Todah Rabah. Mr. Chairman, my friend, Harold Tanner, the Executive Vice President of the Presidents Conference, Malcolm Hoenlein, the former Chairman, my dear friend, Ken Bialkin, Chairman of Mifal Hapayis, Shimon Katzelnelson, and Chairman of the Board of El Al, Issie Borovitz, distinguished members of the Presidents Conference, dear guests, dear friends:
I want to start in Hebrew, for one reason mainly. I can see that there are quite a few Israeli faces here and I like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Israeli people. So with your permission, I will start in Hebrew and I’ll switch into English.
אורחים יקרים,
אני גאה להיות אורח פעם נוספת של ועידת הנשיאים, של הארגונים היהודיים המרכזיים בארצות הברית. הפורום הזה, הוא פורום מיוחד במינו, נותן גג לארגונים רבים, שיש ביניהם לא מעט הבדלים שמשקפים את האושר והנדיבות של הקהילה היהודית העצומה בארצות הברית של אמריקה.
אבל, שני דברים מייחדים את הועידה הזו, שמכנסת בתוכה את מרבית הארגונים היהודים. האחת, זו מחויבות עמוקה לשלומו של העם היהודי באמריקה ובכל מקום על פני כדור הארץ. אין זה מקרה שהועידה הזאת מגיעה אלינו מאזרביג'אן, כדי לבקר שם את הקהילה היהודית ולהביע את מחויבותה גם ליהודים שנפגעים במדינות נוספות, רחוקות מאמריקה ורחוקות מישראל. והדבר השני, שמאפיין את ועידת הנשיאים הוא התמיכה הבלתי מסויגת, רבת העוצמה, רבת השנים במדינת ישראל ובממשלות ישראל. בשם מדינת ישראל ובשם ממשלת ישראל, אני רוצה להודות לכם על הסיוע, על התמיכה, על הקשר העמוק, על המאמצים הבלתי פוסקים שאתם מגלים יום יום כדי לחזק את מדינת ישראל, כדי להבטיח את שלומה, את בטחונה, את התפתחותה ואת שגשוגה של מדינת ישראל.
אנחנו מתמודדים בנסיבות לא פשוטות. כאשר בשבועות האחרונים ארע אירוע שללא ספק כבר משפיע ועוד ישפיע על האוירה שאיתה אנחנו מתמודדים. אני רוצה לומר כאן, אני בטוח שאתם יודעים את זה, אבל חשוב לומר את הדברים: מדינת ישראל לא תנהל שום משא ומתן ולא תתפשר בשום תנאי עם ארגון טרור שמשנתו ושתורתו ושמצעו הוא להשמיד את מדינת ישראל.
אנחנו גאים על כך שהקהילה הבינלאומית, בראשות נשיא ארצות הברית ושרת החוץ, נוקטים בעמדה בלתי מתפשרת, שאי אפשר לטעות בהבנתה ובמשמעותה. שכל עוד החמאס, שזכה בבחירות ברשות הפלשתינית, ימשיך לא להכיר בהסכמים שנכרתו עם מדינת ישראל, ימשיך להיות מעורב בפעילות טרור, לא ישנה את אמנתו ולא יכיר בזכותה של מדינת ישראל להתקיים בשלום ובביטחון כמדינה יהודית - לא יהיו אתו מגעים, לא תהייה פה הכרה וכל התפתחות ברשות הפלסטינית, שתהייה מבוססת על ארגון החמאס או על שותפות אתו, לא תקבל הכרה בשום צורה שהיא מהקהילה הבינלאומית, בהנהגתה ובתמיכתה של ארצות הברית של אמריקה.
ועכשיו ברשותכם, אני מוכרח גם להודות ולומר כמה דברים גם באנגלית.
First and foremost, I want to express again our deep thanks to the Presidents Conference for your tireless efforts for the State of Israel and the people of Israel at all times. The fact that you are here with such a powerful representation of the big Jewish community of the United States of America is another testament to the loyalty and devotion of this great community to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. I must tell you that in difficult times for our people here, we are always relieved, because we know that we can rely on your support. We can trust your efforts, we can build on the power of your dedication to the wellbeing of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. I am familiar enough with the very rich and pluralistic life of the Jewish community in America to know that sometimes there are slight differences amongst the different organizations. There are some on the right, there are some on the left, there are some in the center, you have different understandings and practices of your Jewish faith, which is perfectly legitimate, and sometimes there may be arguments about these issues, within the context of your communal life in the United States of America. And yet there is one thing which always unites you, and which is a source of great pride for us, and this is your total devotion to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. You leave all your differences aside when it comes to the State of Israel. And you manifest your support in a manner which makes the life of this country, particularly in difficult times, easier and simpler. And there is no end to the gratitude that we feel.
