For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 28, 2002
Statement by the President on the Middle East
The Bush Ranch
4:25 P.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. I am pleased by today's
developments in the Middle East and believe they'll prove to be
important steps along the path to peace in the Middle East.
I commend the Israeli Cabinet for its decision this morning to
allow Chairman Arafat to move freely, to accept international
monitoring of six prisoners who are at Chairman Arafat's compound, and
to withdraw its forces from Ramallah. The Palestinian Authority has
agreed to accept this approach.
Many parties contributed to today's positive development. The
United Kingdom played an especially important role in creating a
framework for international monitoring of the six prisoners.
I've called on all parties to step up their responsibilities, and
today's developments are a positive sign that they are doing so.
Much hard work remains, and this is a time for all of us to commit
to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East. Chairman
Arafat should now seize this opportunity to act decisively in word and
in deed against terror directed at Israeli citizens. As we work to
improve the security situation in the region, all of us must step up
our efforts to bring humanitarian relief and economic assistance to the
Palestinian people.
This morning I called Crown Prince Abdallah to thank him for his
visit to the United States. Our discussions forged a personal bond of
friendship and strengthened the 60-year relationship between the United
States and Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince has offered a number of
constructive ideas for making political progress between Israel and the
Palestinians. We will continue to build on these ideas, as we move
forward to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East.
I'll answer a couple of questions.
Q Mr. President, on the Saudi peace plan, where are the points
of objection that you've not been able to agree to?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, they came with some constructive ideas and we
listened very carefully to their ideas, and we will continue to work
with them and others in the region to promote them. I believe that
there is a lot of common ground, starting with all parties assuming
responsibility, their responsibilities.
The Crown Prince clearly understood there is a responsibility for
the Arab world. He also believes strongly that Chairman Arafat must
step up, and believes that Israel should withdraw from the
territories. And that is taking place now.
Patsy.
Q Mr. President, is today's proposal that was accepted by Mr.
Sharon and Mr. Arafat a model for lifting the siege in Bethlehem? And
are you concerned that the Israelis have not allowed the U.N. monitors
into Jenin yet?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, on the Jenin issue, that's
being worked out now at the U.N. And secondly, in terms of Bethlehem,
I believe we're making good progress toward ending that part of the
Israeli incursion, and hopefully it will get done soon.
But the big news, of course, is Ramallah. And Chairman Arafat is
now free to move around and free to lead. And we expect him to do so.
Q Mr. President, on that point, what would you expect to see
from Chairman Arafat in the next 24, 48, 72 hours in terms of explicit
demonstrations of his leadership?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, of course, one of the things that Chairman
Arafat must do is condemn and thwart terrorist activities. It's
important he do so.
Again, I keep saying this and it's so important for all of us
involved in this process to recognize there are clear
responsibilities. And his responsibility is just what I said -- to
renounce, to help detect and stop terrorist killings. Israelis have
got responsibilities.
The key responsibility for the world at large is to help end the
suffering of the Palestinian people through humanitarian and economic
assistance. I am very serious about our government's involvement in a
-- in humanitarian relief. I -- my heart grieves for a people who have
no hope, and there are a lot of people who have no hope in the Middle
East. There are some Palestinians -- a lot of Palestinians who wonder
whether or not life is worth living. And we've got, as a world, have
got to help them understand there is a positive life ahead for they and
their children.
There is -- people in Israel, of course, are deeply concerned about
their security. And I can completely understand that. And therefore,
all of us -- Arab nation, Palestinians, United States, the EU must all
continue our collective effort to fight terror.
There are clearly people in the Middle East who would use terror as
a weapon to derail any peace process. And for there to be peace --
something I long for, and something I know that Israel and the
Palestinian people long for -- in order for there to be peace, we must
continue to rout out terror. And the message can't be more clear, and
we're going to continue to hold people accountable for results.
Q Did you invite Mr. Sharon to visit?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we did. Listen, I'm pleased anytime people
want to come and visit. We've had the King of Morocco; we've had Crown
Prince Abdallah, obviously. And when I talked to him on the phone this
weekend, the subject didn't come up, but as I understand, that there is
-- discussions going on about a potential trip. I welcome a trip here
to the United States. I welcome people from that part of the world to
come and bear their soul and discuss their plans for peace.
The thing I always look for when I talk to the leaders is a vision
for peace. It's impossible to achieve a peace unless there's a
vision. And one of the things I appreciate about the Saudi initiative
a while ago was it laid out a potential peace process, a plan for
peace, a way to get to peace in the region, something we all long for.
Q Are you ready to include Arafat in that open invitation? Are
you ready now to include Arafat in that open invitation?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Arafat must perform. Mr. Arafat must do his
job. I've called upon Mr. Arafat in the past, I'll continue to call
upon Mr. Arafat to lead. The other day -- somebody asked me one time,
a while ago, they said, has he disappointed you, has he lost your
respect. I said, well, he hasn't earned my respect yet. He must earn
my respect by leading. And there are a lot of people, a lot of
Palestinians who are suffering, and now is the time for him to step
up.
This has been a hopeful day for the region, and we must continue to
press forward to peace. I want to thank you all.
END 4:35 P.M. CDT
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