President Bush’s Speech

The following is the text of President Bush’s speech in the RoseGarden on June 24, as transcribed by the Federal News Service.

“For too long, the citizens of the Middle East have lived in themidst of death and fear. The hatred of a few holds the hopes of manyhostage. The forces of extremism and terror are attempting to killprogress and peace by killing the innocent, and this casts a darkshadow over an entire region. For the sake of all humanity, thingsmust change in the Middle East.

It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It isuntenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation. And thecurrent situation offers no prospect that life will improve. Israelicitizens will continue to be victimized by terrorists, and so Israelwill continue to defend herself.

And the situation of the Palestinian people will grow more and more miserable.My vision is two states living side by side in peace and security.There is simply no way to achieve that peace until all parties fightterror. Yet at this critical moment, if all parties will break withthe past and set out on a new path, we can overcome the darkness withthe light of hope.

Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that aPalestinian state can be born. I call on the Palestinian people toelect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call uponthem to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty.If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America andthe world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinianpeople meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement withIsrael and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements forindependence.

And when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutionsand new security arrangements with their neighbors, the United Statesof America will support the creation of a Palestinian state whoseborders and certain aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional,until resolved as part of a final settlement in the Middle East.In the work ahead, we all have responsibilities. The Palestinianpeople are gifted and capable, and I’m confident they can achieve anew birth for their nation.

The Palestinian state will never be created by terror. It will bebuilt through reform, and reform must be more than cosmetic change orveiled attempt to preserve the status quo. True reform will requireentirely new political and economic institutions based on democracy,market economics and action against terrorism.

Today, the elected Palestinian legislature has no authority, andpower is concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few. APalestinian state can only serve its citizens with a newconstitution, which separates the powers of government.The Palestinian parliament should have the full authority of alegislative body. Local officials and government ministers needauthority of their own and the independence to govern effectively.The United States, along with the European Union and Arab states,will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new constitutionalframework and a working democracy for the Palestinian people. And theUnited States, along with others in the international community, willhelp the Palestinians organize and monitor fair, multiparty localelections by the end of the year, with national elections to follow.Today, the Palestinian people live in economic stagnation, made worseby official corruption. A Palestinian state will require a vibranteconomy, where honest enterprise is encouraged by honest government.The United States, the international donor community and the WorldBank stand ready to work with Palestinians on a major project ofeconomic reform and development.

The United States, the EU, the World Bank and International MonetaryFund are willing to oversee reforms in Palestinian finances,encouraging transparency and independent auditing. And the UnitedStates, along with our partners in the developed world, will increaseour humanitarian assistance to relieve Palestinian suffering.Today, the Palestinian people lack effective courts of law and haveno means to defend and vindicate their rights. A Palestinian statewill require a system of reliable justice to punish those who prey onthe innocent. The United States and members of the internationalcommunity stand ready to work with Palestinian leaders to establishfinance – establish, finance and monitor a truly independentjudiciary.

Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing,terrorism. This is unacceptable. And the United States will notsupport the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leadersengage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantletheir infrastructure.

This will require an externally supervised effort to rebuild andreform the Palestinian security services. The security system musthave clear lines of authority and accountability and a unified chainof command. America is pursuing this reform along with key regionalstates.

The world is prepared to help, yet, ultimately, these steps towardstatehood depend on the Palestinian people and their leaders. If theyenergetically take the path of reform, the rewards can come quickly.If Palestinians embrace democracy, confront corruption and firmlyreject terror, they can count on American support for the creation ofa provisional state of Palestine. With a dedicated effort, this statecould rise rapidly as it comes to terms with Israel, Egypt and Jordanon practical issues such as security.

The final borders, the capital and other aspects of this state’ssovereignty will be negotiated between the parties as part of a finalsettlement. Arab states have offered their help in this process, andtheir help is needed. I’ve said in the past that nations are eitherwith us or against us in the war on terror.

To be counted on the side of peace, nations must act. Every leaderactually committed to peace will end incitement to violence inofficial media and publicly denounce homicide bombings.

Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money,equipment and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction ofIsrael, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah. Every nationactually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iraniansupplies to these groups and oppose regimes that promote terror, likeIraq.

And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closingterrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations.Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show bytheir deeds an undivided support for peace.

And as we move toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will beexpected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel,leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and theentire Arab world.

Israel also has a large stake in the success of a democraticPalestine. Permanent occupation threatens Israel’s identity anddemocracy. A stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary toachieve the security that Israel longs for. So I challenge Israel totake concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, crediblePalestinian state.

As we make progress toward security, Israel (sic) forces need towithdraw fully to positions they held prior to Sept. 28, 2000. Andconsistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell committee,Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop.The Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violencesubsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting innocentPalestinians to resume work and normal life. Palestinian legislatorsand officials, humanitarian and international workers must be allowedto go about the business of building a better future.And Israel should release frozen Palestinian revenues into honest,accountable hands.

I’ve asked Secretary Powell to work intensively with Middle Easternand international leaders to realize the vision of a Palestinianstate, focusing them on a comprehensive plan to support Palestinianreform and institution building. Ultimately, Israelis andPalestinians must address the core issues that divide them if thereis to be a real peace, resolving all claims and ending the conflictbetween them. This means that the Israeli occupation that began in1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between theparties, based on U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeliwithdrawal to secure and recognized borders.

We must also resolve questions concerning Jerusalem, the plight andfuture of Palestinian refugees and a final peace between Israel andLebanon and Israel and a Syria that supports peace and fights terror.All who are familiar with the history of the Middle East realize thatthere may be setbacks in this process. Trained and determinedkillers, as we have seen, want to stop it. Yet the Egyptian andJordanian peace treaties with Israel remind us that with determinedand responsible leadership, progress can come quickly.

As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge, demonstratingreal performance on security and reform, I expect Israel to respondand work toward a final-status agreement. With intensive effort byall, this agreement could be reached within three years from now, andI and my country will actively lead toward that goal.

I can understand the deep anger and anguish of the Israeli people.You’ve lived too long with fear and funerals, having to avoid marketsand public transportation, and forced to put armed guards inkindergarten classrooms.

The Palestinian Authority has rejected your offered hand andtrafficked with terrorists. You have a right to a normal life. Youhave a right to security. And I deeply believe that you need areformed, responsible Palestinian partner to achieve that security.I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinianpeople. For decades, you’ve been treated as pawns in the Middle Eastconflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a comprehensivepeace agreement that never seems to come, as your lives get worseyear by year.

You deserve democracy and the rule of law. You deserve an opensociety and a thriving economy. You deserve a life of hope for yourchildren, an end to occupation. And a peaceful democratic Palestinianstate may seem distant, but America and our partners throughout theworld stand ready to help, help you make that possible as soon aspossible.

If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza,it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe who areequally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled to thebenefits of democratic government.

I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your commitments tomorality and learning and tolerance led to great historicalachievements, and those values are alive in the Islamic world today.You have a rich culture, and you share the aspirations of men andwomen in every culture.

Prosperity and freedom and dignity are not just American hopes orWestern hopes. They are universal, human hopes. And even in theviolence and turmoil of the Middle East, America believes those hopeshave the power to transform lives and nations.

This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in theMiddle East – an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace;a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choicehere is stark and simple: The Bible says, “I have set before you lifeand death. Therefore, choose life.” The time has arrived foreveryone in this conflict to choose peace and hope and life.Thank you very much.”