And I know that when I say this, I speak for my friend and leader, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. There was nothing which he loved more than to meet people. There was no group which made him feel more at home than when he met with all of you. Not because he ignored the diversity of human presentation, but because he recognized that which comes above it and this is your love for Israel and the Jewish people. And therefore I feel that whatever I say, I represent that which I am absolutely confident, feel to say to you, had he been able to be here tonight as he used to do whenever you came to share with us, your concerns, your aspirations, and your love, for our people and for our country. In the next four years, we will have to work together as we did in many years in order to strengthen the Jewish education in the different Jewish communities across the world, and first and foremost in your country. We will work together in order to explain to the many Jewish youth how important Israel is and how anxious we are that Jews from every corner of the world, but first of all from the United States of America, will ultimately make aliyah and come and live with us. We will continue to participate in all the programs that will encourage Jewish youth to come and visit the State of Israel as we do with birthright and with Masa so that more and more Jewish youth will get a better understanding, a greater acquaintance, a deeper perception, of the significance of the State of Israel and its centrality in the life of the Jews wherever they may be. I know this is not the kind of political issue which is now on top of the agenda, but trust me, this is the issue which is on top of the priorities of the State of Israel for many years to come. Because the strengths of the State of Israel will ultimately depend on the sense of togetherness and the feeling of many Jews that they are a part of whatever happens here. And the wish to be involved, not just from a distance, not just from far apart, but from within us, in the challenges which face our country and our people. And there are quite a few. I just mentioned when I talked earlier in Hebrew that there are two major problems that we face on these days. One which is certainly affecting the future chances for a meaningful peace process between us and the. Palestinians, and this is the emerging of Hamas which is a terrorist organization, as the winner of the last elections for the Palestinian Parliament. I know that everyone is excited because they actually won an absolute majority although the absolute majority is in a number of representatives, not necessarily in the number of voters, but it makes no difference. And as far as we are concerned, the truth is that it wouldn’t have made any difference even had they not won an absolute majority but just 40 or 45 or 48 percent of the popular vote and the …its more or less the same. Maybe had it not been an absolute majority, it would have misled someone to believe that we can still maneuver as if it makes a dramatic difference. It doesn’t. Palestinian government under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, whom we’ll respect and support as the elected leader of the Palestinian people, will now have to make a serious choice about their priorities. Do they want to become part of the terrorist organization or do they want, even at this late stage, to take serious action in order to once and for all disarm the terrorist organization and force them to recognize the agreements signed with the State of Israel and change their covenant so that they will understand that there can be only one basis for a future process between us and them. And this is the basis of mutual recognition of non-violence and of their recognition of the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish State in peace and security in our homeland.
We are quite comfortable with the decision of the President of the United States of America and subsequently of the quartet and many leading western democracy to accept these three conditions as the basis for any future development. And I here, on behalf of the Government of Israel pledge to you that we will not negotiate and we will not deal with the Palestinian Authority that will be dominated, wholly or partly, by a terrorist organization. On the day that the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen, will appoint a candidate, from the Hamas to lead the Palestinian government, we will review all of our contacts with the Palestinian Authority. Because once the government is dominated by a majority of Hamas people, it ceases to be the authority which it was. It becomes something entirely different. Something that Israel is not ready to compromise with nor is it ready to actualize it. So these are very difficult days. Not for us, because our position is clear. The principles we have set forth are acceptable and we are going to stick to it and we will not succumb to any possible demands or requests that may come from any place and they don’t come by it. We are proud that even leaders of Arab countries, such as President Mubarak, and King Abdullah of Jordan, have spelled out these same principles as their demand from Hamas following the elections. I know that there are always fears. We are not happy with the statement made by Russia and the invitation to Hamas. We heard the explanations that they are going to influence the Hamas to accept these three principles that was set force by the international community. I’m not certain that in order to make this demand, they need to be invited as honorable guests to any capital in Europe or any other place. I am very comfortable with the statement, the assurances and the commitments made by all other leaders, including President Chirac, who told me that these three principles are not negotiable. France will not agree under any circumstance to accept any change in these three basic demands from Hamas as a precondition for any legitimate participation of Hamas in a Palestinian government that wants to be recognized by the international community. Now this, of course, can create some uncertainties, but as far as Israel is concerned, we are very confident. And I must say also very calm and relaxed. The policy is clear, our expectations for the Palestinian government are very accurate and exclusive. Chairman Abu Mazen knows that while we’re respecting and we are prepared to deal with him in the same manner that we have started, we will not be able to continue the same pattern of relations if he will choose to surrender to the existence of a terrorist organization rather than to act in order to disarm it and to change its nature. So the choice is not ours, its theirs. And they will have to take that decision and we will act with confidence. We will not rush to do anything that can upset the balance which has been created. We will continue to fight terror and make all the necessary arrangements and take all the necessary measures in order to stop the terrorist organizations from continuing terror against innocent Israeli citizens in any part of the country, north or south or center as we were doing in the last few weeks quite successfully. And if our expectations for a serious change that will lead the Palestinian organizations into a new posture, as far as Israel is concerned will not materialize, then we will find the ways to continue to take care of Israeli interests in any possible way in coordination with the friends of the State of Israel in America and in Europe.
