be
    looking toward.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you. First, I will answer in Hebrew.

    [Prime Minister Sharon answered in Hebrew and then continued in
    English.]

        The question was, did I take a risky decision. So my answer is that
    when the issue is the security of the state of Israel, which I am fully
    responsible to, and political and economic future of the state of
    Israel, I believe that personal issues like personal security is not to
    be taken in consideration. This is not the issue.
        And I would say that what I have learned from my visit here, that
    the plan, disengagement plan, contributes to the security of Israel,
    contributes to the political situation of Israel in the world, and helps
    our economy. Therefore, I think that those questions of personal risk
    has not been taken into consideration. We have to look into the
    interests of the state of Israel.
        President Bush. Caren [Caren Bohan, Reuters].
        Q. Thank you, sir----
        President Bush. Trudy [Trudy Feldman, Trans Features], I'm sorry.
    I've got to call on the wire services. I'm sorry.

    Thrust of U.S. Policy/Responsibilities of Participants

        Q. Former President Jimmy Carter said last week that he feels U.S.
    Middle East policy is tilted too much toward Israel. Is that a fair
    criticism?
        President Bush. U.S. Middle East policy is tilted toward peace, and
    the best way to

    [[Page 596]]

    achieve peace is to fight terror. And I'm the first American President
    ever to have articulated the creation of a Palestinian state. And the
    reason I did so is because I believe a Palestinian state, when properly
    done, will be--provide enough hope for people, provide a peaceful avenue
    for those who aspire for a better future. And I also believe it's in
    Israel's interest that there be a Palestinian state which develops in a
    peaceful way.
        Every statement I've said, I said all parties must assume
    responsibilities. The Palestinians have got to assume the responsibility
    of fighting off terror. If they want a state which provides a hopeful
    future for their people, they must fight terror. They must be resolute
    in the fighting of terror.
        Israel has responsibilities. Today the Prime Minister stepped up to
    those responsibilities. He started a process that I believe can be a
    hopeful process. The Arab world has got responsibilities to help not
    only fight terror but to provide hope for a peaceful Palestinian people.
    Those are responsibilities. America is assuming responsibilities. My
    position on Middle East peace is quite clear.
        Final question, from the Israeli press.

    Palestinian Right of Return/Israeli Security

    [A journalist asked a question in Hebrew and then continued in English.]

        Q. And Mr. President, if I may, is what you said about the
    Palestinian refugee mean that you deny unconditionally the--what's it
    called--the right of return of Palestinian refugee to the state of
    Israel?
        President Bush. My statement--refer back to my statement that I
    said, and also look at the letter that I sent the Prime Minister. It
    will clarify my position on the issue.

    [Prime Minister Sharon answered in Hebrew and then continued in
    English.]

        Prime Minister Sharon. I mentioned first that I got from you, Mr.
    President, a letter. And I sent you a letter. And in these letters, all
    those issues, all those details are very clearly described in those
    letters. And I suggested also on your behalf that they will read the
    letters.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Sharon. That's the first thing. I was asked by the
    Israeli media if I would say the things they held here or we discussed
    here or have been concluded here will provide me a weapon against my
    colleagues in the Government or the members of my party in Israel.
        So my answer was that I was never looking for weapons to use against
    my colleagues in the Government or against the members of my party. I
    agree that I've been using weapons for many years, being a soldier for
    many years, against the enemies of the state of Israel. And I never
    hesitated, and I will not hesitate also in the future, to use weapons if
    it will be needed in order to defend the citizens of Israel, their life,
    their normal life, their development, and so on.
        And therefore, I say that I don't need for that. I believe that our
    discussion today providing the needed security and hope for the future
    of the state of Israel and the future, I would say, of the region.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you.
        President Bush. Thank you all very much.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you so much.
        President Bush. Welcome.
        Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 1:05 p.m. in the Cross
    Hall at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to President Hosni
    Mubarak of Egypt; and King Abdullah II of Jordan.