|
PM Sharon's speech to opening of 15TH Knesset winter session. |
|
| 15/10/2001 |
"I had thought to concentrate my remarks today on the developing global
front against murderous terror, against which we have stood for many
years.
I had thought to do this because the Knesset is opening its winter
session today during a fateful period for peace in the country, the
region and the world. The free world has awakened.
The war in Afghanistan is the first stage in the free world's historic
struggle against terror and those who give sanctuary to terror. This is
a struggle against evil. This is a war that Israel - like every
freedom-loving country - has a clear position toward, with a hope and
prayer to the Creator of the world that it may achieve results.
In this struggle, in which values feature prominently, the free world
must win. The free world - courageously led by the US and President
George Bush - must win; we must win.
I said that I wanted to concentrate on the implications of the global
war on terror today, but domestic political developments oblige me to -
first of all - comment on what is occurring here.
What has occurred is as follows:
Last Friday, the security Cabinet decided to take certain steps. First,
to continue the war against Palestinian terror, those who aid it and
those who initiate its murderous actions. This is in continuation of
previous Cabinet decisions. We do so, and will do so, until the
Palestinian Authority understands that it must stamp out the terrorism
that operates from its territory and with its assistance. We have had
many successes in this struggle against terror. Terror is terror and
murder is murder, and there is no difference where in the world it
strikes. Therefore, we will continue to implement our right to
self-defense. I have made this clear to our friends around the world
even as we make every effort to prevent escalation.
The second decision we took was to ease sanctions on the Palestinian
population not involved in terrorism, that same population which wants
to make a living and raise its children quietly. My position on this
has been well-known since the establishment of the government and I have
reiterated it on countless occasions. These measures to ease sanctions
have nothing to do with terrorism; the question is whether they threaten
security.
This must be done, first of all, because we must be humane, and
secondly, because doing so will make it easier for us to face the
difficult diplomatic and security struggle yet before us. To my dismay,
circumstances for which we are not responsible have made it difficult
for us to implement these steps. I will now do so because this is the
correct path. We are not fighting the Palestinian people; we are
fighting terror and those who perpetrate it.
And third: The security Cabinet decided - following Palestinian appeals
and Palestinian commitments that they are responsible that there will be
no further shooting in Hebron - to come down from the hill of
Abu-Sneineh and the Hareth a-Sheikh neighborhood; this was the security
Cabinet decision. The Palestinian commitment will be tested solely in
the light of results. We made this unequivocally clear that if there is
shooting, the IDF will immediately retake control of both these and
additional areas.
There is no struggle over principle here. The principle was decided -
to my regret - by our government. I was a member of it despite the fact
that I voted against it. The struggle is to achieve quiet for the
residents of Hebron, and if it is possible to do so without our having
to be there, like we did in Gilo, by a combination of military and
diplomatic steps, this - in my opinion - is what must be done; this is
the opinion of a majority of the government and this is my position, and
thus I have done. The objective is not Abu-Sneineh, the objective is to
eliminate terror, those who aid it and those who initiate its actions;
we are doing this, have done so, and will continue to do so.
'Do you trust the Palestinian police, on the assurances of Palestinian
authority personnel?' This question has reverberated since yesterday in
the media and political corridors.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the Knesset:
I trust the IDF and its excellent commanders who are at the forefront of
a difficult struggle; on the Israel Police and the Border Police and
their commanders who are working night and day to assure the lives of
Israeli citizens; and on our excellent security services. I am relying
on them and only on them, we rely only upon ourselves. I have also made
this clear to our friends around the world and they know it.
In the wake of the decision to leave Abu-Sneineh and Hareth a-Sheikh,
the National Union-Yisrael Beitenu faction has - to my regret - decided
to quit the government.
My friends, Ministers Zeevy and Lieberman, I admit that you have caused
me much heartache. Unity is crucially important and decisive for
Israel's standing, not to preserve the government or the prime minister.
Me you have caused heartache. However for Arafat, you have caused much
satisfaction and made his dreams come true. My friends Gandhi and
Yvette, you have made his day.
We have experts in toppling governments. They toppled Prime minister
Yitzhak Shamir and received Oslo. They toppled Prime Minister Netanyahu
and received Camp David.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the Knesset:
Israel is in the midst of a difficult and complicated military,
diplomatic, economic, and social struggle, a struggle which requires
responsibility, caution, sagacity and equanimity.
I appeal to you my friends, what do you want to do now? Engage
terrorism or engage in electioneering? Whoever now thinks that the
State of Israel must go to elections - let him stand up. Mr. Speaker,
please count.
Today, national unity is no less important than any tactical or
technical measure that we are doing or carrying out on the ground. The
key to a solution is not only in our hands, and as I say our hands, I
mean all of ours.
The larger the unity, the more it well help and make it easier to
achieve solutions, and they will be neither simple, sharp nor smooth.
In the Midrash Tanhuma it says: "When Israel is united, even if there is
idolatry among them, the [Divine] Attribute of Strict Justice does not
touch them."
Let us remember that there is a government in Jerusalem that keeps its
democratic character. There is a leadership which makes decisions in
Jerusalem.
I am leading the government and am doing what I think is right, not as a
result of pressure and compromise. I cannot be pressured and I do not
intend to make any compromise on issues which endanger the security of
Israel.
I call on you to reconsider your steps and remain in the government
because all of the Zionist parties are bound by a single, common line -
the future of the State of Israel.
Thank you."
|
 |  |
|