22 December 2004
The Prime Minister stressed his committment to the peace process and announced that an international meeting on the Middle East would be held in London next year.
Read the press conference in full below:
Mr Sharon:
I am glad that my friend, Tony Blair, accepted my invitation and found the time to come and visit Israel. I am sure that his visit will contribute to advancing the relationship between Israel and Great Britain, as well as to the peace process in the Middle East. Tony Blair is a friend of Israel and understands the concerns, the problems which we face here. I wish to thank Mr Blair for his ongoing commitment to advance the peace process in the Middle East and his support of the disengagement plan.
In our discussion today I told Prime Minister Blair that I remain committed to implementing the disengagement plan, which was approved by the Israeli government and the parliament, according to the timetable set out in the plan. We discussed the new opportunities emerging in our region and the need to exhaust every opportunity in order to push the process forward. We hope that a new leadership in the Palestinian Authority will choose to fight terrorism and push the reform process forward, and as I said in the past, we then would be willing to co-ordinate security issues and elements of the disengagement plan with that leadership. In the meantime, I repeated our willingness to take the required steps to help the Palestinians hold a free and fair presidential election. The Prime Minister and I discussed his initiative to hold an international meeting in London to the reform process in the Palestinian Authority. I told the Prime Minister that we welcome his initiative and we regard it to be very important. It is our view that an efficient and comprehensive reform process will help the Palestinians run an effective administration which will be able to face the challenges that lie ahead, including fighting terror and dismantling its infrastructure. The elimination of terrorism will allow us to resume the discussions under the road map. We reiterated our commitment to the implementation of the road map according to its sequence.
I wish to again thank Prime Minister Blair for his visit and his continuing friendship to the state of Israel.
Prime Minister:
Thank you. First of all can I say how pleased I am to be here in Israel and to thank Prime Minister Sharon for his kind welcome of me here.
Before I go to the substance of our discussions, can I also express my deep condolences to the families of the American soldiers that lost their lives in Iraq yesterday. This once again shows the necessity of winning the struggle there against terrorism.
The Prime Minster described me a moment or two ago as a friend of Israel, and I am a friend of Israel and proud to be so. When the disengagement plan was first put forward by Prime Minister Sharon, I commented on it at a press conference with President Bush back in April of this year, and I said then that I thought it had the potential to be a very important moment. And I remember being somewhat criticised for saying that at the time, but I believe that subsequent events have shown that this is indeed an important opportunity. And at the press conference that I then did with President Bush a few weeks ago, we set out five stages which could lead us to a situation where it was once again possible to talk of a genuine process for peace here. The first step was to set out the overall vision that people want to get to, which is the two state solution, and that we did. The second is that there should be free and fair elections for the new Palestinian President. That is now under way and I thank Prime Minister Sharon for what he said about doing all that Israel can to enable that to happen. The third step was then to make sure, prior to disengagement actually happening, that there was a clear plan for the Palestinian side in respect of the measures necessary for the political institutions, economic transparency and security that ensured that we could indeed have proper partners for peace on either side.
That is the purpose of the meeting in London, and I thank Prime Minister Sharon for his welcome of it. The purpose of this, in other words, is to make sure that when the four steps that we talked about, namely that disengagement actually happens, we have in place a proper and viable plan in order to make sure that disengagement can indeed then lead back into the road map, as the Prime Minister indicated, and that was the fifth step. So in other words we set out an overall vision, we have the election of the Palestinian President, we have a plan, a proper plan, a viable plan for the Palestinian side in terms of politics, the economy, security. And then what we can do is have the disengagement and after that, provided there is a complete and total end to the terrorism that has disfigured so much of what has happened in this area, we can then get back into the road map that people want to see. And I think what the Prime Minister said today also about trying to co-ordinate the disengagement with the Palestinian side is important, and I want to make this very clear from our perspective, but I believe this would gain support in the whole of the international community. Everybody wants to see that overall vision of Israel, confident of its own security, and a viable Palestinian state put in place. But viability cannot just be about territory, it also has to be about proper democratic institutions, about proper security and proper use of the economy. In other words, the viability has to be that of a state that is democratic, that is not giving any succour or help to terrorism, and that uses the help that is given from the outside in a proper and transparent way.
