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Message of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Conference of Presidents / Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem |
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Message of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Conference of Presidents / Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem |
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| 20/02/2003 |
Good Evening.
Welcome to Jerusalem. I always enjoy meeting the Conference of Presidents. The work you do is very, very important and helps us greatly.
I do not have to tell you about the situation here at the present time. I see you had many addresses here. You met military people. You were briefed about the situation, so I do not have to add to that. I can only say that the last 2 years have not been easy. We are fighting a war imposed upon us by the Palestinians. This is not a new thing. We have been facing Arab - later called Palestinian - terror for over 120 years. We have been facing this terror for so many years. But I have to say that the last two and half years were the hardest we ever had. We were fighting terror for many years when we were alone in this battlefront.
Now the world - led by the United States and President Bush - in a very credible way understands the danger of terror - local terror, regional terror, global terror. On the one hand, that makes it harder for us, because everyone understands that means that radical Islamic terror became a real, great danger. On the other hand, we are proud, that together with the United States and President Bush, who leads the free world in this struggle and is very determined, we take part in this struggle.
We are determined to win this struggle and achieve peace in the region. I mentioned many times, we are ready to make painful comprises for genuine, durable, real peace. As a matter of fact, I think Israel is the only country in the world that won all their wars and is still ready to make compromises in order to reach peace. I do not know of any other country. I think we are the only ones.
Israel is a peace-seeking country, and as I said, we are ready for that to make painful compromises. But I would like to emphasize that we are not going to make any compromises whatsoever - not now and not in the future - when it comes to the security of the Israeli citizens, and the security of the State of Israel. I regard you as responsible regarding what is happening here no less than us. Of course, you still live abroad, though of course we are expecting you here. But you are still there, and we have to carry most of this burden on our shoulders. When I speak about your responsibility, I would like to emphasize that if Israel, if G-d forbid, will be weakened, do not expect - for one day - that you will be able to live the lives that you have now. Therefore, it is your responsibility no less than ours. Most of you are very young, and maybe not all of you remember. I believe that some of you do remember and have been eyewitnesses to what happened to the Jews before we had an independent Jewish state. So that should be remembered. Therefore, I believe that you have stand together with us.
And I think that we have to look forward now at several dangers - there are many - that we are facing, and all together I am not going to address you today, I am going to tell you what I believe you have to do. I am sorry for using military terms as an order to the group. I would like to tell you exactly what we expect you to do.
I think that all of you know, and all of you have seen, that there has been a sharp rise in global anti-Semitism. Countries and organizations have adopted policies of anti-Semitism. This is a great danger to Israel. You can see what is happening in Europe now with terrible anti-Semitism, but not only there, and you know that. This danger must be stopped and you should help, and you must play a crucial role in this struggle against anti-Semitism. Every Jewish organization must fight Anti-Semitism and join our Hasbara campaign. As individuals, your role is more important - every Jew is an ambassador for Israel. Talk to your friends, your co-workers, and your family. Teach your children to love Israel. Send them over here.
As part of the Hasbarah effort there will be a big celebration in Washington for Israels 55th Yom Ha'atzmaut - I appreciate your assistance in organizing this. I learned from you what is going to happen there, and I think it should be a major effort. It is not only important for all of us, it will also show the determination of the Jewish people, their solidarity, and the backing that we are expecting from you.
We have to put a major Hasbara emphasis on campuses - both Jewish and non-Jewish students are lacking reliable information. As a matter of fact, it is not only there, it is here as well. What I am recommending to you, I am recommending for ourselves, because we also have this problem. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders. I met our ambassador to Washington, Ambassador Danny Ayalon, and he suggested establishing Chairs in "Land of Israel" Studies in American universities. That is very important. And there is the aspect that Israel is known, mostly in recent years, as a country involved in wars and battles that is covered with dust, and blood. But Israel is an entirely different country. We were holding the sword in one hand for over 120 years now, while building and achieving. We have tremendous achievements here. But nobody knows. Nobody knows about the history. Nobody knows about the non-stop Jewish life here for thousands of years. So I decided to adopt this plan, and I would like to have your help on this project, because I think it is very needed. What I am asking for are names and people that can afford, and will take upon themselves this responsibility.
The 21st century has presented us with long-term challenges. I would like to discuss some of the major challenges facing the Jewish People in the future:
The first is Jewish continuity. I remember in the past when I used to come to the States, and people... now, I don't know, I do not hear these questions too many times, maybe everyone understands it better. They used to say, "What are the priorities? What should we do?" And I used to say, "The first thing..." I used to say, "The first thing: be Jews. Stick to Judaism. Be Jews." That is the first thing.
The second thing is Aliyah. The third is the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, and fourth, strengthening Jerusalem as the center of the Jewish people and Judaism. These challenges will be a priority in any Government I form, but the responsibility does not rest on us alone. We must work together.
