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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 9, 2008
President Bush Meets with Israeli President Peres
President's Residence
Jerusalem
Middle East Trip
3:12 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT PERES: Mr. President, distinguished guests, as the President of
the state I am delighted to speak on behalf of our people. I want to tell
you in simple language -- you came to a land and a people that loves deeply
the United States of America, and without any reservation.
And also may I say that I have the highest respect for you and the highest
regard, because, speaking as a politician, you introduced character in
politics. It's a great contribution to politics -- character, courage,
vision. And I'm thinking about the last few years you did really three
things of importance: your address in 2002, which for the first time
established the basis for a solution, and the basis for a consensus in the
Arab countries and the rest of -- the two-state solution.
Then you and the Secretary worked very hard in Annapolis, in spite of all
the skeptics around. Finally, Annapolis gave us one thing, at least, a
year to work and make progress. And time is so precious. Dare I say that,
firstly, I believe it won't be the last year, but it may be the best year
for peace. God knows what can happen later on, we'll have to take it
extremely seriously.
And I also believe that the process may be slow, but the progress can be
sweet. The process will be slow because negotiations by character calls
for time between the opening positions and the fallback positions. You
argue, you argue, you have to wait for them. But in the meantime, you can
build a support for the negotiations that can make it realistic, tangible.
I'm referring to economy, it can raise the standard of the lives of the
people that will help immensely the Palestinians, Abu Mazen, nothing more
than an economic -- (inaudible) advance, and also the security
arrangements, which are also positive.
About the economy, I say, it can be done very quickly, because things are
ready, and that will have the most profound impact upon all people around.
And I would like to add also that while the political side is controversial
in our country, economic is a win-win situation. It is accepted by the
whole parliament, it is accepted by the Arabs, it is accepted by you and
the Europeans, and you can really build a constructive coalition with the
Europeans on that issue under your leadership.
We take your visit not as a ceremonial occasion, very powerful, but a third
opening after the two states, after the year of Annapolis, and now the year
to implement the highest and the greatest hopes we have. It is in this
spirit that I welcome you so much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. Mr. President, thank you for your kind words
about me. I'm just following your example. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT PERES: Be careful. (Laughter.)
Q Ten years to follow.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I wouldn't say that. You're well known in my country, and
you're well respected. And so I bring the respect of America not only to
you, but to the people of Israel. Secondly, I come as an optimistic person
and a realistic person -- realistic in my understanding that it's vital for
the world to fight terrorists, to confront those who would murder the
innocent to achieve political objectives. We've been called to this task
in the past. World War II was such a time, when the world was called to
fight people who murdered the innocent to achieve a dark political vision.
Here in the 21st century, America knows first hand, just like Israel knows
first hand, what it's like to confront those who would murder innocent men,
women and children in order to achieve a political objective. And this
war, Mr. President, goes on not only in this part of the world, but it goes
on in Iraq, Afghanistan, in Lebanon; it goes on in capitals in Europe. And
we must be steadfast in confronting it.
Secondly, the best way to defeat an ideology of hate is with an ideology of
hope. And so I come to Israel as a man who believes strongly in liberty
and the power of democracy and freedom to be transformative. And your
country has shown that to the world. Israel is a thriving democracy, and
its politics can be rough sometimes, just like the politics of America can
be rough.
PRESIDENT PERES: (Inaudible) the Israeli.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we share a common vision, though, of peace. I come
with high hopes. And the role of the United States will be to foster a
vision of peace. The role of the Israeli leadership and the Palestinian
leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define a vision. I
thank you for your hospitality. I've really been looking forward to this
trip, and it's such an honor to be in your presence, sir.
PRESIDENT PERES: Thank you very much. We met, actually, the first time in
1990, the young American President on his ship.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's exactly right.
PRESIDENT PERES: And since then we are sailing.
END 3:19 P.M. (Local)
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