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PM Sharon to Belgian PM Verhofstadt : "Israel wants peace" . |
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| 18/11/2001 |
I extend a warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Guy
Verhofstadt, who is also the President of the European Council, and Mr.
Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission. Welcome to
Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people for more than 3000 years,
and the united, undivided capital of Israel forever.
Israel is a peace-seeking nation. Our hand has always been extended in
friendship to our neighbors, and today we wish to pursue the path of
peace.
We want peace with our Palestinian neighbors, real peace, peace for
generations - Israeli generations and Palestinian generations. Israel
wants peace, but we must not forget that during this last year the State
of Israel has been facing a campaign of brutal terrorism that has been
forced upon us by the Palestinian Authority. The source of this terror
and incitement emanates from Chairman Arafat, who leads this coalition
of terror in cooperation with Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah, Fatah,
Tanzim, and Force 17. Every time Arafat reports to the international
community that he is arresting terrorists, we see those same terrorists
freely roaming the streets, and preparing bombs and explosives.
Fortunately for us, these bombs and explosives occasionally hit the ones
who place them.
Our aim today is first of all to bring about a cease-fire, to bring
quiet. The negotiating team that I established and which I head, in
conjunction with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, will conduct
negotiations to reach a cease-fire. When there is quiet, when the terror
finally ceases, then we can talk peace.
I said in the past that in exchange for real peace, the State of Israel
would be willing to make painful compromises. However, there will be no
compromise on the security and safety of the citizens of Israel.
The bilateral relations between Europe and Israel are based on a
long-standing tradition of shared values: democratic freedom and market
economy. The scope of our mutual trade reaches almost $25 billion a
year and there is cooperation in the field of research and development.
It is important that these relations further develop for the benefit of
all parties, regardless of political issues relating to the Middle East
conflict.
The heads of the European Union have an important role to play in order
to reach the peace for which we all yearn. I call upon you to assist
the Palestinian people by building factories, establishing
infrastructures and investing in the Palestinian industry. Do not
transfer your funds to the Palestinian Authority as your money will then
be used to purchase weapons and firearms - weapons which will be
directed against the State of Israel. Your role today is to invest in
people.
Again, I wish to thank the Prime Minister and the President of the
European Commission for taking time out from your problems to assist us
with ours. I am convinced that when this sought-after peace is finally
achieved, we will be happy to reciprocate.
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