Now I believe it is possible to do that, and I hope in that way, in that limited way I set out, the London meeting next year can be of some assistance. This is not, let me say right at the very beginning, it is not and cannot be a substitute for the conferences under the road map or what then happens in any negotiation that takes place at a later stage. But what it can do, I hope, is ensure that there is a real sense that when disengagement happens, there are plans and proposals in place to allow the Palestinian side to become a proper partner for peace with Israel. Now that is the purpose of that meeting, I hope we can achieve it and I thank the Prime Minister very much for his welcome of that today.
Question and answer session
Question:
Prime Minister Blair, I just want to make clear, do you and President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon believe that fighting terror and dismantling the Palestinian terror organisations is a precondition to any political negotiation or progress? And on the Syrian track, do you believe that Israel is now missing an historic opportunity for peace with Syria after what President Musharraf said last month?
Prime Minister:
I think on the issue of Syria that is really for Israel to take its decision and see if it is possible to move forward on that track. In respect of terrorism, let me make one thing very clear. There is not going to be any successful negotiation or peace without an end to terrorism. The world has changed in these past few years and what is necessary I think for people to understand is that if there is the proper security measures taken, then Israel does stand ready to implement the road map, that in other words the important thing is to make sure that the absence of terrorism then creates the situation in which a proper negotiated settlement can take place. So that is my position, and I think if I can put it to you in this way, I think that is the position of the vast majority of the international community. And all of us now in the world today are fighting terrorism. In different ways we are fighting it in Britain with radical groups that want to cause terrorist acts in our country, we are fighting it in Iraq now where the people in Iraq want democracy, the terrorists are trying to stop them. And I think the most important thing is for us to understand terrorism is not the way to a negotiated settlement, terrorism is the obstacle to a negotiated settlement. If we can put it in that way, and if it is then clear that if there is that end to terrorism, Israel stands ready to do what it has said it will do, then I think we can make progress.
Question:
If I could ask one question to each Prime Minister. Could I ask Mr Blair what in specific terms you need to hear from the Palestinians before you leave today, what in concrete terms you are looking for? And if I could ask Mr Sharon, if I was a Palestinian wondering whether this was time for an historic change, but suspicious of Israel, perhaps suspicious of yourself, what kind of future do you think that I could look forward to perhaps in ten years, what is the promise ahead of me for my state and for my own future if I make that change?
Prime Minister:
I think so far as I am concerned, I think really in a sense I have explained what it is. What I hope today is that the Palestinian side can see that we stand ready to help to make sure that the measures that are necessary in order to give peace a chance actually take place. Look, we have an opportunity, but the fact that you have an opportunity doesn’t mean to say that the opportunity is taken, it has got to be taken. How is it taken? It is taken by recognising that the only way we are going to make meaningful progress is that if as I was saying earlier, this idea about viability for any Palestinian state encompasses ideas of democracy, economic transparency and an end to the security problems that have beset this process. Now I think and I hope the Palestinians understand that that is necessary, and the purpose of the meeting in a sense - the conference next year - is to make sure that the international community gets behind that, so that we are actually helping create the necessary partnership that is then going to take this process forward.
Mr Sharon:
I believe that if terror will come to its end, because it should be full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement, the door will be opened for the road map which will change I believe the lives of the Israelis, the Palestinians and change the situation in the region. You mentioned here that both sides are suspicious. I don’t think that the matter is suspicion, the matter is the most terrible terror that exists here. You know here we don’t have to think what might happen, it does happen, daily. And as Prime Minister Blair emphasised, in order to move forward there should be an end to terror, as long as terror exists it is very hard to expect it will be any change of the Palestinian situation. So I believe that after the elections that are due to be on 9 January, the Palestinian elections, here I don’t expect elections, and then of course we will be able to talk with the Palestinians, but in fact there is almost daily contact today and we are trying to co-ordinate the help and support that should be provided by us to the Palestinians in their election time. So if it will be completely quiet, but I don’t speak about an effort, in this part of the world declarations, speeches, even agreements are not important, only acts. So if the immediate acts will be taken, then we will be able to move to the road map, and the road map solves the problem and provides the opportunity to both nations to live peacefully, but it depends, and I would like to emphasise again and again, it depends on the real decision and real acts by the Palestinians to bring to an end terror. That will open all the opportunities.
