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Source: http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speech220505.htm
Disengagement Will Guarantee a Jewish Majority in the State of Israel
(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - Prime Minister Sharon addressed the American Jewish community leadership in New York on Sunday: * I am honored to stand here and feel the strong bond between Israel and the rest of the Jewish world. We share a history, and we share a future as well. * The future of the Jewish people depends also on Israel's character as a Jewish and democratic state. In this spirit we initiated the disengagement plan. This plan will improve our security and offer a chance to start a political process with the Palestinians. It will guarantee a Jewish majority in the State of Israel. It is thanks to this plan that we can make certain that important parts of the cradle of the Jewish heritage will remain part of Israel forever. * As part of the plan, President Bush and I exchanged letters. The President's letter, endorsed by both Houses of Congress, clarified the United States' position on several critical issues for our future: Israel's right to defend itself by itself against any threat, and to have secure and defensible borders; the major Israeli population centers in Judea and Samaria will remain part of Israel under any permanent agreement; there will be no return to the 1967 borders; and there will be no entry of Palestinian refugees into Israel. * We also agreed that the Roadmap will be the only political plan towards an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. * I believe that the day will come when we will sign a peace agreement with all our neighbors....Unfortunately, our Arab neighbors still do not recognize the Jewish people's birthright to an independent state in our homeland - the Land of Israel. Such recognition can only come through comprehensive change in their education system. * The decision about the disengagement was a very hard decision for me. I know the settlers in Gaza well. As a farmer, I followed with appreciation their agricultural achievements. As a soldier, I followed with admiration their bravery....I am confident that...we will emerge from this experience strong and united.