I know that we are facing elections in Israel and I’m sure that you are also curious, almost as much as I am, almost, to know what the outcome of these elections will be. I don’t know to say at this point, but we will do everything in our power to make sure, that this policy and these principles will prevail in the future which means that we will not close the door to any possible development that will keep the political horizons promising for the people of Israel and for the Palestinian people for a major breakthrough in the near future. But we will not compromise on those fundamental principles that are essential for the existence and the wellbeing of the State of Israel and we will continue to fight terror and we will not recognize, not compromise, not talk and not deal with Hamas which is a terrorist organization.
I wish that this was the only major problem that we have to do in Israel. But this is not. We are also looking with great concern and watching with natural curiosity at this new phenomenon of an Iranian leader who seems to be obsessed with anti-Semitic hatred for the Jewish people and the State of Israel as is the new President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I don’t remember that there was any leader of a major country in the last two years who had this type of aggression and of hatred as the new President of Iran - talking about wiping Israel or moving the Jewish People from Israel into no other place than Germany, and using the worst anti-Semitic expressions that he could find in the dictionary of anti-Semitism. Had he said only this, had he done only this, it would have been very bad, because unfortunately, we have a certain history and we know sometimes that when leaders speak openly and publicly, on their desire to liquidate the State of Israel and the Jewish people, they sometimes also try to do. This in itself, is a very bad sign which should have called the alertness, and the worries of the entire international community, which I have to say responded with total disgust to these statements. But on this particular case, no one can ignore the fact that this is the same leader of the same country which at the same time while he’s talking about the liquidation of the State of Israel, he is also fighting against the whole world almost in order to possess non-conventional capabilities that are aimed against the State of Israel. I’m afraid not only against the State of Israel, but we have a good reason to think that Israel can be a priority target considering what he says and what he thinks and what he feels, about our country. In recent weeks, the international community led by America and the three European countries, Great Britain, Germany and France decided to refer this issue of the Iranian nuclear, potential nuclear capabilities, for a report to the Security Council of the United Nations. This is a first step in a long way. There has to lead, ought to lead and soon, to a complete control of those who are capable of doing over any such future attempts by the Iranians to continue their enrichment of Uranium that might create a non-conventional capabilities for Iran. I say its a long way, because from this stage today, there must be a very concrete joint action by the international community that will stop the Iranians from continuing their efforts to possess nuclear weapons. There are many different ways to do it. It rests with the international community. I am asked many times by many concerned people, what are you going to do at the country which might be the focus of these efforts and my answer is that Israel is not the only country which has to be worried and concerned. Every civilized country, America as well as Europe, share the same concern and therefore are obliged to work together in order to stop them. And we will work together with our allies and friends and supporters because this is not the exclusive responsibility or concern of the State of Israel. It never was, it never will be. It will be ours, all of us. There are many things that can be done. I will not go into the details. But one thing must be clear. This has to stop. And leaders such as Ahmadinejad, can’t be allowed to use this language, to practice these policies, to threaten other countries the way they do, and to practice spirit of hatred and anti-Semitism as the present leader of the Iranians do. And I trust that the outcome of the deliberations and consultations of the Security Council will lead to a joint action by many countries that will end up with a clear and powerful action to stop the Iranians.
Finally, my dear friends, this is not an easy time. I must say, it hasn’t been easy for me personally, as you can imagine. One night, almost five weeks ago, I was told by the Secretary of the Cabinet, and the Attorney General, and was advised that the Prime Minister lost his conscious, and that the power of the Prime Minister was bestowed upon me by law. And every morning I wake up praying as we pray tonight together, that this great hero of the Jewish people, this powerful leader, will wake up, open his eyes, and maybe he will say, hey Ehud, you can be relieved of some of your responsibilities, I am back in town. I pray with all of you, that this day will come soon. Until then, we have to make sure that the security of the State of Israel and its citizens is completely protected. And that, which is equally important, and that there is hope that can light our way to the future of our people. The people of Israel deserve to have hope that can be touched in a deep way. The people of Israel deserve to emerge out of these difficulties and threats and pains and hostilities which were so much part of our lives for so many years. And I feel that if this is the will of G-d, that at this time in the life of our country, it will be my responsibility, I am ready for this responsibility. I am ready to take Israel Kadima. I am ready to take these hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people, and millions of Israeli citizens that want to create a new reality together with us so that if there is a chance, that we will not miss it. We will take care of our security, we will fight against the terrorists but we will keep all the doors open for the possible future movement that will create a better chance for a meaningful dialogue with our neighbors and that will make sure that we can protect the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. This is our goal. We want every part of the land of Israel but first and foremost we want to make sure that this country will remain quieter, a Jewish state and a democratic state even if it forces us to make sometimes sacrifices and concessions which we don’t do out of love, but out of necessity, and out of concern and out of desire to make sure that this is a Jewish and democratic state with the united city of Jerusalem as its capital.
Thank you very much.