Question:
Following the meetings that you have just concluded with the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Sharon, do you take it upon yourself to deliver some sort of message that you will be taking with you to the Palestinian Authority, as the impression that you got here. And to Prime Minister Sharon, we heard the things that Prime Minister Blair said about the International Committee, what is the official position that Israel has adopted on it?
Mr Sharon:
I understand that for the local press I can answer in Hebrew.
Interpreter:
We said that we support the initiative taken by Prime Minister Blair to host an international meeting in London. The meeting is about governmental reforms and needed reforms in the Palestinian Authority that will lead the Palestinian Authority towards democratisation, and the meeting will deal with economic assistance to the Palestinians. Since the matter is focusing mainly on the Palestinians, Israel, after consultations with our British friends, decided not to participate. We did it after full consultations and co-ordination with our British friends.
Mr Sharon:
We have discussed the issue with the British and both sides agreed that there was no reason for or participation because it deals directly with the Palestinian issues. We regard the conference to be very, very important and I would like to thank Prime Minister Blair for taking this initiative.
Question:
Inaudible.
Prime Minister:
No, I am very happy being Prime Minister, I just want to make that clear. You were asking me about what message I will be taking, but I think I have really explained what that is. Look, there are two things I would like to say, first of all on the meeting next year. It never was anticipated that Israel should come to the meeting, but it is obviously extremely important though that we keep closely in contact about what is happening there, and we will do that. But the purpose of this, so that you understand it, you have got to go back to the five steps that we set out at the press conference with President Bush some weeks ago, the purpose of this is as that first step prior to disengagement so that when disengagement happens, we are then in the position to use the opportunity of that disengagement to ensure that we can make progress and get back into the road map. But then the actual conferences at which the Israelis and the Palestinians will participate together, that is set out in the road map. So I think it is important people understand that. Let me make one thing very clear to you, and I think this in a sense perhaps encapsulates also the message I have given here and will give to the Palestinians as well, I am not interested in having a conference or a meeting that just makes a point, I don’t want to hold it for that reason, I don’t want to hold it simply so I can say I have held a meeting about the Middle East, there have been enough meetings and discussions and talk about the Middle East, I am holding it because I think there is one big missing piece of this, where the international community actually can play a part. In the end the negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians is going to be a matter that they are going to have to negotiate and the Americans have got the lead in a sense in respect of the international community there. There is no point in us trying to think that we can usurp or take that position, that is not what we are trying to do. The missing bit that I think we can help on is this, that unless there is a genuine viable partner in terms of the institutions of democracy, the institutions necessary for proper economic working and the measures necessary on security to give Israel the confidence that it requires, unless that is in place we are never going to get back into the road map, and then it becomes an academic discussion. And I can make a speech about the road map, or someone else can, but it is not going to happen. And what we need to do is to recognise that when there is a new Palestinian President, he is going to need the help of the international community to get into that position. And I was looking recently at the amount of money that the international community puts in to the Palestinian side, there is a lot of money there, but we have got to make sure that it is used wisely and properly, we have got to make sure that there is a real genuine understanding of what is necessary, in specific terms, to create that viable partner for the future. And I believe that it is not about us imposing something on the Palestinians, it is about saying the international community will work with them in order to make that happen, and then we have got a chance of getting to the place where everyone wants to get to.
Question:
As you know, there is a widespread suspicion that only stopping at Stage three is in fact something which would please Israel as far as the peace process is concerned. What do you say to the suggestion that in fact the disengagement plan in Gaza is seen as a substitute rather than a first step on the road map. As part of that, when do you think the expansion of settlements in the West Bank should be frozen? And finally does Israel accept that for eventual final status there would have to be substantial withdrawals from the West Bank as well as from Gaza?
Mr Sharon:
Israel is committed to the road map, we accepted the road map, but the Palestinians also accepted the road map, but of course they have to do it, as we have to do our part in the road map the Palestinians have to do their part in the road map. I never thought that the disengagement plan is a substitute to the road map. The reason that I initiated the disengagement plan is for one reason, I did not have a partner then, but once Yasser Arafat left us I believe that there is a window of opportunity, and I am not going to miss it. So now we continue with the disengagement plan, once the conditions will enable us to move forward, and what I mean is that it should be full cessation of terror, not efforts, not promises, not declarations, but full cessation of terror, violence and incitement that will pave a way to the road map.