Jewish continuity is the key to our survival. Massive resources must be allocated for Jewish Education - both formal and informal. We must teach Jewish history, Jewish legacy and traditions, the Hebrew language and the Bible. Students should be taught that Jews never stopped living here for the past 4000 years. Who knows that - even here? This must be done in Israel and the Diaspora.
Aliyah is vital to the existence, growth and development of Israel and the Jewish People. I call upon every Jew to make Aliyah to Israel. I know this is not an easy thing. I always think that I have to be thankful to my parents that I did not have to make Aliyah, and learn Hebrew. This should be the goal. It is the most important thing. I do not want to go into statistics that show what will be here, and what will the position of Israel will be if we do not make a major effort to bring newcomers from around the world, including your part of the world. I do not know if you know, but in order to make it easier - and we have not stopped taking all the steps we have to take - the same support and help that we provide now to Jews that come from Russia or the Former Soviet Union, or from France, we will provide to those that come from the United States. That is not yet the end of all the means and support that we are going to provide in order to bring more and more newcomers.
Our goal is to insure that by the year 2020 the majority of Jews will be living in Israel. I call on Jews from all over the world to make Aliyah and move here. I know it is not easy. Not everyone can do it. Not everyone can do it immediately, but send your children here. I know that some of you already have children here. Send your children to study here, to learn here, to visit here in summer camps and Birth Right trips. I met the Birth Right group this time, and it was a very hard day - a day of terror- and when I saw them, I felt more secure. I knew they were going to be here for a short time, and then they would go back, but when I saw them singing and I saw their bright eyes and solidarity, I felt more secure. And all of us should feel more secure. So we have to send them over here. Send them.
Now, on to another goal and target that I mentioned, and that is the development of the Negev and Galilee. This will secure our future. Our goal is to have a Zionist majority in those areas. Israel is a small country, but because we are expecting millions of newcomers, we have to make every effort to have a majority in the Negev. This is a challenge for our next generation of leaders. We will build homes, business centers and industry while we meet the ecological and industrial challenges. There are many agricultural opportunities based on the natural resources of the area. Since some of you are businessmen, this is not the first priority which I recommend. You cannot become rich from farming. If you are rich, you may lose what you have. Nevertheless, there are tremendous possibilities there. Israel is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to modern agricultural systems. Jewish settlement in these regions is vital to achieve a majority and we should work together to achieve it.
Now, a word about Jerusalem. A piece of Jerusalem is in the heart of every Jew. When you come here, you no doubt feel that. We must continue to develop this great city: to build intensively, and to increase the population, academic institutions, organizations, people, buildings, infrastructure and tourism. It is my dream that every Jew visit Jerusalem during his lifetime at least once. When it comes to you, you have been here so many times, I know some of you have been here tens of times during the years, but most of the Jews in the United States have never been here. There should be an effort. Jerusalem must be the emotional and spiritual center of every Jew - in Israel and abroad. It is more than the capital of Israel; it is the Capital of the Jewish People since the time of King David, over 3000 years ago. We must guarantee that it remains the Capital for eternity.
I mentioned before that what is happening here in Israel is your responsibility no less than it is ours, but it is not that you do not live here that you can decide or influence many things. I do not think, for instance, it is your place to decide where the borders will be here because you do not live here. But when it comes to Jerusalem, it is entirely an entirely different thing. In the struggle for Jerusalem - I do not see any struggle now, but there might be one in the future. In this struggle, Jerusalem, is not just an Israeli capital. Jerusalem is yours no less than it is ours. When it comes to that, then you have to participate in this struggle, and you have to raise your voices. Again, we do not have any problem now, but looking into the future.... We here in Israel are only custodians. We are keeping the holiest place of the Jewish people. We are custodians. It belongs to you no less than to ourselves.
I would like to emphasize that I do not think that there is any right to anyone to make any compromise when it comes to Jerusalem. All of us, together - us here, and you there - we are guardians of Jerusalem for future generations, and therefore, it is your responsibility no less than ours. You have to know that, and do not wait until the last minute when this issue must one day arise. You have to express your position loudly regarding Jerusalem. There is not going to be any compromise when it comes to Jerusalem. No compromise because it is the heart of the Jewish people. Jews have been dreaming about Jerusalem for thousands of years. You, then, will have to stand together with us on this issue. Another example is the right of return for Palestinians. Israel will never accept this danger, or allow it to occur. Never! We understand the problem. We even understand the tragedy, but to open the gates of Israel to the families of the refugees of 1948, when Israel had no responsibility and was attacked, means the destruction of Israel as an independent, Jewish, democratic state. You must remember that. Israel will not be able to accept that.
The future of the Jewish people rests on our shoulders. Our children and grandchildren depend on us. I am sure that united we can face our challenges and achieve great things; divided we will achieve nothing. We must be together and accomplish that great Jewish, Zionist dream. And if we are together, we will achieve everything. If we are divided, we will not achieve anything.
Thank you so much, and we expect you to continue to stand together us. We regard that to be very important in every field, and I added some of those targets and goals this evening. Thank you so much.
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