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Speech at the Herzliya Conference

(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - Like all Israeli citizens, I yearn for peace. I attach supreme importance to taking all steps which will enable progress toward resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians. However, if the Palestinians do not make a similar effort toward a solution of the conflict I do not intend to wait for them indefinitely. A full and genuine implementation of the Roadmap is the best way to achieve true peace. The Roadmap is the only political plan accepted by Israel, the Palestinians, the Americans, and a majority of the international community. The concept behind this plan is that only security will lead to peace. And in that sequence. Without the achievement of full security within the framework of which terror organizations will be dismantled, it will not be possible to achieve genuine peace. There will be no peace before the eradication of terror. I have committed to the President of the United States that Israel will dismantle unauthorized outposts. With regard to construction in the settlements, there will be no construction beyond the existing construction line, no expropriation of land for construction, no special economic incentives, and no construction of new settlements. I appeal to the Palestinians, as I said at Aqaba: it is not in our interest to govern you. We would like you to govern yourselves in your own country. A democratic Palestinian state with territorial contiguity in Judea and Samaria and economic viability, which would conduct normal relations of tranquility, security, and peace with Israel. However, if in a few months the Palestinians still continue to disregard their part in implementing the Roadmap, then Israel will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the Palestinians. The unilateral steps which Israel will take will be fully coordinated with the United States. These steps will increase security for the residents of Israel and relieve the pressure on the IDF and security forces in fulfilling the difficult tasks they are faced with. We are interested in conducting direct negotiations, but do not intend to hold Israeli society hostage in the hands of the Palestinians. The Disengagement Plan will include the redeployment of IDF forces along new security lines and a change in the deployment of settlements, which will reduce as much as possible the number of Israelis located in the heart of the Palestinian population. Settlements to be relocated are those which will not be included in the territory of the State of Israel in the framework of any possible future permanent agreement. At the same time, in the framework of the Disengagement Plan, Israel will strengthen its control over those same areas in the Land of Israel which will constitute an inseparable part of the State of Israel in any future agreement. Israel will greatly accelerate the construction of the security fence. The rapid completion of the security fence will enable the IDF to remove roadblocks and ease the daily lives of the Palestinian population not involved in terror. The Disengagement Plan is a security measure and not a political one. The steps which will be taken will not prevent the possibility of returning to the implementation of the Roadmap and reaching an agreed settlement. Obviously, through the Disengagement Plan the Palestinians will receive much less than they would have received through direct negotiations as set out in the Roadmap.
2003-12-19 00:00:00
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