[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 1 (Monday, January 14, 2008)]
[Pages 40-41]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With President Shimon Peres of Israel in 
Jerusalem, Israel

January 9, 2008

    President Peres. Mr. President, distinguished guests: As the 
President of the state, I am delighted to speak on behalf of our people. 
I want to tell you in simple language, you came to a land and a people 
that loves deeply the United States of America, and without any 
reservation.
    And also, may I say that I have the highest respect for you and the 
highest regard, because, speaking as a politician, you have introduced 
character in politics. It's a great contribution to politics--character, 
courage, vision. And I'm thinking about the last few years, you did 
really three things of importance: your address in 2002, which for the 
first time established the basis for a solution and the basis for a 
consensus in the Arab countries and the rest of--the two-state solution.
    Then you and the Secretary worked very hard in Annapolis, in spite 
of all the skeptics around. Finally, Annapolis gave us one thing, at 
least: a year to work and make progress. And time is so precious. Dare I 
say that, firstly, I believe it won't be the last year, but it may be 
the best year for peace. God knows what can happen later on; we'll have 
to take it extremely seriously.
    And I also believe that the process may be slow, but the progress 
can be sweet. The process will be slow because negotiations by character 
calls for time between the opening positions and the fallback positions. 
You argue. You argue; you have to wait for them. But in the meantime, 
you can build a support for the negotiation that can make it realistic, 
tangible. I'm referring to economy; it can raise the standard of the 
life of the people. That will help immensely the Arabs, the 
Palestinians, Abu Mazen, nothing more than an economic--[inaudible]--
advance, and also the security arrangements, which are also possible.
    About the economy, may I say, it can be done very quickly because 
things are ready, and that will have the most profound impact upon all 
people around. And I would like to add also that while the political 
side is controversial in our country, economic is a win-win situation. 
It is accepted by the whole Parliament; it is accepted by the Arabs; it 
is accepted by you and the Europeans. And you can really build a 
constructive coalition with the Europeans on that issue under your 
leadership.
    We take your visit not as a ceremonial occasion--very powerful--but 
a third opening after the two states, after the year of Annapolis, and 
now the year to implement the highest and the greatest hopes we have. It 
is in this spirit that I welcome you so much.
    President Bush. Thank you. Mr. President, thank you for your kind 
words about me. I'm just following your example. [Laughter]
    President Peres. Be careful. [Laughter]
    Q. Ten years to follow.
    President Bush. I wouldn't say that. [Laughter]
    You're well-known in my country, and you're well-respected. And so I 
bring the respect of America not only to you but to the people of 
Israel. Secondly, I come as an optimistic person and a realistic 
person--realistic in my understanding that it's vital for the world to 
fight terrorists, to confront those who would murder the innocent to 
achieve political objectives. We've been called to this task in the 
past. World War II was such a time, when the world was called to fight 
people who murdered the innocent to achieve a dark political vision.
    Here in the 21st century, America knows firsthand, just like Israel 
knows firsthand, what it's like to confront those who would

[[Page 41]]

murder innocent men, women, and children in order to achieve a political 
objective. And this war, Mr. President, goes on not only in this part of 
the world, but it goes on in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon; it goes 
on in capitals in Europe. And we must be steadfast in confronting it.
    Secondly, the best way to defeat an ideology of hate is with an 
ideology of hope. And so I come to Israel as a man who believes strongly 
in liberty and the power of democracy and freedom to be transformative. 
And your country has shown that to the world. Israel is a thriving 
democracy, and its politics can be rough sometimes, just like the 
politics of America can be rough.
    President Peres. [Inaudible]--the Israeli. [Laughter]
    President Bush. Yes. Well, we share a common vision, though, of 
peace. I come with high hopes. And the role of the United States will be 
to foster a vision of peace. The role of the Israeli leadership and the 
Palestinian leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define 
a vision. And so I thank you for your hospitality. I've really been 
looking forward to this trip, and it's such an honor to be in your 
presence, sir.
    President Peres. Thank you very much. We met, actually, the first 
time in 1990----
    President Bush.  That's right.
    President Peres. ----the young American President on his ship.
    President Bush. That's exactly right.
    President Peres. And since then, we are sailing.

Note: The President spoke at 3:12 p.m. at the President's Residence. 
President Peres referred to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; and 
President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority. A 
portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was 
incomplete.