(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - From the prime minister's speech on Oct. 14 opening the Knesset winter session: We all strive to end the terrible, bloody conflict with the Palestinians. But will the present Palestinian leadership want to abandon their scheme to eliminate Israel, and instead, chose to live with us in peace? The bands of terrorists and murderers that have taken over the lives of the Palestinians with the encouragement, agreement, and at the initiative of the Palestinian Authority that controls them, do not want peace - not for us and not for the Palestinians. They are an obstacle to peace. In order to reach peace, their murderous regime must be removed and replaced with one of peace. I say to the Palestinians: Your terrible pain is unnecessary! Your sacrifices are unnecessary! The blood you have spilled has been spilled in vain! Say: "Enough!" Change the regime of tyranny that leads you from defeat to defeat, from disaster to disaster. I believe that the hand we extend in peace will not be ignored forever. I believe that our Palestinian neighbors will, of their own accord, reach a moment of historic change in their relationship with the State of Israel. This government will monitor every sign of change and every opening in order to realize the hope of generations, and to make peace. The threat to the security of Israel also stems from the existence of dark regimes in our region that make every effort to arm themselves with weapons of mass destruction, in order to bring about our elimination. I would like to tell all the citizens of Israel: Do not be afraid. Israel is prepared and ready for any scenario that our enemies are planning.
2002-10-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive