20 June 2003
Powell Says Mideast Violence Must Not Derail Moves to Peace
(Arrives in Jerusalem to meet with Prime Ministers Sharon, Abbas) (3340)
Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Jerusalem June 20 and said
the United States expects Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders to
meet the commitments they made at Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheik but also
called for patience in the wake of renewed violence.
"It's only been two weeks since Aqaba," said Powell, speaking with
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon June 20. "Tragically, in the first
week after Aqaba, we saw terrorists come forward to try to derail
everything. This was not a surprise to anyone at Aqaba; we knew that
those who were most threatened by this, those who do not want to see
two people living side by side in peace would act, and they did. And
they acted in a terrible, tragic way. We have to punch through that."
Powell said terrorists and their actions "will not be allowed to deter
us" from seizing new opportunities for peace. He said he was
encouraged by steps Israel has taken to release some Palestinian
prisoners and dismantle outposts in the occupied territories.
"[T]hese efforts need to continue along with intensive security
cooperation with the Palestinians in order to directly confront the
threat of terror - to bring terror to an end permanently," he said.
The secretary said he would urge Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas to move "very quickly" to implement security reforms and present
specific plans for the security of Gaza and Bethlehem, which the
Israeli army may withdraw from.
"The United States will stand at his side as he takes steps,
courageous steps, to create new institutions and a prospect for better
life for Palestinians," said Powell. "The pace and urgency of our work
needs to be maintained in order to capitalize quickly and decisively
on this moment that history has given to us."
Powell also said that it was no longer possible to separate the
militant wing of the Hamas terror organization from its political or
charity sections.
"The enemy of peace has been Hamas, especially over the last two
weeks," he said. "I don't think it is possible any longer to separate
it out into various pieces. The funding is fungible, the leadership
takes credit and despite whatever charitable or other social good
these organizations may perform."
Hamas, he said, must know "they will not succeed; they will not
prevail; they will be dealt with."
Powell also called upon Israel to differentiate between innocent
Palestinians and "ticking bombs," saying that while he understood
there were occasions when individuals needed to be intercepted in
order to save lives, the Israelis should also bear in mind the
consequences to peace efforts.
"[W]e can understand the need to intercept such a terrorist and deal
with that individual and make sure that innocent lives are not lost.
When one goes beyond that and expands those kinds of activities to
individuals or to situations where it might not be a "ticking bomb,"
then, as we have discussed, the consequences of such action and how
they play into our broader efforts for peace must be taken into
consideration," he said.
Turning to Syria, Powell described Syrian actions against terrorist
groups operating out of Damascus as "totally inadequate," and said the
Bush administration would continue to press Syrian authorities and ask
others in the international community to do likewise.
"Syria can either be a contributing member to this process, or
continue to be a terror-supporting regime that does not want to be a
part of this process, in which case there will consequences for such
action in terms of inability to have a more positive relationship with
the United States," said Powell.
Following is a transcript of Secretary Powell and Israeli Prime
Minister Sharon speaking in Jerusalem June 20:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 20, 2003
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
And Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister's Office
Jerusalem
June 20, 2003
PRIME MINISTER SHARON (in Hebrew followed by English translation):
First of all my friend, Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, I would
like to welcome you to Jerusalem. You probably know (after all you are
a frequent visitor) but you are among friends. I would also like to
convey to you our appreciation for the extensive efforts that you
invest with determination and devotion in order to promote the
political process.
I would like to take this opportunity to also welcome the special
envoys sent by President George Bush (Ambassador Wolf, Ambassador
Satterfield) and to thank the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Dan Kurtzer,
for his efforts and for his contribution to promoting the process.
The latest developments in our region, which have led to the Aqaba
Summit, present us with many opportunities, but also with quite a few
threats. We now have an opportunity that we all hope will lead us to
quiet, and eventually, God willing, also to peace. I define this week
as birth pains (birth pains of a process. The State of Israel will
make every effort, exhaust every avenue, and will not miss any
opportunity to try and embark on a political process that will also
lead to a political arrangement.
The State of Israel has accepted the steps detailed in the road map,
plus the 14 points in which the Israeli government has decided. And in
this framework we have also assumed upon ourselves further
commitments. These are not easy things, and are even harder after
almost three years of the war of terror that is being waged against
us. But these are commitments that we have assumed upon ourselves in
order to try and reach a political process. And we are executing these
decisions and commitments.
But we must nevertheless remember as long as terrorism continues, as
long as violence continues, as long as this terrible incitement is
raging, there will be no progress. Peace cannot coincide with terror.
Our Palestinian neighbors and their leaders must realize that the
continuation of terror means no political progress. A true war on
terrorism, on its infrastructure, on the entities that finance it, on
those who initiate it and on the dispatchers, is the way to make way
and move ahead in a sincere and genuine process.
Mr. Secretary, I am sure you practically feel at home here by now. Our
talks are always good and friendly. As I said in our meeting (I will
repeat here now, too (I will make every effort to reach security and
peace for the benefit of the people of Israel, and for the peoples of
the entire region. This is the commitment that I have assumed and this
is what I will do.
Thank you very much.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you
for your welcome, and I do always feel at home here, especially since
this is my second visit to Jerusalem within the past five weeks, and
including the Aqaba meetings, this is our third meeting over the past
five weeks.
When we all met at Aqaba, a little over two weeks ago, we all knew
that we faced a moment of great opportunity, but also as the prime
minister has just noted, a time of great challenge. With the end of
the dictatorship in Iraq, and the emergence of new Palestinian
leadership, we have an opportunity to successfully tackle the
difficult task of ending terrorism, ending violence, bringing hope to
the Israeli and Palestinian people, and making progress on a road map
to a peaceful solution of this terrible conflict that continues to
take innocent lives. The terrorists must not be, will not be allowed
to deter us from confronting the challenges and solving those
challenges peacefully. If at all possible, we must not be denied the
chance to seize the opportunities that are before us. We know that
there can never be a justification for the sudden death by rifle fire
of an innocent child singing a song in the back seat of her car with
her sister. There can never be a justification for the sudden death
and horrendous injuries of those who were simply riding on a bus to
their place of work or to their school. This has to end.
At Aqaba, President Bush, standing alongside Prime Minister Sharon and
Prime Minister Abbas, recommitted his administration to the vision of
a Holy Land that must be shared between the State of Palestine and the
State of Israel, living at peace with each other, and with every
nation of the Middle East. We dispatched Ambassador John Wolf to work
with Ambassador Kurtzer and Consul General Feltman* to make sure that
we all keep focused on the commitments made to the president and to
the world at Aqaba; commitments that are critical to implementing the
road map toward a negotiated peace.
There is much to be done. I am encouraged by the steps Israel has
taken to release some prisoners and to dismantle some unauthorized
outposts. These were the commitments that the prime minister made at
Aqaba, and these efforts need to continue along with intensive
security cooperation with the Palestinians in order to directly
confront the threat of terror - to bring terror to an end permanently
- only if both sides work together and establish a true, lasting
security arrangement for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
*Acting Principal Officer Feltman
When I meet with Prime Minister Abbas this afternoon, I will urge him
to move quickly, very quickly, to implement security reforms and to
come forward with specific plans to take responsibility for security
in Gaza and Bethlehem. The United States will stand at his side as he
takes steps, courageous steps, to create new institutions and a
prospect for better life for Palestinians. We will work intensively
with Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Abbas. The pace and
urgency of our work needs to be maintained in order to capitalize
quickly and decisively on this moment that history has given to us.
Mr. Prime Minister, I thank you for your hospitality. I assure you
once again of President Bush's commitment. I assure you once again
that we will do everything we can to help end terror and violence; to
push through; to overwhelm those who would try to stop us on the path
to peace. We have been working not only with you, Mr. Prime Minister,
and Prime Minister Abbas, but with our friends in the European Union,
members of the quartet, and other friends around the world to make
sure the world fully understands that terrorist organizations such as
Hamas and the other similar organizations that are not committed to
peace, but committed to violence and to denying the dreams of the
people of this land for a peaceful solution ( we must make sure that
all international pressure possible is brought to bear on these
organizations, so that they know that they will not succeed; they will
not prevail; they will be dealt with.
Mr. Prime Minister, I again thank you for your welcome and for your
hospitality. Thank you, sir.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, targeted assassinations have been a problem
between the United States and Israel for some time. The two sides seem
now to be coming closer together. Has this problem ceased to be an
issue between the United States and Israel, and if so, could you
explain how that came about.
SECRETARY POWELL: The Prime Minister and I have discussed this on a
number of occasions, as I have with a number of Israeli officials over
the last couple of years. As the president said at Aqaba, the security
of Israel is uppermost in our mind, and it has to be the priority of
the prime minister of Israel to defend his people. And we know that
there are occasions that arise when terrorists are coming in - let's
characterize them as "ticking bombs" ( when we know a bomb is heading
in. And we can understand the need to intercept such a terrorist and
deal with that individual and make sure that innocent lives are not
lost. When one goes beyond that and expands those kinds of activities
to individuals or to situations where it might not be a "ticking
bomb," then, as we have discussed, the consequences of such action and
how they play into our broader efforts for peace must be taken into
consideration. That is the position that we have discussed with the
Israelis on many occasions, and I think the implications are rather
clear. The standing of our position should be clear.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Israel has agreed to a limited period of time
under the title "cessation of violence." We have heard the foreign
minister talking about it. At this time, what are your expectations
from the Israeli side regarding military action and what are your
expectations from the Palestinian side? And if I may please, a quick
question to the prime minister, (in Hebrew)?