Question:
And what about the West Bank in particular …
Mr Sharon:
Look, the disengagement plan speaks about the relocation of our towns and villages in the Gaza district and four villages in the northern part of Somaria (phon), and then we have to wait and see what happens. If the Palestinians will take all the necessary steps, according to the agreement and according to the agreement between President Bush and myself, then we will be able to start the road map. So that is the plan and now I will say that it depends very much on the Palestinians. By now we don’t see even the slightest step taken by the Palestinians. I understand there are elections now, it is not that I am happy about that that they are not taking steps, but they are not doing even the slightest effort, because it is not a problem of forces, they have in the Gaza district 30,000 armed security people, under the control of the Palestinian Authority. We would have expected that it is not to start now, it is a dismantling of those terrorist organisations, at least they will make an effort to prevent deploying of those mortars and rockets that attack our towns and settlements on both sides of the border, I would have expected they will do that. But after the elections I believe that they have to start to take all the necessary steps that according to the Tennet and Zini (phon) plans that they committed themselves in the past to, and then we will be able to move forward. It depends upon them.
Question:
Prime Minister Blair, we are somewhat puzzled by your enthusiasm about the Israeli-Palestinian issue, as if it is the most pressing problem of the world these days, and some people believe that this may be an effort to distract attention from your problems in Iraq. And Prime Minister Sharon, have you discussed with Prime Minister Blair the concerns of the Israeli security police and military chiefs about the disengagement, about the ability to perform it, given refusals and perhaps violence?
Prime Minister:
First of all, if I can answer your question. If it is an attempt to distract from issues in Iraq it has been singularly unsuccessful. I do regard it as very important and it is cared about deeply right round the world, and I do say to you it is partly because there are terrorist groups who try to use it, I don’t believe they are sincere about it actually but they try to use it as a means of recruiting people to terror, and I think it is important in its own way. Anyone who believes in this region and its future wants to see Israel secure and wants to see the Palestinians have the opportunity of statehood. And I just want to go back just for one moment to the previous question, the question that is asked on the Palestinian side, and indeed in much of the international community, is exactly the question that Adam Boulton just asked, which is is disengagement really supposed to be the final word, and actually Israel doesn’t want to move beyond that, and the answer of the Prime Minister has been very clear, if we can get the right measures of security in place and the terrorism stopped, he does want to move forward. And my message in a sense to the rest of the international community is, even if you may be doubtful about that, why not put it to the test, actually make sure that we do have the measures in place so that the terrorism stops and then we can turn round with justification and say now let us move into that road map. But if we don’t take those measures, we will never know the answer to that question.
Mr Sharon:
First, since the meeting was a very good meeting, relations between ourselves and Great Britain became much closer than in the past, and I believe that the visit will strengthen our relations. And as to the question that you asked, I think that I just mentioned it, but I can tell you one thing. Israel is a democracy and a state of law and all the resolutions of the Cabinet and the support in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, will be fully implemented exactly according to the timetable and the plans that were approved by the government and the Knesset, so you don’t have to worry about that. Israel is a state of law and the law will be kept.
Question:
Prime Minister Sharon, this is a process dogged by jargon, can we just clarify what the Prime Minister says that you have just said. In plain language, are you saying today that the withdrawal from Gaza is not the end of the withdrawal from the occupied territories that you as Prime Minister are willing to make? And Prime Minister Blair, what do you say to people at home who say we have heard it all before, they heard you after September 11 say there was a chance for peace here, and they think here we go, another false dawn?
Prime Minister:
I would say that there are differences now. You have got the disengagement plan, you have got new Palestinian leadership, and maybe above all else you have got a clear statement, set out in the road map, as to how we get there. The Prime Minister will speak for himself, but I certainly have understood him to be saying very, very clearly, provided that the terrorism stops, and that is the essential thing, but provided the terrorism stops, disengagement is not the last word.rw
I always think how many times I have to repeat what I have already said. I said very clearly that I decided then to start the disengagement plan, not having any partners. There are some changes in the region here. I believe that there is an opportunity now to find the leadership that will be willing to cooperate and stop terror. Again I speak about acts, not talks, not promises. Once that will happen, that will enable us to turn to the road map and implement everything which is in the road map, according to the sequence of the road map.
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