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President Bush Discusses Middle East Peace with Prime Minister Sharon

(White House) - At the White House Tuesday, President Bush said: America is firmly committed to the security of Israel as a Jewish state. I'm encouraged by the positive steps that Israel has taken to further the cause of peace, including prisoner releases. Prime Minister Sharon is now meeting regularly with Prime Minister Abbas, and that's positive. Israeli and Palestinian cabinet and security officials are meeting, as well. Israel has recently taken steps to make it easier for Palestinians to work in Israel, and to travel to their jobs and schools and families. And I thank the Prime Minister for these important actions. The Palestinian Authority must undertake sustained, targeted, and effective operations to confront those engaged in terror, and to dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. We're determined to help Prime Minister Abbas as he works to end terror, and establish the rule of law that will protect Israelis and Palestinians alike. Today, I urge Arab states to follow through on the pledges made in Sharm el-Sheikh, to actively contribute to these efforts, and to reject the culture of extremism and violence from whatever source or place. The rise of a peaceful Palestinian state and the long-term security of the Israeli people both depend on defeating the threat of terrorist groups and ending incitement and hatred. I would hope in the long-term a fence would be irrelevant....We'll continue to discuss and to dialogue how best to make sure that the fence sends the right signal that not only is security important, but the ability for the Palestinians to live a normal life is important, as well. Those who want to destroy the peace process through terrorist activities must be dealt with....The way to make sure peace happens is for all of us to...work together to dismantle terrorist organizations, to cut off money to terrorist organizations, to prevent the few from damaging the aspirations of the many. I don't expect anybody to release somebody from prison who will go kill somebody. That doesn't make any sense...to release somebody who is going to get out of prison and start killing. Prime Minister Sharon said: For the first time since World War II, the freedom and peace-seeking democratic world had the wisdom to go after murderers and evil rulers and bring them to justice. I have no doubt, Mr. President, that thanks to you, any villain in any corner of the world knows that the long arm of justice will reach them. So many will owe their lives to you and the great nation of America. While relative quiet currently prevails in Israel, terror has not yet completely ceased....We are thankful for every hour of increased quiet and less terrorism, and for every drop of blood that is spared. At the same time, we are concerned that this welcome quiet will be shattered any minute as a result of the continued existence of terror organizations which the Palestinian Authority is doing nothing to eliminate or dismantle. I wish to move forward with a political process with our Palestinian neighbors. And the right way to do that is only after a complete cessation of terror, violence, and incitement, full dismantlement of terror organizations, and completion of the reform process in the Palestinian Authority. The security fence, which we are forced to construct in order to defend our citizens against terror activities...will continue to be built, with every effort to minimize the infringement on the daily life of the Palestinian population.
2003-07-30 00:00:00
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