SECRETARY POWELL: Both sides made commitments at Aqaba. In addition,
at Sharm-el-Sheik the day before, Arab nations made commitments. We
expect all sides to meet their commitments, and we expect all sides to
exercise some patience in order for the other side to be able to meet
their commitments. It's only been two weeks since Aqaba. Tragically,
in the first week after Aqaba, we saw terrorists come forward to try
to derail everything. This was not a surprise to anyone at Aqaba; we
knew that those who were most threatened by this, those who do not
want to see two people living side by side in peace would act, and
they did. And they acted in a terrible, tragic way. We have to punch
through that, and it has now been a week or so since Ambassador Wolf
has been on the ground to work with the parties. He will stay here to
continue to work with the parties, so we hope that both sides will
give this new start some time to take effect. We have had a number of
meetings with both sides concerning security arrangements in Gaza (
there were meetings again last night ( I hope more meetings will take
place in the very near future. Some issues have been dealt with and
resolved, some difficult issues still remain. The prime minister and I
spoke about this and, of course, he always has the security of Israel
uppermost in his mind, but he also has been quite faithful to the
commitments made at Aqaba and I hope that there will be enough time to
find a peaceful solution, because the alternative is a return to where
we were before Aqaba and that was not leading to peace and it was not
leading to security for either Israelis or Palestinians.
PRIME MINSTER SHARON: The question was whether Israel has decided to
limit its operations in any way during the first period when the
Palestinians are supposed to organize their own forces. The answer was
that my commitment is the commitment to the security of the citizens
of Israel and to the security of the State of Israel. This is what I
have assumed on myself and this is what I will do. We have proposed to
the Palestinian Authority to assume responsibility as fast as possible
for those areas where they seem that they will be able to make sure
that there will be peace and security. What we will do the moment that
they assume responsibility, while they assume responsibility, until
that time we will, of course, continue with our operations. We know
that it might take a few days until they assume responsibility but
once they do, everything depends on their performance. One thing
always takes precedence and priority and that is the security of the
citizens of Israel. I am committed to that.
QUESTION: Mr. Prime Minister, your position on terrorism is well
understood, but are you willing to accept a Palestinian cease-fire
that ends terrorism but doesn't totally eliminate Hamas and Islamid
Jihad as political movements that are allowed to run for office, or as
social movements providing services to Palestinian people, in other
words, are still important and operating in the Palestinian Authority?
And Mr. Secretary, is the United States seeking the total elimination
of these groups as well?
PRIME MINSTER SHARON: In order to reach peace, and we want to reach
peace and I am committed to reach a political arrangement, which I
hope will lead us to peace ( in order to do that we have to make sure
that there is no independent terror organization on the ground. The
terror organizations must be fought. The Palestinian Authority must
fight terror organizations, it must disarm them, it must make sure
that their infrastructure no longer exists. These are imperative
measures, and they are important first and foremost for the government
led by Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen. This is certainly a condition that
will enable us to live here in quiet. So long as there is terror,
there will be no political process. Political process cannot coincide
with terror. That is why we expect the Palestinian Authority to wage a
true, genuine struggle against terrorism, a true, genuine one. Without
that, I believe we cannot reach peace or a political arrangement. I
don't deal with the question what happens if they turn into a
political entity. As terrorist entities they have to be fought, they
have to be disarmed, they have to be put to justice, they have to be
punished. We have to make sure that they do not exist any more.
SECRETARY POWELL: Hamas takes credit for these terrorist acts.
President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Abbas
stood up at Aqaba and made a commitment to peace. The enemy of peace
has been Hamas, especially over the last two weeks. I don't think it
is possible any longer to separate it out into various pieces. The
funding is fungible, the leadership takes credit and despite whatever
charitable or other social good these organizations may perform, as
long as they have as an organizational culture a commitment to terror
and violence and a desire to destroy the State of Israel, it is a
problem we have to deal with in its entirety and that is the message
that we are taking to our friends around the world as well. Thank you.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what is the position of the United States
regarding the fact that following your last visit to Damascus, the
Syrians have not really met most of the American demands regarding the
war against terror, dismantling offices and ways of communications and
financial infrastructure?
SECRETARY POWELL: They took some limited steps, those limited steps
are totally inadequate. We have gone back to the Syrians to let them
know that we find their actions inadequate. We will continue to press
them. We will work with our colleagues in the international community
to put pressure on Syria. We are going to make it clear to Syria that
until they move in this more positive direction that we have outlined
for them, there will not be a better relationship with the United
States, and ultimately it will affect their interests. The region is
changing. Saddam Hussein and that evil regime is gone. The leaders in
the Middle East are committed to a peace process - using the process
of the road map to get to our objective. Syria can either be a
contributing member to this process, or continue to be a
terror-supporting regime that does not want to be a part of this
process, in which case there will consequences for such action in
terms of inability to have a more positive relationship with the
United States and we hope other responsible members of the
international community. And we will continue to convey that message
to Syria in no uncertain terms.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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